[rallyhub]

The SCX Fiat 131 Abarth, Rally de Talavera 1982, is the latest slot car version of the Italian Group 4 rally car.
Spanish driver Pablo de Sousa and his navigator Pedro Gancía Sánchez finished the Spanish Tarmac Championship event second overall; their best result of the 1982 season.
They could only achieve a result in one other Spanish Tarmac Championship event; a third place overall in the 1982 Rallye Villa de Llanes, but that was it.
In the other seven 1982 Spanish Tarmac Championship rallies they did not finish due to technical failures and three accidents.
De Sousa only drove the Fiat 131 Abarth in 1982 and then retired from active rallying. Later he took part in historic rally events in Spain and Portugal.

Here are a few photos of the Rothmans sponsored 1982 Rally de Talavera Fiat 131 Abarth:

       


       

[Kevan]

There's something about the Abarth 131, much like a Mk2 Escort... you just have to have one in your collection 

[rallyhub]

SCX used the 131 Abarth as their Club Scalextric 2023 car. It was the first 131 with front stub axles and the FR series motor. 
There are now three other versions with these new items to choose from. 
By the way, that dark blue/white Club Scalextric Fiat with start number 23 is a fantasy version, created for SCX collectors.
It never took part in the Rallye Monte Carlo, as the rally plates suggest, which can be confusing.
Personally, I always find such a version a pity, because it is historically inaccurate.
On the other hand, I am happy that SCX has included the 131 Abarth in their program again after a six-year break.

After the Club Scalextric 2023 Fiat, the 1980 Rallye San Remo version of Markku Alen followed.
The Finn was unfortunately forced to retire from the lead with a broken engine.

       
Rallye San Remo 1980.

Next came the winning 1980 Hunsrückrallye Fiat 131 Abarth of Walter Röhrl:
See also: https://slotracer.online/community/showt...p?tid=4703

       
The dirt- and the clean version.

[Kevan]

OK I went for the boringly popular Alitalia liveried one and wasn't actually aware these alternatives look so good.

[rallyhub]

A friend of mine did the same, but wasn't aware he had chosen the Historic Rallye Elba 2006 #52 car of gentleman driver Gianluca Pesavento.
He automatically assumed that the Alitalia livery would belong to a works Fiat.
Maybe Pesavento's car is an ex-works 131 Abarth, but that cannot be determined from the license plates.

If you're looking for an original Alitalia works version of the SCX 131 Abarth, then the 1979 Rally of the 1000 Lakes winning car of Markku Alen is the right choice.
This is an Altaya version, which was sold in parts and with accompanying magazines in Spain.

Here are both cars:

       
Pesavento's Fiat 131 Abarth.

       
Markku Alen, winner Rally of the 1000 Lakes 1979.

[Scuderia_Turini]

I bought one of these Rothmans liveried cars at a Toy-fair (Roger Barker stall). I assumed it was a fantasy livery so was pleased when back home I Googled it and found it to be genuine.
I am a big fan of the 131 cars:-

   

[rallyhub]

Nice Alitalia Fiat works service team you have there, Leo.
The Alitalia livery was used at the Fiat works rally cars during the 1978 and 1979 seasons.

Before that, in 1976 and 1977, the works Fiats were painted in the Olio Fiat colours; dark blue/yellow.
After so many years you would expect that at least one example of an Olio Fiat works 131 Abarth that competed in the WRC would have been launched by SCX,
Instead, they came with the SEAT cars of Spaniards Antonio Zanini, winner of the 1979 Rally Costa Brava, and Beny Fernández, winner of 1979 Rally Catalunya.
The last one is an Altaya version and was only available in Spain.
Nice cars, but not what rally fans outside Spain prefer.

Hub

       
Antonio Zanini/ Juan José Petisco, winners Rally Costa Brava 1979.

       
Beny Fernández/ José Luis Sala, winners Rally Catalunya 1979.

[rallyhub]

After the Alitalia livery, the works Fiats got a new colour scheme for the 1980 and 1981 seasons.
The white works 131 Abarths featured forward-tapering stripes in three shades of blue and a large Fiat laurel wreath on the bonnet. 
Fiat had already won the Manufacturers' World Rally Championship in 1977 and 1978, and repeated this in 1980.

After the already mentioned 131 Abarth rally cars, SCX also produced two versions, which participated in the Rallye Monte Carlo in 1980.
In the yellow/black/red Calberson sponsored Fiat France 131 Abarth, Michèle Mouton and navigator Annie Arrii finished seventh overall.
The slot car model of this was also readily available outside Spain.
This certainly does not apply to the 1980 Monte Carlo Rallye winning SCX slot car version of Walter Röhrl and navigator Christian Geistdörfer.
Röhrls' works Fiat was only available in the "Circuit C2 Classics" set, together with a white Renault Maxi Turbo.
Both cars from the set were offered on eBay in Spain. That was the only possibility for me to obtain the Röhrl Fiat.
I was surprised that both cars had no lights.
The set without both cars is still on eBay:
https://www.cocheslot.net/tecnitoys/8468...itoys.html
Later, during the UK Slot Car Festival at Gaydon, a dealer offered about 30 examples of the Röhrl 1980 Rallye Monte Carlo Fiat for sale.

It is a complete mystery to me why the Röhrl version was only available in a set. 
The same goes for the Alitalia 1979 Rally of the 1000 Lakes winning car of Markku Alen.
There would have been enough international interest in buying these both works cars.

Hub 

       
Calberson Fiat France Fiat 131 Abarth of Michèle Mouton/ Annie Arrii, 7th overall Rallye Monte Calro 1980.

       
Walter Röhrl/Christian Geistdörfer, winners Rallye Monte Carlo 1980.

[Scuderia_Turini]

Hello Hub,
I looked for ages for a Rohrl #10 131 but abandoned hope. I think I will now have to search again...

Leo

[rallyhub]

Hi Leo,

It won't be easy, but you never know.
I didn't expect them to show up in Gaydon either.
Good luck with your search.

Hub