RE: Fiat Strada Abarth 130TC: You Know You Want To

[dandare]

A much more interesting option to a Golf, but maybe not as pretty. Those Fiat twin cams are lovely motors.

[998420]

RicksAlfas said:

Sometimes 130TCs would turn up at Alfa events.
The drivers always looked like serial killers.
Factamundo.

This interesting fact may be somewhat allied to my experience of Arbath 130TCs...

Back in the 80s my boss eventually got rid of his 2 or 3 year old [well clocked, amazing] Audi 80 Sport and bought a shiny new Fiat 130TC Arbath. It was a proper pile of dogpoo, spent more time in the main stealers than on the road in the first 3 months. The Audi had never missed a beat, despite me being allowed use of it at age 17.

[sideways man]

Wanted one of these back in the day, but when autocar said they did 23 mpg courtesy of those twin choke webbers it was too expensive for me.
And Italian cars did not have a good reputation for rust either.

Funny, but NOW I really want one!

[sledge68]

Now there is a proper hot hatch, what more can you want that an italian twin cam fed by 40s?

It may rattle and rust but the appeal is in the driving, Ive owned Alfa 33s, Delta Turbos and now an Evo 1 integrale, and whilst they are not built as well as something German, they give you so much more in their style and personality.

If only we could find a 131 Miafiori, man wee would come out...........

[HerbertD]

Had one in the family since my father bought it new in 83 (Had a 105TC prior to that) Has now done approx 170K but still on original engine and gearbox, and now in the custodianship of my brother who has done several trackdays with it in the last 6 months (Oulton Park) According to "how many are left" only about 9 (Mk 1) left on the roads now. Brilliant to drive and still going well!!

[LaurasOtherHalf]

spotted this the other day, love it!

[Bladedancer]

No, I'm pretty sure I don't want to

[AC43]

"with a snuffly lumpiness lower down the rev range that gave way to grunty pulling power"

It Carcoat Damphands again, isn't it?

Seriously, though, great piece. Love the Fiats, Alfas and Lancias from those times.

2.0 twin cam with twin 40's.

Minty.

[GTRene]

here some optional Recaro seats for the 130TC they came in to choose from looks





and here the original standard 130TC seats

[TWPC]

I remember the Car magazine giant test vs I am guessing the GTi, XR3i and Astra GTE. In their opinion the Strada destroyed the competition for speed and excitement but there were some pay-offs on the practicality front: I think they wrote that the front seats were so big that getting into the back was a struggle. Also there was no question of long term ownership issues, just how fast & with how much fun you could get down the road.

[Jezza29]

Awesome Car! Still have my fathers hes owned from new! 180,000 miles 1985 on a B plate still going strong, burnt some big motors off at Oulton Park recently!

This is a modern Golf trying to keep up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjwjcv1I_S0

[LotusOmega375D]

Dunk130TC said:

Here's mine, I'll never let it go.



D

Edited by Dunk130TC on Friday 22 March 10:07

"Dedication's what you need!"

Seriously these were always up there in the hot-hatch comparison tests back in the day. Usually the quickest. Much better than a rattly old XR3i.

[Prolex-UK]

Lovely car :-)

[Jezza29]

B488GUJ thats me!!!

[talksthetalk]

Would love one of these, leftfield choice of a great generation of early hot hatching.
What's the ergonomics like for a taller chap 6'3"
And that has to be one of the best definitely-not-integrated rear spoilers I've seen.

[Frimley111R]

The dashboard looks a lot like the Integrale one. Great find PH!

[dugsud]

Used to lust after the 130 back in the day but alas I could only afford on of these.....which were fun too :-)

[sjabrown]

Very nice. Oddball choice, put I'd really like one to sit alongside my 205s.

[Amirhussain]

Nice. It looks better than the Golf IMO.

[cliffie]

How funny, we had a conversation about this very car in the office just this week. My old mate Jim had one and I was very jealous at the time.

This is one retro cool motor.