Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye
Homologated Group 4 rally version of the Fiat 124 Sport Spider.
The Fiat Abarth 124 Rally is a homologated version of the Fiat 124 Sport Spider, introduced in November 1972. It was developed to compete in the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile Group 4 special grand touring cars racing class, replacing the earlier 1.6-litre Fiat Sport Spider rally cars. The model is also known as the '124 Abarth Stradale'.
Quick Facts
- Aka
- Fiat Spider 2000 / Pininfarina Spider (1982–1985)
- Manufacturer
- Fiat (1966–1982) / Pininfarina (1982–1985)
- Production
- 1966–1985
- Assembly
- Italy: Turin / Italy: San Giorgio Canavese (Pininfarina)
- Designer
- Pininfarina: · Tom Tjaarda (designer) · Franco Martinengo (design director) · Battista Pininfarina
- Class
- Sports car
- Layout
- Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
- Related
- Fiat 124
- Engine
- 1438 cc I4 · 1592 cc I4 · 1608 cc I4 · 1756 cc I4 · 1995 cc I4 · 1995 cc turbo I4 · 1995 cc sc I4
- Transmission
- 4-speed manual · 5-speed manual · 3-speed automatic
- Wheelbase
- 89.75 in
- Length
- 156.25 in
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Fiat Abarth 124 Rally was added to the Sport Spider range alongside the 1600 and 1800 models. Notable modifications over the standard Spider included independent rear suspension, engine upgrades, lightweight body panels, and a rigid hard top. The rear suspension used lower wishbones with the original trailing arms, an upper strut, and an antiroll bar, while the front added a radius rod on each side to the standard double wishbones. The engine was tuned by Abarth, replacing the standard twin-choke carburettor with double vertical twin-choke Weber 44 IDFs and fitting an Abarth exhaust with a dual exit muffler; the 9.8:1 compression ratio was left unchanged. The car carried Fiat badging front and rear, Abarth badges, and 'Fiat Abarth' scripts on the front wings, with Abarth wheel-centre caps. Only three paint colours were available: Corsa red, white, and light blue.
Reader's Guide
The Fiat Abarth 124 Rally represents a key homologation special from the early 1970s, developed with Abarth's involvement to contest the International Championship for Manufacturers. Its independent rear suspension and lightweight construction—using fibreglass for the bonnet, boot lid, and hard top, aluminium doors, and perspex rear window—reduced kerb weight to 938 kg, roughly 25 kg less than the regular 1.8-litre Sport Spider. The car achieved notable results in rallying, including wins at the 1972 Hessen Rally and Acropolis Rally, the 1973 Polish Rally, and first, second, and third places in the 1974 Portuguese TAP Rally. By 1976, its rally career was superseded by the Fiat-Abarth 131. The model's limited production—fewer than 1000 CSA models were manufactured in three years—and its role as a Group 4 homologation car make it a significant chapter in Fiat's rally history.
Did You Know?
- Its engine produced 128 PS, up from the standard 118 PS, using double vertical twin-choke Weber 44 IDF carburettors.
- The car's bonnet, boot lid, and fixed hard top were made of fibreglass and painted matt black.
- Only three paint colours were offered: Corsa red, white, and light blue.
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