Fiat
X1/9 Abarth (Group 4 prototypes)

Why it matters

The Abarth X 1/9 was Fiat's short-lived attempt to build a rally successor to the Fiat-Abarth 124 Rally on the mid-engined X 1/9. It stopped at prototype stage when management put its money into the Fiat 131 instead, which became the Abarth rally car.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

• Fiat X1/9 Abarth (Group 4 prototypes) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England · CC BY 4.0
• Fiat X1/9 Abarth (Group 4 prototypes) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
• Fiat X1/9 Abarth (Group 4 prototypes) (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England · CC BY 4.0

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

In 1974 Abarth engineer Mario Colucci modified one of the cars used at the Sicily presentation, swapping in an 1800 cc Lancia Beta twin-cam engine so that tested 124 Rally parts could be reused. The prototype had a rear spoiler, a periscope engine vent, widened tracks and striking wide wings, in the red, yellow and green livery of the 124 Rally that year.

Entered in Group 5 as the Fiat-Abarth X 1/9 Prototipo, it won the Rally of the Eastern Alps, the 100,000 Trabucchi and the Liburna Rally, and was less successful in the Tour de Corse and Giro d'Italia. Bertone was ready to build the 500 cars needed for Group 4, but Fiat chose to invest in the 131 body, ending the programme with the few prototypes made.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The page lists these distinguishing features of the prototype: 1800 cc Lancia Beta twin-cam engine, rear spoiler, periscope vent for the central engine, widened tracks, flared wings and the red-yellow-green livery.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   VeloceToday – Fiat Abarth X1/9 Prototipo Level C

   • 5 Chassis prepared by Abarth in summer 1974 (128 AS 0023001 to 0023005); excludes the original 1973 prototipo

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   Fiat X 1/9 - The little Targa that won over America Level B FCA Heritage (Stellantis Europe)

   • twin-cam close relative of the 124 Rally competition engine
   • replacing the engine with an 1800-cc model from a Lancia Beta

   Accessed 2026-11-12
3. 3
   Technical data of the Fiat X1/9 Abarth Prototipo Level B x19world.de

   • Bore x stroke: 86 x 79,2 mm
   • Compression ratio: 11,4
   • 2 or 4 valves, DOHC (Abarth)
   • 2 Weber 44 IDF (232) or 48 IDF (232 G) or Kugelfischer-injection
   • Power: 210 PS at 7800 1/min (232 G)
   • 210 PS at 7800 1/min (232 G)
   • Torque: 21 mkg / 206 Nm at 6200 1/min (232 G)
   • 206 Nm at 6200 1/min
   • manual 5-speed-gearbox ... with limited-slip differential
   • Widened stock chassis with fender flares, front spoiler
   • Wheelbase: 2202 mm
   • 3810 x 1690 x 1180 mm (without snorkel)
   • 3810 x 1690 x 1180 mm
   • Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h 6,8 s
   • 80-Liter-fuel tank in the front trunk

   Accessed 2026-11-12