Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 0388232
Unveiled at the 1974 Turin Motor Show, the Fiat 131 began as a
practical mid-size car before Abarth and Bertone transformed it
into a rally legend. The cars received independent rear suspension
with Chapman struts and Bertone bodywork for improved brake
cooling, with rear disc upgrades. The engines were upgraded with
Kugelfischer fuel injection that produced up to 240 horsepower in
full race guise.
This car was slated to run at the 1980 Rallye Sanremo driven by
none other than the legendary Walter R�hrl, but faced numerous
challenges just leaving the factory. With a strike taking place,
the car was retrieved from the factory during the night to draw as
little attention as possible. As all of the supporting vehicles and
materials had to be left at the factory, the car was raced under
the Jolly Club banner. With little time for preparation, the car
ran without a major sponsored livery. The numerous challenges faced
just to get to the starting line make Walter R�hrl's victory even
more incredible. The successes of this very car helped R�hrl claim
his first ever Drivers' Championship and Fiat to capture their
final Manufacturers' Title by the end of the 1980 season.
After its remarkable rally debut, the car continued an active
schedule with Fiat Italia once factory strikes ended. To close out
1980, Arnaldo Bernacchini and Attilio Bettega entered the Tour de
Corse but retired early. At the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally, Tonino
Tognana placed 11th overall, followed by a strong season with
third-place finishes at the Rally del Ciocco and Rally della Lana,
and fourth at the Rally Colline di Romagna. The car also entered
the Targa Florio, Emerald Coast, Elba Island, Piancavallo, and
Trabucchi 100.000.
The following year marked the final season Fiat supported the car,
but that did not mean it was any less active! It began with a
seventh-place finish at the Emerald Coast Rally, followed by sixth
at both the Elba Island Rally and the Region Four Rally near Milan.
Entries at the Rally della Lana, Rally del Ciocco, Rally Colline di
Romagna, and Rallye Sanremo ended in retirements for the car. Its
run with Fiat concluded with an 11th-place finish at the Trabucchi
100.000 Rally.
The car was subsequently sold through a known chain of owners who
enthusiastically campaigned the Fiat throughout Italy and France.
During this period, the car was refinished and returned to the
original livery it wore when it triumphed on debut in front of an
adoring home crowd on the world's biggest stage with Walter R�hrl
piloting it to victory at the Sanremo Rally for the legendary Jolly
Club team. The car crossed the Atlantic for the first time when it
was imported to the U.S. after the current owner acquired the car
in 2020.
Today, the car remains a fascinating piece of rally history, as
documented by its Abarth Certificate of Authenticity. A previously
issued FIA Technical Passport allows for easier access to some of
the most prestigious vintage motor racing events around the world
and the opportunity to add to the car's lengthy competition
history, launched by none other than Walter R�hrl and Jolly
Club.
