Tag Archives: 128

Rubber Mouldings – FIAT 128 Special

In 1974 FIAT launched the 128 Special version of the 1970 European Car of The Year that Enzo Ferrari drove.

FIAT 128 Special, Hamburg

The specifications of the 128 Special appear to have varied from market to market, but generally they had four doors, either 1100 or 1300 engines and distinctive rubber mouldings down the waist line of the body and on the front and rear bumpers.

The 1974 128 Special 1100, seen in this photo taken in Hamburg, has non standard fog lamps and FIAT X1/9 pattern alloy wheels.

Thanks for joining me on this “Rubber Mouldings” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at the last in the current series of Formula Junior open wheelers. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Portello Caldo – FIAT Strada 105TC

Three years after the launch of the rebodied FIAT 128 based Ritmo / Strada range FIAT introduced it’s first “hot hatch” version the 105TC in 1981.

FIAT Strada 105TC, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

The most important performance improving feature of the 105TC was the 104hp 1,585cc / 96.7 cui twin overhead cam engine that was derived from FIAT’s 124, 131 and 132 models.

FIAT Strada 105TC, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

Available only with a 3-door body 105TC’s were also equipped with front fog lights integrated into the front bumper and integrated front spoiler combined with wheel arch extensions.

FIAT Strada 105TC, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

Other distinguishing features included thick black sill line and black mesh air intake,
UK Strada 105TC’s were supplied with Speedline alloy wheels as seen on this example at Auto Italia Brooklands.

FIAT Strada 105TC, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

From the rear 105TC’s were distinguished by the rear spoiler mounted below the rear window, this magnificently preserved example was first registered in the UK on the 14th of August 1982.

Thanks for joining me on this Portello Caldo edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a motorcycle powered racing car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Replica Prototipo – Bertone X1/9

After acquiring Lancia in 1969 the FIAT group found it’s self with two marques competing for honours in the Rally competition, Lancia with the Fulvia that was to be replaced by the Ferrari powered Bertone designed Lancia Stratos HF in 1973 and Fiat with the Pininfarina styled 124 Spider that would be replaced in 1975 by the Abarth 131.

Just as those competition models were being changed Abarth also built the Abarth X1/9 Prototipo for evaluation in competition.

Bertone X1/9, Silverstone, Classic,

The X1/9 was designed to exceed the latest US crash test standards so the chassis was immensely strong however it was also a little too heavy for the initial standard FIAT 128 based single overhead cam 1300 cc / 79 cui engine that produced 75hp.

Abarth elected to replace it initially with a 200hp 1,834 cc / 111 cui twin over head cam engine 16 valve lifted from the competition 124 spider and later examples with a 1,756 cc / 107 cui version of the same engine.

Bertone X1/9, Silverstone, Classic,

So far as I have been able to discern the Abarth X1/9 Prototipo’s only offically appeared on two events in 1974 the first was the Tour d’France where three cars were entered of which the #122 shared by Fulvio Bacchelli, Piero Sodano and Sergio Barbasio was the only finisher in 8th place.

A month later Fulvio partnered by Piero Scabini was teamed up with Ferrari Formula One driver Clay Regazzoni and Gino Macaluso for an attack on the Giro Automobilistico d’Italia from which both cars retired with engine failure.

Bertone X1/9, Silverstone, Classic,

In all it is believed that alongside the original 1973 Prototipo four further examples were built 3 of which were used in competition in 1974 and the fourth is believed to have been built as a Stradale road car.

The Abarth X1/9 programme gave way to the Abarth 131 programme which secured FIAT three World Rally Championship titles in 1977, ’78 and ’80.

Bertone X1/9, Silverstone, Classic,

The Replica Prototipo seen in these photographs at Silverstone Classic, was built on a 1988 FIAT X1/9 manufactured by and marketed as a Bertone X1/9, but imported as a FIAT, with a 1500 cc / 91.5 cui single overhead cam 8 valve engine.

Thanks for joining me on this “Replica Prototipo” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Rebel With Out A Clue – FIAT 128 1100 2 Door Saloon

Today’s featured FIAT 128 1100 2 Door Saloon was first registered in the UK between 1st of August 1970 and the 31st of July 1971 we know this because of the ‘J’ suffix in the registration number, the 2nd and third letters CJ tell us that the car was first registered in the Norwich area about 100 miles North East of London.

In the Spring of 1978 my Grandmother came over to London from Germany and kindly gave me a small sum of cash to buy my first car.

My idea was to spend it on a cheap to run and insure Citroën 2CV which I knew from a friends experience had no go, but was great fun getting there all the same.

My civil engineer Dad had other idea’s, he did not want his one and only to be at risk driving a French tin can on wheels and promised to pay the insurance if I bought something a little more substantial.

I suggested a FIAT 124 like the one I had learned to drive in Zambia, but eventually settled for the front wheel drive 128 seen below which had made it’s way down from Norwich to Uxbridge.

FIAT 128, Haselmere,

The car was originally maroon, a scrape against a fence post was all the excuse I needed to invest heavily in body filler and spray paint to end up with the refrigerator white and bright red paint job seen above.

With hindsight it is amazing my lungs survived two days locked up in a tiny garage with 10 tins of spray paint and little if anything in the way of fume protection.

In case you are wondering I was trying to make the car look something like Niki Lauda’s 1976 Ferrari 312T2, with more time and perhaps a spot of green paint I am sure I would have got there… eventually !

All though the car had half an areal it did not come with a radio or speakers, so an old radio compact cassette combination system served as my ICE, in car entertainment.

Among the many excursions I made in the car I visited Silverstone for the 1978 USAC race won by AJ Foyt, 1979 Six Hour Race won by John Fitzpatrick, Hans Heyer and Brilliant Bob Wollek driving a Gelo Porsche 935 and the 1979 British Grand Prix won by Clay Regazzoni driving a Williams FW07.

Then there was Reading Rock ’79 where Mike and the mechanics with both Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel on stage, The Cure, Molly Hatchet, Motörhead, Scorpions, Eurythmics, the Police and DJ John Peel kept us entertained for my first weekend of unadulterated debauchery, it was so bad I could not remember my own phone number on the way home and finally Knebworth Park for the second of the two Led Zepplin gigs.

The following spring I was hoping to do more of the same, but although the car passed it’s MOT it started falling to bit’s after I gently parked it up a kerb outside a friends flat in Earls Court.

Later that evening I was visiting another friend down in Haselmere when strange noises started coming out of the front of the car, the suspension was collapsing.

I took it to a garage and they showed me that the frame to which the suspension arms were mounted was completely rotten and they advised me this was true on the other side and rather than bodge a repair I’d be better off spending the money on another car, reluctantly I agreed.

Thanks for joining me on this “Rebel Without A Clue” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at the last of the current Saturday series of GN Specials. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Sporty Runabout – Fiat 128 Rally

After launching it’s first front wheel drive model the FIAT 128 in 1969 FIAT extended the range with a sporty saloon in 1971 with the introduction of the 128 Rally.

The 2 door only saloon / sedan came with the larger 1290 cc / 78.7 cui version of the Lampredi designed 128 engine tuned to give 67hp.

FIAT 128 Rally, Auto Italia, Brooklands

The front of the sporty runabout featured a pair of modest Rally lights and unique to this edition split front bumpers joined by a thin chrome bar, for any additional ancillary lights that might be required for competition.

Also fitted to the Rally were a set of attractive and purposeful alloy wheels.

FIAT 128 Rally, Auto Italia, Brooklands

The rear bumper curiously remained as per the rest of the 128 range but the Rally did feature a set of recessed rear lights which replaced the standard all in one oblong units.

I suspect much of the FIAT 128 Rally’s circuit competition history has been lost in the midst of time because the model was not differentiated from the regular 128’s in contemporary entry lists.

FIAT 128 Rally, Auto Italia, Brooklands

From the little recorded in the substantial RacingSportsCars.com archive linked here it appeared that the model regularly suffered from gearbox issues.

The example seen in these photo’s at Auto Italia, Brooklands features non standard large rally lights and non standard competition flared wheel arches, it was first registered in the UK on 18th September 1976.

Thanks for joining me on this “Sporty Runabout” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking a GN special called Spider. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Tre Porte – FIAT 128 3p Belinetta

3 years after FIAT launched it’s 128 Sport Coupé model Volkswagen responded with a competitor in the form of the Scirroco which was launched several month’s before the introduction of the Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit upon which it was based.

FIAT 128 3P, Middle Barton Garage, Oxon

The Scirroco differed from the Sport Coupé having a large hatchback door in place of the Coupés more conventional small boot.

FIAT 128 3P, Middle Barton Garage, Oxon

FIAT responded to Volkswagen’s challenge in 1975 with the introduction of the tre porte FIAT 128 3p Berlinetta which replaced the Sport Coupé in the manufacturers model range.

FIAT 128 3P, Middle Barton Garage, Oxon

Where the Scirroco had four engine options from 1.1 litres / 67 cui to 1.6 litres / 97.6 cui the 3P like it’s Sport Coupé predecessor was only available with either a 1.1 litre or 67 cui or 1.3 litre / 79 cui motor.

FIAT 128 3P, Middle Barton Garage, Oxon

These were still good enough to give the 3p rest to 62.5 mph times of 15 seconds and 13.5 seconds and top speeds of 150kph / 93 mph and 160 kph / 99 mph respectively.

FIAT 128 3P, Middle Barton Garage, Oxon

Never as popular in competition as it’s lighter predecessor the 128 3p only remained in production until 1978.

FIAT 128 3P, Middle Barton Garage, Oxon

The pristine 1976 1.3 litre example seen in these photographs at a Middle Barton Garage gathering in Oxfordshire a few years was first registered in the UK on September 13th 1976.

Thanks for joining me on this “Tre Porte” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another hill climbing special. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Short Chassis – FIAT 128 Sport Coupé SL

In 1971 FIAT launched the Sport Coupé SL variant of the FIAT 128 on a shortened chassis platform.

Fiat 128 Sport Coupé SL, Auto Italia, Brooklands

The Coupé was available with either a 1,116 cc / 68 cui or 1,290 cc / 78.7 cui four cylinder motor with iron block and aluminium head., the one seen in these photographs taken at Auto Italia Brooklands a couple of years ago.

Fiat 128 Sport Coupé SL, Auto Italia, Brooklands

When photo upload Mario Andretti tested one on the 13th of November 1972 at Pocono he was impressed with the under steering, tight, front wheel drive handling, braking, interior size and styling.

Fiat 128 Sport Coupé SL, Auto Italia, Brooklands

The only thing he thought was missing was a couple of hundred horsepower with which to scare the guy’s in Ferrari’s at Pocono.

Fiat 128 Sport Coupé SL, Auto Italia, Brooklands

Sport Coupé’s were popular cars for touring car racing with Hans Hettelder and Freek Plasmeijer recording over 50 race appearances between them in Europe, slightly better known Italian racer Lella Lombardi recording at least seven appearances in 128 Sport Coupés starting in 1977.

Today’s featured car, seen in these photographs taken at Auto Italia Brooklands a couple of years ago, is powered by the larger engine and was first registered in the UK on October 1st 1974.

Thanks for joining me on this “Short Chassis” edition “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow.

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