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2017 Abarth 124 Spider

I liked the look of the standard 124 Spider when I first saw a review in 'Motorsport', but the Abarth 124, that appeared a little later, especially with the Heritage Look (matt black bonnet and boot lid - one of a number of styling cues that hark back to the rally winning days of the original Abarth 124 in the 1970's), was altogether a much more interesting proposition. So it was after a lot of consideration and a final affirmation of my decision (through Richard Hammond testing one on 'The Grand Tour') that an order was placed with Bishops Aldershot, on 21st January 2017.

I was keen on the idea of an automatic transmission with steering wheel shift paddles but reports I'd read were not entirely complimentary. Prior to ordering, I road tested an automatic and found it absolutely fine for my style of driving and the manual paddle shifts precise, with a lovely throttle blip when changing down at medium/high revs. Option wise, aside from exterior/interior colours, transmission and SatNav, the only additions available are a Visibility Pack (including full LED headlights with washers, rain sensitive wipers and rear parking sensors) and a Bose Sound System. I figured I wouldn't need any of this stuff as I don't drive much at night, I can reverse a small sports car without the need for a 'beep beep' telling me when to stop (although I confess that if this was available on it's own I might have been tempted) and why the heck would I need a Bose Sound System spoiling the great sound track emanating from the quad pipe Abarth Monza exhaust system!

My preferred colour was Turini White, with the Heritage Look, 6 speed automatic transmission and SatNav. Having located a car already in the UK, that matched my specification, the wait was short and on 7th February I collected my new steed.

The car takes some styling cues from the original 124 spider, which, in rally form, won the European Championship in 1975 with Maurizio Verini, who also finished second three times in the World Championship between 1973 and1975. The Abarth pedigree can be traced all the way back to 1949 when automotive engineer Carlo Abarth founded Abarth & C. with Cisitalia racing driver Guido Scagliarini in Bologna, using his astrological sign, the scorpion, as the company logo.

Apart from the obvious race/rally orientated matt black bonnet and boot, the car features many performance upgrades over the standard Fiat offering. Power at 168bhp with 250N/m torque, from the four cylinder turbocharged 1.4 litre MultiAir 16 valve engine, provides a 0 - 62 mph acceleration time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 144mph, whilst still delivering excellent mpg and a wonderful sound through the four tailpipes of the Abarth Record Monza exhaust system. Power is supplied to the rear wheels through an Abarth D.A.M. limited slip differential. A Brembo braking system, with red calipers and ventilated discs, provides the stopping power and sport suspension, multi-link at the rear and double wishbone at the front, is Abarth by Bilstein. The automatic 6-speed sequenziale gearbox is provided with steering wheel mounted shift paddles. Further external enhancements include 17inch Corsa alloy wheels, Abarth front bumper with enlarged air intake, rear diffusor and sport side skirts and red finish to the front air dam and mirror covers. In the cabin the upgrades include leather Abarth bolstered sports seats, Alcantara instrument panel cover, handbrake and gear shift gaiter, lower dashboard and arm rest, as well as a central red rev counter.

The car was collected on a rare bright and sunny February day and I was able to enjoy a short run to Brooklands and back. Initial impressions, as I write this after a week of ownership, are very favourable, although I have been disappointed to find that the nearside sill has become unclipped at the rear wheel arch. A visit to Bishop's confirmed my fear that the clip was broken, which means a whole replacement sill has to be ordered which, I'm informed, may take a couple of weeks.

Well a couple of weeks turned out to be only six days and with the car booked in two days later, the replacement sill was fitted perfectly within a couple of hours. I had expected that it would need painting, but I was pleased to find that it arrived fully finished in Turini White and a perfect match. Full marks to Bishops, which I hope is a good indicator regarding future service.

Events during 2017 included Auto Italia at Brooklands on Saturday 29th April, Festival Italia at Brands Hatch on Sunday 13th August and Shere Hillclimb on Sunday 3rd September, as well as outings to local car shows and a number of trips down to Goodwood.

2018

The Wonders of Wales - Friday 27th to Monday 30th July

Organised by Scenic & Continental Car Tours

This was based at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells and approximately 700 miles was covered in the four days, of which more than half was on fantastic Welsh roads. I was accompanied by my son in his Nissan 370z Nismo. Day 1 was taken up with getting to Llandrindod, due to a late departure, but the latter part of the journey hinted at what was to come. Day 2 saw us take the A483, A470 north, turning off onto single track over Bwlch y Groes, which is the second highest public road mountain pass in Wales. It is also known as Hellfire Pass and was used between the wars by both Austin and the Standard Triumph Motor Company to test prototype cars and their performance during hillclimbing. Following the decent we joined the A404 into Bala and then the B4501 to Cerrigydrudion to tackle the infamous Evo Triangle. Made famous by Evo Magazine, this is an absorbing and technical road in places, with minimal traffic and stunning countryside. After this we headed west to Betws-y-Coed to join the A470, possibly one of the best driving roads in the UK, to head back south towards Llandrindod. Day 3 saw us head to Aberystwyth via single track road through the Elan Valley, then down the A487 to Aberarth, before heading back east on the B4577 to Tregaron, followed by single track road to Beulah before taking the B4358 back to Llandrindod. Day 4 meant we had to head home, so we took the scenic route for the first part of the drive, down the A483 to Builth Wells, then the A470 to Talgarth and the A479 over Brecon Beacons to Abergavenny, splendid flowing roads, before hitting the A40 and the boring bit of the journey home. For great involving driving roads Wales is the place to be, we look forward to returning.

I was fortunate to secure another entry in the Shere Hillclimb on Sunday 2nd September. This was the sixth year that this event has been run and the third year running that I've had my entry for the Scimitar SS1 turned down! Chris Gow, an old friend from the RSSOC, who I hadn't seen for thirty or so years, since purchasing his yellow V6 Scimitar Coupe, turned up and subsequently accompanied me on the first two runs. My son accompanied me on the third and final run.

2019

As a sporadic collector of die-cast model cars, I had been keen to find a good 1:43 scale model, since acquiring the 124 in 2017. So I was very pleased when this one turned up on eBay, manufactured by IXO.

2020/21

The advent of the Covid-19 Pandemic resulted in minimal use of the car during 2020 which, coupled with the arrival of a small dog, meant that less than 400 miles was driven between the MoT tests in 2020 and 2021. The reluctant decision was taken in early 2021 to dispose of the Abarth, together with our daily driver, in favour of a large SUV.