Fiat prototipo

The best-known Fiat Abarth X1/9 prototipo, the chassis 128 AS 0023003 and the article's author.

Story and photos by Roberto Motta

Last week Roberto Motta described the rally successes of the X1/9 prototipo: This week he photographs two of these rare Fiats and wonders where the rest are…perhaps you can help!

The Fiat X1/9 provided a good basis for a new rally car: mid- engine, good weight distribution, excellent handling, a strong 16 valve engine and top speed of 200 km/h were the makings of a winner.

However, the Protoipo’s history is still shrouded by some mysteries. For example, we are not sure how many chassis were really built.

The first car was the chassis #128 AS 0000133. This car is still in Italy.

Then in the summer of 1974, Abarth prepared five new chassis with a numerical sequence from #128 AS 0023001 to #128 AS 0023005. The first three chassis numbers were definitely registered on September 4th, 1974.

Some years ago, the author endeavored to photograph three of these cars. All these car were found in Italy, near Torino;

#23001 Deila’s car which can be seen below.
#23002 Seen in a Volta, Italy, work shop.
#23003 Macaluso’s car and the first subject car here.
#23004 Legend says that in the chassis series, there was the ‘stradale’ and another spare chassis that was never used in race events. Some think #23004 would have been the stradale chassis, but I never seen the car. Reportedly, this car was in the Al Cosentino workshop, and some years ago the car was sold. Cosentino claims to have bought at least one, but never provided the chassis number.

Periscopes were all the craze at Cosentino's new Faza headquarters..apparently at least one of the prototipos found its way into his hands.Is it 23004?

There are many images of this car, but no one has confirmed the chassis number.

The second mystery is about #23005; was really built? If so, where is the chassis today?
Any reader that has some information or documentation that can help to solve the mystery can send a comment to VeloceToday.

The lateral image show us how aggressive a car can become a car after the 'Abarth Treatment'.

Rear wheels had a size of 8.0 x 13 with tires of 235/55/13, or 10 x 13 with 270/40/13 tires.

Rear engine air intake.

[Read more…]

Fiat Abarth X1/9 prototipo, chassis 128 AS 0023003.

Story and color photography by Roberto Motta

The Fiat Abarth X1/9 prototipo made a brief, but impressive, appearance in the rally World during the 1970s, but as soon it was competitive, it became the victim of Fiat politics. The history of the Fiat Abarth X1/9 prototipo started at the end of ’73 season, when the Fiat’s Rally Competition department began work on the project that would replace the 124 Abarth Rally.

The X1/9 in road version, compared with the 'prototipo'. Here it is driven by the test driver Giorgio Pianta.The car was entrusted for the Swiss F1 driver Clay Regazzoni and the co-driver Gino Macaluso at the 1974 Giro d'Italia Automobilistico.

The Competition department was manned by Renzo Avidano, Abarth’s Director, Giulio Lampredi, the engine designer, Mario Colucci, chassis expert, Giorgio Pianta, the test driver and Gino Macaluso, one of the best Fiat Rally Team’s co-driver and future Fiat Sport Director.

The X1/9 1300cc and the aggressive 'prototipo.'

The first car used for the project was the Chassis 128 AS 0000133 and registered with the license plate number TO H29040. The car featured here is one of the Fiat X 1/9s used in the press presentation, on November 26th, at the Targa Florio’s roads. [Read more…] about Fiat Abarth X1/9 Prototipo