Healthy heritage - Renault Alpine and Fiat Abarth 124 in a (historical) comparison test

Premium

Healthy heritage - Renault Alpine and Fiat Abarth 124 in a (historical) comparison test

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created in 1975

Text:

Yörn Pugmeister, translated by DeepL

Photos:

Reinhard Klein Verlag

2

Renault Communication

2

Zwischengas

1

Fiat / FCA Group / Werk

1

Archiv

47

53

Healthy heritage - Renault Alpine and Fiat Abarth 124 in a (historical) comparison test

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat Abarth 124 Rally (1974) - Antti Ojanen was sometimes faster than Alén in the 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland, but the latter then took third place

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Sport Coupé (1974) - together with Abarth 124 Spider and 124 Spider

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 131 Abarth (1977) - 1977 Monte Carlo Rally - unlike the Fiat 124, the 131 Abarth was a winning car and won the world championship title at the first attempt

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth - Markku Alén finishes third in the 1975 Monte Carlo Rally in the Fiat 124 Abarth

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - rally version of the 124 convertible with fixed hardtop, downsized by 110 kg

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth (1973) - the hoods are made of GRP

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth Rally (1973) - on the road without the hardtop

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth (1974) - 53 kg were saved compared to the standard Spider, despite the hardtop and safety equipment

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth (1974) - Group 4 rally version in action

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth Rally (1973) - Works car for rally use

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth Rally (1974) - the version for the East African Safari 1974 with protective grille in front of the windshield

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Premiere in Geneva - Pininfarina created the basis for rally sport

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth (1973) - always two-tone

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth (1974) - on a quick test drive

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth Rally (1973) - Rear view of the factory car for rally use

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth (1972) - front view of the sportiest variant

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 124 Abarth (1975) - on one of its last outings

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1973) - View into the vehicle preparation of the Alpine Renault racing department, you can also see an A 310 and R12 Gordini vehicles

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine-Renault A 110 (1975) - Rally Morocco 1975 - Robert Neyret/JAques Terranorsi after a tough desert sprint with the 1800 Alpine at the service point

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine-Renault A 110 (1968) - at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1968

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine-Renault A 110 (1970) - Production in two chains in Dieppe

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine-Renault A 110 (1968) - Vinatier at the 1968 Coupe des Alpes

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine-Renault A 110 (1963) - delicate air intake at the rear of the Berlinette

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1972) - Swietletz on a snow-wet road

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1971) - Flat tire at the Acropolis Rally 1971

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1969) - characteristic design attributes

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1969) - Monthléry test day on the occasion of the 1968 Paris Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1975) - Vehicle dimensions

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine-Renault A 110 (1971) - in a GT series race

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1971) - Jorcquenin at the Tour de Corse

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1971) - Second class victory for Philippe Erard in the 1971 Wangen slalom

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 1600 SC (1976) - Side view of the Berlinette

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1968) - Vinatier in Sanreours

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1967) - Vinatier - Jacob, Corsica 1967

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1969) - the Berlinette was short and flat

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1972) - Darniche at the 1972 Monte Carlo Rally

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1972) - in tough rally use

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1969) - side view from diagonally in front

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1968) - Vinatier (F), Coupe des Alpes 1968

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine A 110 (1969) - you can only guess from the pictures how close-cropped the Berlinette was

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine-Renault A110 (1971) - Österr. Alpenfahrt, Andersson, Hertz

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alpine-Renault A110 (1971) - Österr. Alpenfahrt, Andersson

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rally Monte Carlo 1973 - Andruet wins with co-pilot "Biche" (with psychology) in the Alpine A110

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

1971 Monte Carlo Rally - Alpine A 110 in alpine surroundings (Ove Andersson/Stone win)

You have only

3 out of 53

images seen in high resolution

Fiat Abarth 124 Rally (1974) - Antti Ojanen war bei der 1000 Seen Rallye in Finnland teilweise schneller als Alén, welcher dann aber den dritten Rang einnahm

Fiat 124 Sport Coupé (1974) - zusammen mit Abarth 124 Spider und 124 Spider

Fiat 131 Abarth (1977) - Rallye Monte Carlo 1977 - der 131 Abarth war im Gegensatz zum Fiat 124 ein Siegerauto und gewann auf Anhieb den Weltmeistertitel

Fiat 124 Abarth - Markku Alén wird auf dem Fiat 124 Abarth Dritter bei der Rallye Monte Carlo 1975

Fiat 124 Abarth am Genfer Automobilsalon 1972 - um 110 kg abgemagerte Rallye-Version des 124-Cabrios mit fest montiertem Hardtop

Fiat 124 Abarth (1973) - die Hauben sind aus GFK

Summary

Renault Alpine and Fiat Abarth 124 rally: they were known as wild rally cars with tame ancestors that were rare in everyday traffic. At the time, "sport auto" drove the respective road versions and searched for family traits between the tame and the wild ones.

This article contains the following chapters

Typical rally flair prevails inside
The Alpine demands very quick reactions from the rider
The Abarth: not quite a problem-free roughneck for Fiat fans
Rally fascination and exclusivity are the key features of the Alpine

Estimated reading time: 11min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Both the Alpine and the Fiat Spider can look back on an impressive list of successes and aptitude for laurels: in 1971, the blue-blooded flounders from France took the one-make rally championship. In 1972 Pinto secured the European Drivers' Championship in a Fiat, in 1973 Alpine won the Manufacturers' Championship again, in 1974 the French-Italian duel was canceled, Alpine devoted itself to Formula 2 and the 2-litre European Manufacturers' Championship, Fiat battled with its sister Lancia for the World Rally Championship and lost. The fact that such automotive feats, which in recent years have almost taken on the character of a campaign between Italy and France, would occur was no more to be expected when the Alpine was born than when the Fiat Spider was created in the Turin-based automotive conglomerate.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Fiat Abarth 124 Rally (1974) - Antti Ojanen war bei der 1000 Seen Rallye in Finnland teilweise schneller als Alén, welcher dann aber den dritten Rang einnahm

Fiat 124 Sport Coupé (1974) - zusammen mit Abarth 124 Spider und 124 Spider

Fiat 131 Abarth (1977) - Rallye Monte Carlo 1977 - der 131 Abarth war im Gegensatz zum Fiat 124 ein Siegerauto und gewann auf Anhieb den Weltmeistertitel

Fiat 124 Abarth - Markku Alén wird auf dem Fiat 124 Abarth Dritter bei der Rallye Monte Carlo 1975

Fiat 124 Abarth am Genfer Automobilsalon 1972 - um 110 kg abgemagerte Rallye-Version des 124-Cabrios mit fest montiertem Hardtop

Fiat 124 Abarth (1973) - die Hauben sind aus GFK

Source: