Ritmo/Strada Strada with a kick

TurboCinqy said:

only thing thats worrying me is the wholes in the seats! what are they for? :chin:

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The holes are standard to allow the fitting of racing harnesses. Fiat knew this car was something special

Biz said:

I really love the older fiats!

i read on a E-BAY ad for a red one that clarkson claimed that them fiats are BETTER than the MK1 golf GTI?

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Yeah, I remember it well, if you get the Clarkson top100 DVD from early 2000/01 he devotes some 10mins to testing a pug, vw, abarth and something else I can't remember. The Abarth comes out on top and he loves it.

He just went up in my estimations. He also probably slated it at the time though, but now he loves them

TurboCinqy said:

that is absolutely stunning i have to say!! only thing thats worrying me is the wholes in the seats! what are they for? :chin: lol look nice and hugging!
Mint car.
Never liked older cars until Brooklands, Fiat 600 abarth, and blue 124 has now got me loving them! :yum:

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I can't get enough of older Fiats. It was a time when they lead the market and were built with fun and pride.

As a Cinq driver you should majorly love the 500 Abarth and 600 Abarth, but I have to direct you to a little gem that took everything by storm in the late 70's and early 80's - the 127 Sport.

All I can say is buy one if you can. I owned a highly tuned examples as my first car and boy was it fun. It was so quick (mid range) I could harass cosy's, M3's E30's etc all with 1300cc. I'll never forget the look on Sierra Cosworth (std) owners faces once they had planted the throttle and this little car was stuck to their bootlid.

I sold it to a hardcore mini enthusiast who wanted something different to drive while his car went through a re-build. One drive of 127 Sport and he was completely converted and sold up his minis

Clarkson loves Alfa's/Fiats and has had a fair few too.

Just been to view this car as it was on Ebay.
Have bought it and will collect at the weekend.
Looks very sorry for itself doesn't run but looks complete .
Interior is shabby and there are several areas of grot all over it .
I intend to put it back together and improve it with plans for a full cage , repaint in waterproof primer with a guide coat so it's all 1 colour as it needs new boot and bonnet ( have already got new old stock items).
Can't wait to get it running .

Well done good buy. Post some pics pls.

Love the Strada's. I've got Al Cosantino's book "Faza X1/9 Strada" and it is a brilliant race/tuning manual. He never put a 2 litre turbo in one though. That must be hellishly quick. I agree about the 127 sport as well, but I don't think a sport engine would add any value to my 127 van .
Another car that is currently undervalued is the Tipo Sedicivalvole. There was one for sale locally, at a dealers, which I was very tempted by. 2 litre, 16 valve, in white, low mileage, very original and only £1600. May well still be for sale?

Ever since the Coupe' came out engines have been finding their way into interesting homes.

The best I've seen up close is the 20V turbo Multipla.

big nutts said:

You can see this happening but in a more advanced state with 131 Sports and even 131 Abarths. Just a few years ago (when the value had bottomed out) you could buy a 131 Abarth for 5K-6K, now your looking at more like 12K to 15K. Not bad for a few years. I wish now that I had gone all out and bought a 131 Abarth a few years ago. I might even still consider buying one now as the price will just keep rising on good cars. Compare the price to a mk1 Escort and the 131 Abarth is still a bargain, but don't wait too long as they are catching up.

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I think you mean Fiat 131 sport/racing as the Fiat 131 abarth goes for 40k plus . A great condition 131 Sport uk right hand drive goes for between £12000 to £16000 and they dont come up often .

abarth130tc said:

I think you mean Fiat 131 sport/racing as the Fiat 131 abarth goes for 40k plus . A great condition 131 Sport uk right hand drive goes for between £12000 to £16000 and they dont come up often .

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Actually no, I did mean 131 Abarth, the date I posted this comment was 2006, a few years earlier you could have bought a 131 Abarth for £8000 (rock bottom). By 2006 they were changing hands for £12000 upwards and yes now they seem to be £25000, even £40000.

The same can be said for many models - Lancia Integrale Evo was £7000 a around 2006 now they are £25000. Porsche 964 Turbo or 930 Turbo was also £15000 in 2009 now are £40000.

It all comes down to supply, demand and available money as the target buyer gets older and the price of restoration goes up.

I personally value my Abarth at £15000 -£20000 as to replace it would not only cost the amount of the base car but also all the work required to bring it up to the same spec / condition as my example.

Put a battery on this for the first time yesterday and nothing works apart from the dash voltmeter and the hazards but not the rear indicators.
Think it's going to need a bit of tlc

Well it's been nearly 2 years since my last post so thought it was about time for an update.
I've done nothing to it.
Apart from fill it with other Strada and Panda parts.
So may do something on it tomorrow.
The engine does turn on the starter.
Will post some pics later on.
Would love to get it running even though there is no exhaust on it.

Now for sale.
Turns on the starter but doesn't fire up.
Could be something simple.
In the 2 years or so that I have had the car haven't done much to it as I have too many other projects.
Was featured in Retro cars magazine which I have a copy of.
Needs to be trailered away but does roll ok.
Has had electric windows fitted and needs a rear side glass as it's plastic (like this when I got it)
Happy to take any pictures you may want.
After £1800 due to the rarity of the car and the running gear.
Thanks Jerry

If it turns but does not fire then I would be looking at the crank shaft pulley wheel sensor. I've had this fail. Is easy to check and replace. Same for flywheel sensor.

All carefully disconnect the connector from the Digiplex unit and check:

1) for corrosion / tarnishing
2) female connector contact fingers are not broken or splayed apart

The car was pulled from ebay with a final bid of £480 . Hope it will go back on the road

Hi
Pulled it because it is quite rusty and didn't want the grief of non payers tyre kickers etc.
Love the stance of it though so may transfer the suspension, brakes and wheels to my other Strada which is a genuine 130 on a C plate.
Just fitted a roll cage to that one this week.