Fiat 131

Fiat 131
Fiat 131 Supermirafiori (1979)
Manufacturer	Fiat
Also called	Fiat Mirafiori Fiat Brava
Production	1974–1984
Assembly	Comprensorio di Mirafiori, Turin, Italy
Predecessor	Fiat 124
Successor	Fiat Regata
Class	Small family car
Body style(s)	4-door saloon 2-door saloon 5-door estate
Layout	FR layout
Engine(s)	straight-4
Transmission(s)	4 and 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic[1]
Wheelbase	2490 mm (98 in)
Length	4264 mm (167.8 in)
Width	1644 mm (64.7 in)
Height	1411 mm (55.5 in)
Curb weight	950-1090 kg (2094-2403 lb)
Related	SEAT 131 Tofaş Şahin Tofaş Murat 131 Tofaş Dogan Tofaş Kartal (estate)

The Fiat 131 is a small/medium family car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat from 1974 to 1984. It was exhibited at 1974 Turin Motor Show. The 131 was the replacement for the successful Fiat 124, and available as a 2- and 4-door saloon and 5-door estate. The 131 was marketed as Brava in USA. Standard 131s were often badged as Mirafiori, after the production plant in which they were produced; initially they had 1.3 L and 1.6 L SOHC engines. Revisions were made in 1978 and 1981, and all models were produced until production ceased in 1984. The 131 was produced 1,513,800 units total in Italy.^[1]

The Fiat 131 Abarth was a very successful rally car, winning the World Rally Championship three times: in 1977, 1978, and in 1980 with Markku Alen, Timo Salonen and Walter Röhrl at the wheel.^[2] The official "works" cars were sponsored by Italian airline Alitalia and bore their distinctive red, white and green livery.

First series

Fiat 131 1st series

Fiat 131 Abarth

Fiat 131 Racing

Seat 131 Estate: the estate version was badged as a Fiat outside Spain

Initially the 131 came with 1297 cc or 1585 cc straight-4 sohc engine. The first serie was available with two body styles; saloon and estate Familiare. There were two trim levels - the basic "131" and the better appointed "131S" or "131 Special", which could be distinguished from the base model by its 4 circular headlamps, chrome window surrounds and different instrumentation. In 1976 500 examples of Fiat 131 Abarth Rallye were built for homologation purposes. This car included many techical modifications such as 16 valve dohc engine producing 140 PS (Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character "{" hp/Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character "{" kW), Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection and independent rear suspension. In race specifications the engine produced around 215 PS (Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character "{" hp/Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character "{" kW) in season 1977.^[3]

Second series

The Mirafiori got a minor facelift in 1978. New dohc engines arrived and these models were badged as Supermirafiori. Biggest change exterior wise was larger rectangular shaped front lights, new bumpers, new bigger rear lights and new interior trim. In 1978 the 2-door sporting version Racing (Mirafiori Sport in the UK) with 115 PS (Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character "{" hp/Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character "{" kW) dohc engine, was launched. This car had four round headlights (the inner headlights being smaller than the outer ones (unlike any other mirafiori model produced)), different grille, spoilers & extended wheel arches, and a short-throw 5 speed gearbox. The Racing had top speed of 180 km/h (Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character "{" mph). Diesel versions also had four round headlights (equally sized). The Familiare (estate) was renamed as Panorama.

Third series

Fiat 131 Volumetrico Abarth

The 131 was updated again in 1981. Production of the Racing/Sport versions ceased, although these were sold well into 1982. The same 2.0 dohc engine went to the Supermirafiori. The car received a slightly updated interior (instruments, single-piece glovebox lid), whilst lower rubbing strips found their way onto all models up to CL specification. The Supermirafiori received larger lower door cladding. Mechanically, some new sohc engines (1.4 & 1.6), new clutch, gearboxes and tweaked suspension were also introduced.^[1] In the same year was also introduced new sport version Volumetrico Abarth, with 2 litre engine equipped with Abarth designed superchanger.^[3] In 1983 the production of saloon version was discontinued but the estate named now as 131 Maratea was produced with two engine choices 2,0 TC (115 PS) and 2.5D (72 PS) until 1985 and replaced then with Regata Weekend. These last versions featured 4 round headlights and the by-now familiar 5-bar grille.

Spanish twin

1980 blue SEAT 131, Béjar(Salamanca), España

Up to 1982, Spanish SEAT cars were all exact twins of Fiat models. The Spanish version of the 131 was called the SEAT 131, and was sold and produced in Spain, but only in 4-door bodies. The SEAT factories also produced the estate version of the car (called 131 Panorama) for export purposes, but these were badged with Fiat emblems.

Turkish twin

Tofaş industries in Turkey also based their initial production on Fiat 131s built under Fiat license. 131-based models included the Murat 131, the Doğan and the Kartal (the estate). These vehicles enjoyed a very long production run and later replaced by newer Fiat models. The Fiat Tofaş 131 was also produced in Egypt by El Nasr, on the basis of complete knockdown (CKD) kits since 1991 and in Ethiopia by Holland Car since 2006.

References

External links

• 131abarth.com
• Photographs and history (French)