Rally racing has a vibrant and storied history throughout the world. The rough-and-tumble sport has been defined by a number of different iconic cars, and one of the most famous of all is the Fiat 124 Abarth Rally, which served as the Italian automaker’s first foray into rally racing. Fiat quickly became a dominant name in the rally space in the early 1970s following its acquisition of Abarth, but its true streak of excellence came in the form of its 1974 124 Abarth Gr.4, which won several international races and is now for sale through Issimi.
The particular car, chassis 0064907, not only boasts an impressive racing pedigree but also served as a guinea pig of sorts for the Fiat Works Team. It was the first Fiat 124 to benefit from modifications like a 16 valve head, larger fuel tank, side oil radiator, and Naca air vents, which helped it serve as Fiat’s propellent force to victory. This example has a 2.0L inline 4 engine that’s mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, a setup that was good for 200HP in ’74. It boasts a brilliant “lobster orange” and light green livery that’s adorned with decals from sponsors like Pirelli, and the integrated hood-mounted light pods really evoke a classic rally look. As far as its pedigree is concerned, Chassis 0064907 started its victorious run with a season-opening victory at the San Marino Rally in 1974, which cemented Fiat’s status as a legitimate rally contender. From there, chassis 0064907 participated in the Rally di Sicilia, 4 Regioni, Elba, and San Remo, where came in 2nd place.
1975 would be a similarly glorious year for this 124, as it played an instrumental part in securing the European Rally Championship of that year for Fiat. After retiring due to an accident, this for-sale example would be repaired, repainted, and passed on to a series of owners until it reached its current one in 2018. This 124 is highly original and retains its original interior, engine, and period components, including the rare Colotti straight-cut gearbox. It is now on sale at Issimi for €259,700 (~$293,474).
