2018 Abarth 695 Rivale 175th Edition

Highlights

• 1 of just 175 Rivale ‘175th’ hatchbacks

• Chassis 151 of 175 of the collaboration with yacht company Riva

• Freshly serviced

• Cambelt changed in July 2024

• No modifications from factory specification

Overview

Arguably the closest thing that the modern-day petrolhead can get to the original ‘go kart’ driving experience of the classic Mini and Fiat 500, the Abarth 595 and 695 (the latter of which we’re dealing with here) are hot hatches of the truest sense, offering drivers a full-on driving experience with plenty of drama, noise and fun at their fingertips.

With a plethora of special edition 695s having been produced by Abarth over the years, arguably the best-looking of them all is the 695 Rivale edition. Even more exclusive than the Rivale is the Rivale 175th edition, produced in conjunction with the legendary Riva yacht company to celebrate their 175th anniversary. 

Limited to just 175 hatchbacks and 175 cabriolets, the Rivale 175th enjoys all the upgrades of the standard Rivale - two-tone Rivale colour scheme, Koni FSD suspension, Brembo brakes, UConnect infotainment, Akrapovic exhaust and more - but goes one step further with hand-stitched leather seats, 175th badging, silk-screen printed carbon dashboard, numbered plaque on the centre console and unique 17” wheels.

This particular 695 Rivale 175th was originally purchased from Dick Lovett Ferrari by the first owner, who used it as his day-to-day commuter around London, with the Abarth sharing garage space with his Ferrari 812 Superfast. It was then sold to a second owner who commented that they had far more fun driving this diminutive ‘pocket rocket’ than their McLaren, before being purchased by the seller in July 2024 from AutoStrada, at which point the car was serviced including a cambelt change, fitted with new discs/pads and had all four wheels refurbished.

Having been a fantastic daily driver - ideally sized for the narrow lanes of Devon - the decision has been made to move on this 695 as it is simply too special to use as a daily driver, meaning one lucky bidder has the opportunity to obtain a limited-run example of the effervescent 695 with a number of tasteful model-specific upgrades. 

History and documentation

• Registered 13 Jan 2018

• Just 3 owners from new

• Stamped service book with services as follows: Jan 2019 @ 4,908 miles, Feb 2020 @ 9,440 miles, Jan 2021 @ 13,523 miles, Jan 2022 @ 18,874 miles, May 2023 @ 29,643 miles, Jul 2024 @ 37,718 miles (inc cambelt), Jun 2025 @ 46,103 miles

• Owners manual and stamped service record

• Collection of invoices and old MOT certificates

• Two keys

• MOT with no advisories expires 30 Jul 2026

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

• London ULEZ compliant 

Interior

• Two-tone, hand-stitched leather interior in excellent condition

• Carbon dashboard and steering wheel trims

• No signs of any damage, rips or tears to the seats

• Some light scuffs noted to the rear of the front seats

• Half-leather front mats in great condition, with only light wear

• Minimal wear to the high-traffic areas such as the door cards, lower dash trims and steering wheel / shifter

• Carbon shifter

• Numbered plaque in centre console showing that this is car 151 of 175 hatchbacks

• In the rear, the luggage compartment is clean and tidy throughout

• Some light scratches are noted to the rear trims of the back seats, visible in the boot

• Sunroof in full working order

• No reported faults or issues

Exterior

• Two-tone Rivale paintwork with contrasting ‘beauty line’ in great condition 

• The bodywork is in excellent shape, with no impact damage, dents or dings that we could see

• The front end has the usual smattering of stone chips expected from a performance car such as this

• We noted a few larger stone chips to the front end, along with a light abrasion on the lower offside corner of the bumper

• The wheel arch rears are also lightly stone chipped

• There is a small chip in the windscreen just to the nearside of centre

• Elsewhere, there are a pair of larger stone chips to the offside A pillar, and some delamination noted to the upper nearside corner of the windscreen

• All four wheels were refurbished at the time of purchase in 2024, and remain in excellent condition with no kerb rash or damage

• Overall, a very smart example of the limited-run 695 Rivale that will no doubt draw plenty of attention from casual admirers and PHers alike

Mechanical

• 1368cc turbocharged inline-four engine, producing 180bhp and 184lb ft of torque

• Five-speed manual gearbox, sending power to the front wheels

• Brembo brakes

• Koni FSD suspension

• Switchable Akrapovic exhaust

• BMC air filter

• No modification from factory specification

• The engine bay is clean and tidy, even retaining the factory heat shield on the underside of the bonnet

• The switchable exhaust gives this 695 a truly incredible sound, with a guttural howl at lower revs building to a crescendo as you climb the rev range, with plenty of crackling and noise on overrun when in Sport mode

• Reported to be in excellent mechanical health, with no known faults or issues

Summary

The Abarth 695 is a firm favourite amongst enthusiasts for its performance, involved driving experience and kart-like handling, all wrapped up in a proven and attractive package that is suited for city driving and B-road blasts alike.

For those looking for a little more sophistication and exclusivity, the 695 Rivale 175th is arguably the variant to have, with a plush hand-stitched leather interior, excellent specification from the factory and a gorgeous two-tone paint scheme. 

Presented with low ownership, an excellent service history and in very good order throughout, chassis 151 of 175 appears to want for nothing other than a tank of fuel and continued enjoyment, and with summer now in full swing, we can think of few better ways to travel along the English Riviera and beyond…

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Berrynarbour, North Devon