http://www.carbuildindex.com/32111/ex-walter-rohrl-fiat-131-abarth-rally-car-restoration/
Ex-Walter Rohrl Fiat 131 Abarth Rally Car Restoration
This ex-Walter Rohrl/ Christian Geistdorfer Fiat 131 Abarth rally car is the subject of a an impressive build thread on www.131mirafiori.com by it’s owner, forum member “Enzo”. Although it was originally raced with a 16 valve head, this project was built using an 8 valve head but with many other Abarth specific parts. The majority of the pictures from the 29 page build are attached on the following page where it can be seen going through it’s transformation from a 131 Sport into a Group 4 spec that is beyond which it was ever originally raced in. Regardless, it was christened by both Walter Rohrl and Christian Geistdorfer with their signatures on it’s hood upon it’s completion and then subject of a short film with them behind it’s wheel reliving their old rally days from the 1980 Arganil race in it. Be sure to check it out after the build next…
This particular Fiat was chosen for the basis of the build because it was a rust free exaple, which we all know is absolutely unheard of for vintage Italian tin. The project began by installing it’s flared body work…
Engine is a 1995 cc unit with 135 horsepower, 4-1 exhaust manifolds, sport cams and a steel oil pan to begin with before a proper aluminum Abarth oil pan and valve covers were later found and installed.
Custom pieces were made to reinforce the inner rear structure.
A 10k rpm tachometer and 180 mm PIAA high beams are both cool trick pieces that were chosen for the build.
Brakes are Fiat 500 Abarth units modified to fit by Enzo, and several different brands of rims were used before ultimately settling on some original Abarth 15×9 and 15×10′s.
The finished car looks fantastic, a testament to Enzo’s abilities as a restoration expert.
While some forum members made snide remarks about it not being rebuilt to exactly how it was originally raced, we happen to think that it is an extremely tasteful build, and apparently so do Walter and Christian…
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