I know everyone has probably seen these, seeing as they are like the only decent pictures when googling "Abarth Strada".




This is an absolutely stunning example of a 130 in my opinion. Really love the white Abarth wheels!

Made me laugh that the bucket seats fitted in these cars could not be tilted forward to let people in the back and the headrest hit the roofliner  . An example of this can be seen in the Abarth 500 test that took place on Top Gear a few weeks ago. (Jeremy stated this as a reason to love Abarth, for crazy things like that for example, and also said that his only gripe about the 500 was that nothing is really crazy about it, er, dual exhausts and a diffuser? )

Here's one that's being restored and fitted with the wheels in the correct finish 

I take it the Agip logo was added after market then?

Lovely examples there, keep them coming!

Great pictures Iain.

I had two grey ones and a black one. Always wanted a red one, but could never find a decent one when I was after one. Both grey ones were Mk3's and the black one was a Mk2 with the Mk3 rear bumper and trim between the lights, (probably got rear ended at some point).

My last grey one was pretty hardcore, with uprated brakes, suspension, tyres, exhaust and an uprated engine by Avanti Motorsport. I made the mistake of putting 15" Sparco alloys on it at one point, but preferred it with the standard ones and decent tyres. I think it would definetly show a few moderns a hard time if it still exists.

That metalic grey one is an absolute stunner!

Something looks up with the rear suspension of the red one though, on the left side (if you were facing the rear of the car).

The one that appeared on ebay looks like it needs some work to get it to show car class, and the tow bar is a worry, the engine has probably been through hell. Still, a lovely incredibly rare car.

Easy answer to that John. Tell your employer that he should buy and restore a 130TC as it would look great in your showroom and pull the punters in. Once it's there it will of course need regular "exercising" to keep it in tip top condition    Rockingham cars have an original Fiat 500 in their showroom for a similar purpose but a Strada Abarth would be much, MUCH better 

There is no room left in the showroom either! We already have a non modified RS 200 in there and with Fiat and Ford releasing new product like its going out of fashion, we may have to put in a second floor!

I vividly remember the last time I saw a brand new one in a dealers showroom. It was 1988 and the dealer was in Peterborough near the city centre (I forget what they were called). The car was a shiny black example and I recall trying to convince my dad that it would make a perfect car for my mum (thinking I'd borrow it during holidays from university) but with no success  When that didn't work I tried to get him interested in the new yellow X1/9 sitting next to it but that also failed miserably