FIAT-ABARTH 131 Rally Groupe 4 – 1978

In 1978, the Spanish subsidiary (Seat) of FIAT Italy, for its SEAT-Competition department, bought from its Italian parent company 4 new Fiat 131 Abarth Gr.4 cars built by Abarth identical to those used by the Italian team. These cars were registered on the same day with the following license plates: B-2525-CV, B-2526-CV, B-2527-CV and B-2528-CV, being our car the B-2527-CV.
These 4 cars were for the three factory drivers: Salvador Cañellas, Beny Fernández and Antonio Zanini (European Champion). After being successfully used by the official team in the Spanish Championship, these cars were sold to private drivers in 1981.
The B-2527-CV was sold in 1981 to Bernardo Cardin, a very fast private driver who raced it until the end of 1983, when he bought a Lancia 037. At that point, the car became part of a large private collection of rally cars, from which it was only sporadically removed for club meetings.
Today, the car retains its registration number B-2527-CV and the livery of its second and last owner. It is in a remarkable state of preservation, having never been restored but very well maintained. Indeed, an official team has no budgetary problems when it comes to maintaining its competition cars.
The engine is a 1995 cc, 16-valve, double overhead camshaft, with Kugelfischer mechanical injection and dry sump. It produces 230 hp.
The gearbox is an Abarth Cima. It has a large rear axle with LSD, and the brakes are ATE.
The bodywork is in perfect condition, with no signs of corrosion or accident. The same goes for the interior. But what really sets this car apart is its originality. Not only has it never been restored, it has not been “updated” or “improved” as is often the case with these cars. Most have been transformed to meet new safety standards and have lost their originality. Others have been adapted for other uses, such as Rallye Cross. But in the case of our car, everything is as it was in 1980. The seats and roll bar are the same as then, the Trip Master Halda is still there, as are the two cables connected to each of the front hubs. All the suspension elements are mounted on Unibal ball joints.
All in all, if anyone would like to know how these cars were made when they came out of Abarth, the best thing to do is to come and see this car. Of course, if someone wanted to enter this car in competition, they would have to do a general overhaul, although the car runs normally. The safety features would also have to be upgraded. It is now presented in the livery of the second and last owner. If one wanted to revert to the livery of the official cars (see attached photos), the easiest way would be vinyl coating.
Last but not least, the price is very competitive, as nowadays an ex-official 131 Abarth is worth at least 350,000 euros, and in many cases, it has lost its originality to the point where the bodywork has been replaced due to corrosion or accident damage. Not only it is a car whose model marked its era by winning the World Rally Championship, but it is also an important piece of rallying history.
All documents proving the car’s originality are, of course, available and supplied with the car.
We are 2 hours drive from Barcelona airport.
We speak English.