1980 Fiat 124 Sport Spider Abarth Stradale Evocation
Abarth Evocation built with very close attention to detail!

Registration No: ETH 865V
Chassis No: 124CS000170030
MOT: November 2026

• Imported as a project by the vendor from the dry state of California
• Restored to Abarth Stradale specification following thorough photographing reference cars during a visit to the Abarth Museum by the vendor
• Benefitting from significant expenditure (over £40,000 in invoices without labour) and great attention to detail
• Restoration completed in 2019 and only hill-climbed a handful of times since

PLEASE NOTE: This lot is offered with a no advisory MOT certificate until November 2026.

Introduced at the November, 1966, Turin Auto Show, the Fiat 124 Sport Spider boasted a handsome two-door monocoque bodyshell that was both styled and built by Pininfarina and proved a great sales success. A staple part of Fiat's model range until 1982, with just under 200,000 produced, the majority were shipped to North America. The Fiat 124 Abarth Rally (or Abarth Stradale) was a high-performance 'homologation special' based on the 124 Sport Spider, and first become available in November, 1972, having been seen previously in prototype form at the Geneva Salon. Extensively revised with rallying in mind, the Abarth Rally featured independent rear suspension by MacPherson struts, wider light-alloy wheels, flared wheel arches, glassfibre body panels, a five-speed gearbox, limited-slip differential, an internal roll-over bar, rigid hardtop, competition seats and a revised dashboard. The engine was a 1,756cc twin-cam four producing 128bhp (DIN) in standard trim with 170bhp available in full rallying tune.

Homologated initially in Group 2, the Abarth-modified 124 Spider served as Fiat's frontline rally car throughout 1973, achieving one World Championship victory. Re-homologated into Group 3 for 1974, the Abarth Rally picked up another World Championship win and several top-three finishes, but its finest hour would come in 1975 when, this time competing in Group 4, Maurizio Verini won the European Rally Championship at the wheel of the final, 16-valve version.

Looking delightfully racy in its high-performance trim, this carefully researched and thoroughly well-executed Fiat 124 Spider Abarth Rally evocation was imported from California where the dry climate contributed to its “rust-free” shell. At the time, it was a standard 124 Spider, but the vendor subjected it to a meticulous renovation from which it emerged as an accurate tribute to the hallowed Abarth Rally/Stradale version, which gave Fiat so much success in international rallying during the 1973-75 seasons. In the vendor’s words, “It has been crafted to an exceptional standard with absolute fidelity to the original. Every detail was guided by period photographs, FIA papers, and reference cars from the Abarth Museum.”

The two-year project was completed in 2019, with significant works including reinforcing the suspension points and re-engineering where necessary to incorporate the Abarth intakes, front-suspension tie bars and sump guard. The body – now painted the appropriate Abarth Azzurro Chiaro 480, carries original Abarth badges and interior and exterior door handles. Faithful to the original Stradale specification, it now features lightened doors and hinges, a fibreglass bonnet and boot lid, and a rear deck-mounted fuel filler. An authentic Abarth hardtop with a new Plexiglas rear screen was also sourced and fitted, but the original soft-top is supplied. The wheels are replica Cromodora CD30 13in alloys with Toyo Triple R tyres.

The late Guy Croft advised the engine build. Now with twin Weber 44 IDF carburettors, other performance upgrades include a balanced bottom-end, forged con-rods, +0.040in pistons, high-lift cams, a gas-flowed head and alloy vernier pulleys. Other features include an enlarged sump, a restored radiator, 123 electronic ignition and a lightened flywheel. When dyno-tested at Northampton Motorsport, the engine produced 151bhp. The restored suspension features new arms, bushes and track-rod ends, plus an upgraded front anti-roll bar, Eibach springs and Spax adjustable shock absorbers. The uprated brakes have received a new master cylinder, bias valve, braided stainless lines and copper piping, with lightweight Wilwood four-pot callipers and Mintex pads at the front, and standard discs with EBC pads at the rear. The genuine 131 Abarth gearbox was overhauled, with an upgraded hybrid clutch, and the rear axle was refreshed with new bearings and a Torsten-type 70 per cent. limited-slip differential. The interior contains OMP bucket seats and a Fiat factory roll bar.

The whole process was photographically documented, and since completion the 124 has performed very creditably in a number of hill-climbs. It has the potential to be a great historic rally car, and is sold with invoices exceeding £40,000 relating to the build.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452