1973 Fiat Pininfarina 130 Coupe ... Stunning Restoration of Design Icon

1973 Fiat Pininfarina 130 Coupe

An Exceptional Executive Class Coupe .. primo restoration

Just completed extensive, professional restoration in Italy … dazzling visuals, superb condition

History

This 130 Coupe was originally sold to an industrialist from Verona and then sold to another prominent businessman in the same region. This distinctive coupe was well known in the area and admired by many local enthusiasts. In recent years the car began showing its age and was subsequently purchased by a Fiat 130 afficianado with the intent to perform a full restoration. This cosmetic and mechanical restoration was completed in 2016. We subsequently purchased the car and had it serviced and gone thru to meet our own standard by our own shop in Italy, and only then imported it to the US in December 2017. All import documentation is in order and the car has a current CA title and registration.

All aspects of the exterior, interior and mechanics have been attended to and restored to a very high standard. The body was straight and free of any significant rust. All minor corrosion was professionally addressed, a new paint finish in the original color as applied and sealed with a double clear coat. Looks beautiful, drives like new, all systems in perfect working order. Suspension, bearings, bushings and all drivetrain seals inspected and passed or renewed as necessary. Transmission shifts crisply, clutch action is smooth and positive, brakes are strong with excellent feel, ride and handling are impressive.

This example is in the original metallic mediterranean blue hue and features the desirable 5-speed manual transmission. The interior has newly upholstered seats in soft black leather matching the original factory option in pattern and stitching, and the original pumpkin color carpeting with a creme white headliner. This example does not have the factory air conditioning unit; we consider this to be an advantage, as these units were problematic. New tires are mounted on the original Cromodora alloy wheels and there is a matching spare wheel.

Odometer shows 32,966 kilometers, believed to be 132,966 km or 82,639 miles actual.

Exterior

Original color respray, wet sanded and two new coats of clear laid on

Bumpers and grille removed and aligned

All chrome and window trim restored and polished

Undercarriage pressure washed, sandblasted, primed and repainted as necessary

Hood and trunk realigned

Tail lights replaced

Interior

New leather upholstery in black, hides and stitching matched to original factory option

Dashboard restored

All carpeting steam cleaned

Sunvisors restored

Headliner realigned

Front seat chrome plates polished

All interior lights, switches and contacts replaced, reconditioned, function checked and corrected as required

Mechanical

Major services done in 2016

Engine rebuilt

New clutch, turned flywheel

Transmission and differential lubricants changed

New brake calipers & brake lines

Full Service performed 2017

> New exhaust system, mufflers, clamps, mounts

> Fresh routine maintenance, spark plugs, filters, belts, hoses, thermostat

> Radiator acid washed, protected and new radiator cap

> Oil change, coolant replaced

> Valve adjustment

> Clutch adjustment and lubricated linkage

> Brakes serviced, rear brake pads replaced

> Right front wheel bearing replaced

> Engine bay detailed, electrical wiring inspected and secured

MODEL HISTORY

Fiat’s 70’s Move Upmarket

Rare & Exclusive Beauty

Design Icon

True Grand Touring Coupe,

In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s Fiat was very successful and ambitious. In an effort to move into the executive market in Europe and compete directly with BMW and Mercedes Benz, Fiat developed an all new luxury sedan, the 130 Berlina introduced in March 1969. Quite advanced engineering featured a new 2.8 liter V6 engine designed by the esteemed Aurelio Lampredi, formerly at Ferrari, who had also designed the Dino V6, the legendary V12s of the the 1950’s and several Formula 1 and 2 racing engines for Ferrari. The chassis was thoroughly modern as well, incorporating fully independent suspension with torsion bars in front, 4-wheel disc brakes and power steering. Despite the advanced engineering and many favorable reviews, the 130 Berlina did not quite meet the challenge of the German luxury brands. The styling was very conservative for the period and performance was modest.

To address these issues, Fiat developed a stunning coupe version of the 130 introduced at the 1971 Geneva Auto Show. The 130 Coupe was an instant hit. The elegant styling and exceptional interior design was the work of Paolo Martin at Pininfarina, where the 130 Coupe was also manufactured. The sensational shape won a significant European design award and the 130 Coupe is still regarded as one of the most beautiful cars produced in the modern era. The interior was restyled with a contemporary flair and upgraded from the already luxurious standard of the 130 Berlina. It featured distinctive wood trim, soft illumination via advanced fiber optics, comprehensive instrumentation and a full complement of toggle switches in a state-of-the-art, 007, 70’s technology motif. Paolo Martin took a personal interest in all details including the design of the luxurious seats and exclusive upholstery details. Just one of many sexy features is a push button to open the passenger door from the driver’s seat.

Under the hood the V6 was enlarged to 3.2 liters and now developed a lively 165 HP and much improved mid-range torque. In the best Italian fashion the 3.2 V6 is a joy to exercise fully and provides a stirring exhaust note. Both automatic and manual transmissions were available, with the desirable 5-speed manual being a very robust and sporty ZF unit. A true four passenger GT, the 130 Coupe now had the grace and pace to compete directly with the BMW 3.0 CS and Mercedes-Benz 280 CE. A very generous boot completes the package defining the 130 Coupe as a grand touring car in the classic tradition.

Premium pricing limited ultimate sales, but the 130 Coupe was a clear success in the market, redefining Fiat as a real player in the European executive market. Produced from 1971 thru 1977, about 4,500 130 Coupes were sold with the 5-speed manual version accounting for about 500 of those. The 130 series was never imported to the US and very few clean examples still exist on the continent. The iconic styling is legendary and the unique GT coupe execution has created a devoted following among the cognoscenti.

World class style, elegant luxury details, true four passenger GT accommodations and a superb ride/handling balance are combined in this rare and exclusive, iconic design.

FIAT 130 Coupe Specifications:

3.2 liter Belt-Driven SOHC V6

165 HP / 184 lb ft Torque

190.6” length

69.3” Width

107.1” Wheelbase

3,428 lbs Curb Weight

Top Speed 120 mph +