The Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130TC we featured in the summer is back up for sale with no reserve. While it is rare, I doubt the sale price will come close to the $23,500 the owner was seeking a few months ago:
1983 Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130TC on eBay - REVISIT
The below post originally appeared on our site July 2, 2012:
Hot hatches were all the rage in the 1980s and Fiat's answer to the GTI was a series of hot Ritmos (known as the Strada in the US) tuned by Abarth. The final evolution in the Ritmo Abarth saga, the 130TC, packed a 2.0 liter twin cam, dual carb four cylinder engine capable of 128 horsepower. We've featured two 130TCs here at CICFS already, but this is the first one that has appeared on US shores, making it attractive for Abarth fans who want something just a little different than the 500 Abarth currently being offered by the company today.
1983 Fiat Ritmo 130TC Abarth
Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130TC (2 liters), 5-speed. VIN : ZFA138A0002968221. 1983 model, 69,000 miles, very good condition. No dents or dings, see pictures. Like new! Had no major accidents, original Recaro seats (optional). Perfect interior, all original. Two owners from new. Drives fantastic. Top speed 195 km/h (121 mph). 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph): 7.6 seconds. The car has a Florida title, imported from Europe in 2012.
In 1984 Fiat released the final production model of the Ritmo, the 130 TC Abarth. The car is based on the Ritmo 2 body, but contains exciting modifications. Abarth modifications to suspension and engine gave this car ample quantities of both acceleration and handling. The 125TC (130TC predecessor based on Ritmo 1 shell) won the 1982 Italian Group A Championship. The Ritmo 130TC was with Group N rallying in mind, and when released in 1984, was the quickest production hatch available.
The Ritmo 130TC was produced between 1984 - 1988 , developed 130 bhp at 5900 rpm, and could sprint to 100kmh in just under 8 seconds. This car had a very firm ride that some people would have found uncomfortable. The optional Recaro seats look the business but lack lumbar and under thigh support. They do offer good lateral support while cornering . One cannot help but wonder what the 131 Rally's 16 valve head may have added to this already impressive equation.
The last 130TC we featured for sale was priced at about $11,000, and that was located in Italy. Is $23,500 the price of unobtanium these days? For this Fiat, I doubt it. While it is certainly in good shape and quite possibly the only example of its kind in the US, that doesn't necessitate such a huge markup. It seems the seller is hoping to recoup the shipping and importation costs while making a tidy profit. With a market for a car this small, this price is just way too out of the ballpark.
-Paul
Maybe that price is for 2 of them? Otherwise, this seller is delusional.
Sorry, but this seller is definitely delusional. His ebay listing certainly doesn’t inspire clicking the “place bid” button… “THE LEGEND” (in the seller’s mind, perhaps) … “PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE IN THE USA” (really? what is that claim based on?) … “HAD NO MAJOR ACCIDENTS” (but how many minor accidents? define “major”)