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Fiat Abarth 131 Rally Tribute Is a Great Homage to an Overlooked Legend

If you didn't have what it took to become a rockstar in the late '70s and early '80s, there was still a chance for you to live the life of one: become a racing driver. That was arguably the golden age of motorized competitions, all culminating with the stupidly fun Group B rallying.
Fiat 131 Abarth Tribute 8 photos
Photo: Gabriel Nemeth on Instagram
FIAT 131 Abarth TributeFIAT 131 Abarth TributeFIAT 131 Abarth TributeFIAT 131 Abarth TributeFIAT 131 Abarth TributeFIAT 131 Abarth TributeFIAT 131 Abarth Tribute
It was also the time a lot of different models gained their iconic status - think the Audi Quattro, the Porsche 959, the Lancia Delta, the Ferrari 288 GTO, or the Lancia 037 Stradale, to name a few. But these were the poster boys. Behind them was an entire plethora of other spectacular vehicles that deserved their own recognition but found it difficult to break through the inflated egos of those mentioned before.

The Fiat 131 Abarth is a perfect example. Based on the most boring family sedan (two-door and touring versions were also available), this rally car not only looked very sexy with its boxy design and flared arches, but it also drove the par. So well, in fact, that it managed to go all the way and win the title in 1980 with none other than legendary driver Walter Röhrl behind the wheel. You know, the guy who sets lap records on the Nürburgring these days when he's not testing new and in-development models for Porsche.

It would appear the Fiat 131 Abarth caught the attention of a certain Gabriel Nemeth, a guy who works as a designer for... Mercedes-Benz. Yes, the rich motorsport history of the Stuttgart brand didn't spark his imagination as much as this largely forgotten (at least outside Italy) rally car. And aren't we glad that it did, because otherwise, we wouldn't have had these almost perfect renderings to gawk at.

It's hard to find anything wrong with Gabriel's project and glancing over his Instagram page, you also get to see how the entire process unfolded. Starting with a few sketches (we're sure there tons of others that didn't make it online), then the first renderings and, finally, these gorgeous shots that don't look that much different from reality. A wonderful tribute to what was undoubtedly a great car.
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About the author: Vlad Mitrache
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"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
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