Tag Archives: 1976

Fiat

1976 Fiat 126P

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Following up the act that was the original Fiat 500 was never going to be an easy task. Using the same rear-engined mechanicals wrapped in a new body shell, the 126 brought supermini styling more in line with the rest of Fiat's lineup at the time. One year after its introduction in 1972, Fiat licensed the 126 to be built in Poland by FSM. The car was dubbed the 126P to differentiate it from the Italian built 126 and was the first vehicle available on a mass scale in the Polish People's Republic. Like the Trabant in East Germany, some customers waited years before taking delivery. This 126P for sale in New York represents a rare chance to procure and Italian supermini with Eastern European ties.

1976 Fiat 126P

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1976 Fiat 126P Ginster Yellow (factory Fiat color) with black interior, 42,138 original kilometers (26,336 miles), 4 speed manual. Brought back to "new" condition at 36,493 kilometers in 2007 using original Fiat parts/panels and anything that was needed. This car was built as an art project personally by Wlodek Pawluczuk (5 time Polish rally champion). It is period correct with all original tasteful details available on the 126 line such as roof antenna, rear fog and reverse light, all chrome exterior pieces, pop out rear windows, factory wide wheels, left and right mirrors, mud flaps, factory seat belts, H4 headlights with city/parking lights, tinted windshield and original radio.

If one wanted a new Fiat 126p had unlimited resources and the knowledgeable expert to make it happen this would be the result. Every component that could be replaced was - both mechanical and cosmetic. Upgraded with a momo corse steering wheel (original will be included along with a collection of miscelanious spare parts). It performs as new - can be driven daily anywhere. I am the third owner of the car since new and second owner in the US. Spare tire, jack, original tool kit and owners manual present and excellent. I have over 40 high resolution photographs including detailed undercarriage shots. It recently won the chairman's choice award at the 40th Annual Polish Herritage Festival. The condition and history surrounding this 126 make it the only one of its kind in the States. The finest Fiat 126 in the U.S. and one of the best 1976's in the world.

Clean Fiat 500 Cinquecentos are bringing between $10,000 to $15,000 these days. The 126 is a relatively unknown commodity on US shores, so it's uncertain whether this 126, essentially a more modern looking 500, will bring the same kind of money. Essentially a restored machine, this 126 is impressive, but the best 126s can be had for under $5,000 all over Europe. While the bidding is strong, we're looking at serious money for some Communist nostalgia.

-Paul

Lancia

1976 Lancia Scorpion

We've featured a few Lancia Scorpions for sale here on Classic Italian Cars for Sale, but I must admit, I think this is the best one yet. Looking sharp in silver over red leather, this mid engined sports car is a rare sight on these shores, as they were only sold here for the 1976 and 1977 model years. Differing from it's foreign market counterpart, the Montecarlo, the US market Scorpion had a smaller 1.8 liter engine, crash bumpers, taller suspension springs and semi pop up headlights, as opposed to fixed, flush units. Still, this car struck a very modern pose in the mid 1970s and they are revered by a small group of enthusiasts to this day. This example is for sale in Arizona and includes an impressive amount of documentation.

1976 Lancia Scorpion

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Up for auction is a 1976 Lancia Scorpion Beta sports coupe. This lovely little treasure is exceptionally clean inside and out. Extremely rare and nearly impossible to find in this near mint condition. This Lancia comes equipped with the original factory mid-engine 1.8L twin cam motor mounted to her five speed manual transmission. The Beta also has 4 wheel independent suspension and 4 wheel power disk brakes. Factor Air-conditioning that is complete and a rear defrost window as well. The rack and pinion steering makes the car handle great and a true sports pleasure to drive.

These Lancia Scorpions were only produced in an extremely limited quantity with this unit being number 383 out of about only fourteen hundred for the year 1976. They only produced them for two years total, ceasing production the following year, in seventy seven. The exterior is a stunning silver with red leather upholstery. Factor alloy wheels with Pirelli tires all around. She runs fantastic and hustles down the open road. This Scorpion Beta has a clean, straight and very dry body throughout. The Lancia has a very unique retractable sports roof that opens up and is a sheer pleasure when driving the automobile.

The rarity of this model makes people take notice immediately as the car demands attention. Styling by Pinin Farina attracts all from the Ferrari crowd at any car show it enters or attends. This Lancia has only sixty five thousand original miles with a clean Arizona title and complete factory paperwork including window sticker, shop manuals, dealer literature and much more. This is a fabulous car and will make a great auto for the astute aficionado and avid collector.

This car really does a good job of masking its 65,000 miles, even if this is a nominal amount for a 36 year old car. It's unreal to think this car is that old, as it still looks contemporary to this day. Scorpions in good condition can range anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000 these days. If this example brings well over $10,000, I won't be surprised, as you'd be hard pressed to find a better one.

-Paul

Fiat

1976 Fiat 131 Abarth

Declared one of the greatest handling rally cars of its time, the Fiat 131 raised the bar in the 1970s. Derived from a modest saloon car package, the 131 Abarth combined the best efforts from Fiat and Abarth into a fiberglass body employing the 2.0 liter 16 valve four cylinder engine from the Lancia Beta. Along with a fully adjustable suspension, this allowed engineers to perfect the setup for a varying degree of road surfaces. The car captured the manufacturer’s title in 1979 along with winning one of rallying’s toughest competitions, Finland’s 1000 Lakes. This 131 Abarth for sale in Spain is an example of the 400 produced for homologation purposes.

1976 Fiat 131 Abarth

Fiat 131 Abarth. Very good condition. All original except carburation (it is fitted with two twin choke 44 IDF Weber carbs). Rare original blue colour. Spanish plates.

131 Abarths do not come cheap, and this blue treat is no exception. At a little over $60,000 USD, this is about average for what these cars are commanding today. The shade of blue is especially attractive, as it sets off the fender flares and is quite a departure from the usual red in which you see these cars painted.

-Paul

Lancia

1976 Lancia Scorpion

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Given the limited number of Lancia Scorpions sold new in the US, I've been surprised by the amount of mint condition examples that have come on the market recently. This Scorpion for sale in Toronto is remarkably rust free and has benefitted from a recent repaint. In red, this mid-engined Lancia exudes a decidedly Ferrari-esque aura.

1976 Lancia Scorpion

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You are bidding on a rare 1976 Lancia Scorpion that is rust free and is ready to be put to use as a reliable and fun classic. The great thing with these cars it that just about every part is still available and at a reasonable cost, check out www.montehospital.com, you can even use this to build your own Martini Lancia 037 rally car replica. The bodywork was completely repainted in glorious Ferrari Rosso in 2009 and the only spot of rust was removed and repaired. This is one of only six in Canada and even in the States they are quite rare. People always think it is a Ferrari and it certainly turns heads.

Tires and battery are brand new. I also have a fibreglass double bubble roof insert which I use for winter storage, the folding top is still seviceable and I have a spare for when replacement is necessary. There is also a new carpet set, a the five original Cromadoro 13" wheels with 90% used tires, the original tool kit is also present. Worried about buying on-line and shipping across the continent? Don't be; this car was my first such purchase and since then I bought a Merecedes SL500 from California and recently purchased a 33ft Trawler in St. Petersburg. I will assist with shipping arrangements So why is the Lancia for sale? Let's just say that I am not as slim as I was and SL fits me better! I have a 2009 inspection/valuation available. Price is as is where is and being 36 years old the Lancia has no warranty.

Scorpions of this caliber usually sell anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000, with truly exceptional examples bringing a bit upwards of that range. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the value for money factor is high when it comes to the Lancia Scorpion. Few cars can compete at this price when you consider this vehicle's balanced chassis, crisp, Pininfarina lines and competition pedigree.

-Paul

Lamborghini

1976 Lamborghini Uracco

One aspect that separates Ferraris from Lamborghinis is that under the $50,000 mark, there isn't much choice amongst the cars with the Raging Bull on the bonnet. About the most affordable Lamborghinis to be had are the V12 powered Espadas and this car, the mid-engined V8 Urraco. Oftentimes, these aren't the most mint condition examples, either. But here we have a Uracco on offer in Ohio for just under $60,000. It looks rather fresh thanks to recent paintwork and an engine service.

1976 Lamborghini Urraco 300

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1976 Lamborghini Urraco. Arnacio (Orange) with very original Black and Beige Interior, Original Weber Carbureted V-8 and 5 Speed Transmission. Original Wheels with Proper Michelin XWX Radials. Recent Restoration included paint, detail, and full engine-out service. Just in from long ownership by fussy older gentleman and long time collector.

These Lamborghinis of the 1970s aren't for everyone, as the federalized bumpers and the slatted rear window date the car. But I always believed Italian supercars look great in loud, primary colors. This Urraco is no different. With under 1,000 built, it matches the rarity of certain cars twice its price, so you certainly won't see yourself coming and going in this.

-Paul

Lamborghini

1976 Lamborghini Urraco 300

While the Urraco wasn't the first mid-engined Lamborghini, it was certainly more accessible to ordinary enthusiasts than what many consider the original supercar, the Miura. True to Lamborghini form, few Uraccos were ever built, even though this model was in production for a decade. Even if you count the Silhouette and Jalpa models, which drew heavily on Urraco hardware, a mere 1,255 examples left the factory. With a V8 engine ranging in size from 2.0 liters to 3.0 liters and 2+2 seating, this car was a direct competitor to the Ferrari Dino 308 GT4. This particular Urraco for sale in Florida is a looker. From its pristine interior to attractive Capagnolo wheels, it's a great example of an oft overlooked Lambo.

1976 Lamborghini Urraco 300

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1976 Lamborghini Uracco 300
Type: Lamborghini P300 Urraco
Years built: 1974 - 1979
Production: 190
Chassisnr.: 20.000 - 20.570
Presentation: November 1974 Turin Auto Show
Designed by: Marcello Gandini for Bertone
Built by: Bertone
Structure: Sheet steel, floor incorporated into the body
Suspension: All-independent, McPhersons with coil springs, telescopic dampers
Brakes: All-wheel ventilated Girling disc brakes, vacuum assisted by double hydraulic circuit and two servo's
Type: V-8 90 degree, light-alloy and aluminium block with gearbox and differential built in the same block and pressed-in liners, mid mounted, rear wheel drive
Distribution: Dual overhead camshaft with chain drive, two valves/cylinder
Main bearings: 5
Cyl. Capacity: 2995.8 cc
Bore & stroke: 86 x 64.5 mm
Compr. ratio: 10.5:1
Max. power: 250 bhp at 7500 rpm
From 1976 on: 260 bhp at 7500 rmp
Max. torque: 195 lbs.ft. at 3500 rpm
From 1976 on: 201 lbs.ft. at 3500 rpm
Cooling system: Water cooled, pump, thermostat and two electric fans
Ignition: Two Magnetti Marelli coils and one Marelli distributor
Plugs: Bosch 235 P21
Electr. system: 12 V
Alternator: 770 W Bosch
Fuel system: Electric Bendix fuel pump, 4 twin-barrel down-draught Weber 40 DCNF carburetors
Type: Lamborghini five-speed + reverse manual all-synchromesh Lamborghini differential
Clutch: Dry-single plate, hydraulically operated

I'm always disappointed by dealers that do not give detailed descriptions of vehicle history, especially when it's a Lamborghini dealer handling a classic exotic like this. That being said, the asking price of $85,888 seems way off, as most Urraco's I've seen for sale reside in the $30,000 to $50,000 territory. This car looks every bit of it's claimed 37,658 miles, but that's just not enough to put its value in the stratosphere.

-Paul

Lancia

1976 Lancia Beta 1800 Coupe

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Even though they were one of the few Lancias to be sold new in the United States, examples of the Lancia Beta, whether it is the coupe, sedan, shooting brake HPE or open roofed Spider, are few and far between. Rust was the Beta’s nemesis and sank the company’s reputation shortly after the car’s introduction. This problem was one of the main reasons you see so few on the road today. When they were new, these were priced above a Datsun 280Z and a little bit below a BMW 320i, so this was a car that appealed to Lancia fans or those who sought something outside of the mainstream. This 1978 Beta Coupe has beaten the odds and as the seller describes, could be the very finest example you could purchase on these shores.

1976 Lancia Beta 1800 Coupe

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1976 Lancia Beta Coupe. The color is the rare Marrone Parioli with Tan leather. 26K miles from new. One family owner. No rust of any kind, ever. This car was stored for about 15 years before mechanical recommissioning began about 18 months ago. Since then, $11,400 has been spent to ensure that this the finest original Beta Coupe available anywhere.

It was in the summer of 1975, at age 11, that I began to notice advertisements in my parents New Yorker magazine for a new import car: the Lancia. Billed as "The Intelligent Alternative", the Lancia Beta came in four body styles. I'm sure I asked my parents to buy one, but my father was dedicated to Peugeots and just wasn't interested. The '76 through '78 Series 1 cars are the ones to have today, as by 1979 slow sales forced Lancia to degrade the interiors with cheap vinyl and an ugly steering wheel and dash. Little over 3000 of these S1 Beta Coupes were ever delivered in the U.S. Today almost all are in wrecking yards. A stunning, original car like this is almost unheard of.

Completely outfitted with every option: they include power steering ($333), power windows ($218), air conditioning ($589), and a sunroof ($290). These options would have raised the already expensive P.O.E. list price from $7750 to an eye-poping $9180 for a 1976 automobile.

New battery, fuel lines, fuel filters, timing belt, water pump, crank seals, cam seals, thermostat, timing belt tensioner, accessory belts, front brake rotors, front brake pads, grease seals, brake hoses, shifter bushings, clutch, pressure plate, release bearing, spark plug wires, radiator fan switch, and wipers. Reconditioned rear struts. Fuel tank removed and cleaned. Reconditioned power steering rack. Head machined with new head gasket. Valves ground. Oil pan gasket replaced. New Dunlop tires. Distributor serviced. Air conditioning fully serviced and converted to R134 refrigerant...blows cold. Very rare power window switches found and installed. NOS tachometer installed (last one in the world?). Countless hours spent on the internet to find some or the rarest reconditioned and NOS parts to complete the car. EVERYTHING WORKS...even the clock. Original interior in very fine condition...no dash cracks. New Coco floor mats. The old paint has buffed out very nicely. Wheels repainted. You will likely never find another original-condition Beta Coupe like this. This car is destined to cross the receiving ramp at Concorso Italiano in the near future. The question is: will you be driving it?

Back in 2007, I was pleased to see Jeremy Clarkson drive a 1981 Lancia Beta Coupe across Botswana in Top Gear’s Africa Challenge. While the car was a constant nuisance in terms of reliability, it made the trek (albeit barely). Some may deride the Beta for being too much of a Fiat rehash, but for a design from the mid-1970s, it looks surprisingly fresh, if you don’t take into account the oversized bumpers. Values are very hard to place on Betas, since few exist and even fewer come up for sale on a regular basis. With about a week left and the reserve not yet met, I’ll be curious to see if this car sells. Considering its condition, I’d wager to guess $6,000 to $7,000 would be reasonable for such a rare piece.

-Paul

Fiat, Modern Classic

1976 Fiat Mirafiori 131S

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When discussing vehicle styling, a whole lot of terms tend to get thrown around; organic, retro, streamlined, you name it. Here is the epitome of another term, “three box design.” The Fiat 131. Unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in 1974, this would be one of Fiat’s most successful models well into the 1980s, with over 1.5 million produced in Italy, not including an additional 400,000 manufactured under the “Seat” brand. This 131 employed a fairly conventional front engine/rear drive layout with a solid live rear axle. In 1978, a minor facelift was carried out and new twin cam four cylinder engines were introduced. Few 131s exist stateside these days and ones that do are often overcome by rust. Here is an early 131S sedan with an upgraded 2.0 liter engine, ignition system and a more recent repaint.

1976 Fiat Mirafiori 131S

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It would be rare to find one of these in this type of solid, rust-free condition anywhere. The body and engine bay has been repainted with the original Arencio Scuro color (Dark Orange). I removed the stock 1800 engine (along with the air conditioner and all emission control components) and replaced it with a rebuilt Fiat 2-liter engine and upgraded to a Weber 34 ADFA carburetor. I replaced the stock air cleaner with a compact & easy breathing K&N unit. I recently installed a Compu-Tronix performance ignition system from Allisons Automotive. Check out the following link for information about this: http://www.allisonsautomotive.com/products.html#electrical … no more distributor rotors, heat damaged seals and vacuum advances to wear out on the hot exhaust side of the engine bay. I have not made any performance enhancements to the engine. The interior was nicely reupholstered and is in excellent condition with absolutely no signs of wear. The dash is perfect with no cracks. I believe the AM/FM cassette radio is what came with the car when it was new and it still works. I replaced the speakers in the doors a couple of years ago. The automatic transmission features the typical Fiat sport shift gate and works smoothly with no issues. Brake service has been performed on all fours. Stock wheels have been upgraded with refinished 14 inch Speedlines (including a matching full spare) as found on the late model Spiders / Pininfarinas. New Pirelli P6 tires are on those wheels.

1) Speedometer needle is a little jumpy at low speeds and reads approximately 10 – 15 miles high.
2) The odometer currently reads just over 59,000 as of the date of this listing. It is probably not accurate – title reads exempt. Who knows/cares?
3) I removed the clock from the instrument cluster because it was inaccurate and making a constant irritating noise.
4) The engine temp gauge recently stopped working. I have a replacement you can install.
5) The rear view mirror day/night adjustment tab is broken. I tie-strapped it in place and an easy adjustment of the mirror with your hand makes it work perfectly.
6) Exterior passenger side has three small paint dings.

This not a fixer-upper. It is truly a collector car that drives great and can be used as a daily driver right now. It is not a concours show vehicle (although close) and requires the owner to give it the type of simple maintenance consistent with any car from its era. The car is over 35 years old and is a fine example of a well maintained part of classic Fiat USA history. I reserve the right to end the auction early if I start to feel guilty about selling it.

This is certainly not the most desirable classic Italian car, but it’s an important one for me, as I was brought home from the hospital in my mom’s 1978 Mirafiori 131S two door. Her example was a 3 speed automatic like this four door. Ironically, as the transmission was built by GM, you would have thought it would be the one item on the car that wouldn’t have a tendency to act up, but unfortunately the transmission case was cracked from new and was a troublesome gearbox as a result. Still, in pale yellow, it was a handsome looking car and I remember the front seats being very comfortable. Ultimately that car gave way to a 1983 Honda Accord hatchback with a 5 speed manual which proved to be an infinitely better piece of engineering. I wouldn’t be surprised if bidding gets up to around $5,000 for this rare beast, but anything more would be a bit outrageous, in my opinion.

-Paul

Uncategorized

1976 De Tomaso Longchamp

Known best for the Pantera sports car with Ford's 351 Cleveland V8 mounted amidship, De Tomaso was also in the business of producing luxury cars in the 1970s and 1980s. Relegated to automotive obscurity these days, the Longchamp was a personal luxury coupe based off the Deauville, a sedan which carried the appearance of a squared off Jaguar XJ sedan. The Longchamp featured the same Ford 351 Cleveland motor as the Pantera and most of the 409 examples built had a Ford 3 speed automatic transmission. De Tomaso happened to own Maserati during most of the Longchamp's production run, and the Maserati Kyalami, built from 1977 through 1983, was based on this coupe. Named after the South African Grand Prix track, the Kyalami eschewed Ford's 351 Cleveland in favor of the 4.2 liter or 4.9 liter Maserati quad cam V8 engines. This example for sale has had the same owner for 15 years and looks sharp in red over tan leather.

1976 DeTomaso Longchamp

1976 De Tomaso Longchamp Red with tan interior 81,000 kilometers, or about 50,000 miles. The engine is a Ford 351 Cleveland engine that produces 330 horse power fitted with an automatic transmission. The Top speed is 149 miles per hour. Suspension is independent front and rear with coil spring and wishbone suspension. Steering is power assisted rack and pinion with vented disc brakes all around, the rear discs being positioned inboard. The interior of the car is quite luxurious and is almost fully covered with leather and this car has the original Nardi wood steering wheel.

Handsome exterior designed by Tom Tjaarda of Ghia. Only 409 examples of this car were made making this car very rare. This example has had the same owner for 15 years, he carefully cared for it doing such things as rebuilding the power steering rack and having the wheels redone. Except for some minor cosmetic flaws, the car is in very nice condition. The great thing about these cars is that you can own what is truly an exotic and rare grand touring car but because they used an American engine in the car, you don't have to worry about expensive service or engine rebuilt costs. These cars are a great value, especially at $32,500.

The first time I laid eyes on a Longchamp, it struck me as a scaled up version of a Mercedes-Benz R107 SL with the European market headlights. Coincidentally, these cars had similar production runs; both cars were produced from 1972 through 1989. While I wouldn't file this car under cheap thrills, $32,500 is a lot less coin than one would pay for a similar vintage Ferrari or Lamborghini. With its Ford engine, drivetrain maintenance would clearly be more reasonable than those aforementioned Italian exotics.

-Paul

Fiat, Modern Classic

1976 Fiat 131 Abarth

We've covered a good amount of Lancia's rally history in this past week, but during their spate of wins in the 1970s and 1980s, Fiat had a few successes of their own. Namely, with this car, the 131 Abarth. This car is a three time World Rally Championship, winning the title in 1977, 1978 and 1980 along with 18 race victories between 1976 and 1981. Of course, to go racing, manufacturers had to homologate the vehicle they were entering into competition, which is the genesis behind the road version we see here. These cars had the twin cam 2.0 liter Abarth engine good for 140 horsepower fed through a five speed gearbox driving the rear wheels. The seller states this is about one of 200 of the original 400 built that still exist to this day. I was surprised to see such a rare, original piece of rallying history located a little over an hour due south of my ancestral home in Portugal.

1976 Fiat 131 Abarth

131 Abarth - the nightmare of the Escort. 1 of 200 survivors of the 400 built to homologate group 4. Unique in Portugal. Four time winner of the Rally of Portugal, three times with Markku Alen (1977, 1978 and 1981) and one time with Walter Röhrl (1980). World Champion in 1977, 1978 and 1980.

2000cc, independent suspension, limited slip differential exclusive original model (same as group 4), 155-160 hp, lightweight fiber exterior panels built by Bertone, Aluminum doors. Two Weber 44 IDF carburetors with Abarth intake manifold (optional). Cromodora Wheels 15x7 "original manifold and carburetor preserved and included as standard. Engine and chassis numbers correct and original. Totally original/never restored. Imported from private collection in Italy. Much better than having money in the bank!

Beyond its pedigree and butch looks, the 131 is a significant car for me because my mother drove when I was born. Granted, her car was a pale yellow 1978 131 Mirafiori two door with a GM sourced 3 speed automatic transmission, but it still possessed the crisp Italian lines and quite comfortable seats which proved their worth on long trips. It wasn't the most reliable car, evidenced by the fact my parents traded the 131 in for a 1983 Honda Accord hatchback and owned Hondas for 15 years thereafter. Even still, it hasn't soured me on Italian cars and now, over 30 years on, cars such as this 131 Abarth have become a legend in their own right.

The asking price of €66,000 (~ $87,000 USD) is very strong money, even for such a limited run, championship winning vehicle. The exchange rate has not been kind to the dollar, but having been listed for almost two months, I can't help but think we are around $20,000 above the proper price point for this car, especially when you have low mileage Lancia Delta Integrale Evolutions out there in the $25,000 to $40,000 USD equivalent range. Granted, those cars will not be street legal in the US for another four years. For me, though, it would be worth the wait.

-Paul