My 1978 FIAT 131 Mirafiori

This 1978 FIAT 131 Mirafiori was my own daily driver in Los Angeles from 2003-2006. And after driving this 25-year-old car in mostly stock condition every day for 30 mos, I'm here to tell you first-hand that FIAT cars are engineered very, very well indeed- this car was nothing short of amazing to me.

It was purchased in late 2003 out of Colorado for just $500 on Ebay- I was looking at these and other sedans like FIAT 128's, and Alfa-Romeo 164's... and this 131's owner was delighted to find a buyer who would restore the car to perfection.

Having a Lancia Scorpion sports car that I drove on the weekends, I wanted a semi-practical car for commuting 50 miles/day that kept the Italian driving experience in my daily life. I had only seen pictures of the car- it looked to have only surface rust and was still in the hands of the original owner... so I rolled the dice and wired the money: since FIAT, Lancia, and Alfa-Romeo had all exited the US market in the 80s and 90s, such Italian "berlinas" remain a rare breed in our country to this day... and I wanted one. I then promptly hired a flatbed operator to deliver it to me in Southern California... and it was in my driveway 5 days later.

This 131 had just a little over 105,000 mi on it... and even impressively effective electrics- everything was original, and worked- even the clock! The silver with black interior was a major bonus- some of the lime-greens, golds, and burnt orange colors of the seventies didn't age too well for my taste... nor for most other people. Although it offers a fuel-injected 2.0L engine, the later, upgraded 131 SuperMirafiori of 1978.5-1982 (Brava in the US market) has a tacky velour interior, the fabric of the 70s... so I was delighted with this find of the earlier version. And the original window sticker was in the owner's manual... $4850 brand-new.

Since I had other cars and things to do and spend money on, this project was done with an eye to budget: First off, the car needed paint and some larger alloy wheels- I got extremely lucky in picking up four Maserati Biturbo alloys on Ebay for $60- the gentleman in Minnesota seemed to have a dozen of them for some reason. Refinished and fitted with new, Italian Pirelli's, these (real magnesium alloy) wheels transformed the look of the car and gave it a wonderful, solid feel... and are one of the few affordable alternatives for the odd FIAT 98mm (not 100) x4 bolt pattern.

In addition to bare-metal repaint done by a sympathetic old car-buddy, the car's only real needs were a rebuild of the noisy rear differential and some exhaust work... everything else worked, and the interior was in excellent condition. Add all-new filters and plugs, plus a powerful coil and ignition-system wiring from International Auto Parts in Virginia... and this car ran like a top with an almost factory-original drivetrain. Once I got my new dashpad and Fuba rooftop antenna... the 131 Mirafiori was ready to drive... and that's what it's all about when you own a FIAT.

The 131 Mirafiori was marketed in the 70s as a more mainstream economy car than, say, the upscale BMW 2002 of the period- but this car compares more than favorably with the Beemer in ride, handling, and performance- and to my eyes appearance, while more practical in most ways and a far more comfortable car. Yes, the late-seventies smog-choked US-spec 1.8L Twin-Cam FIAT four offers only about 80 hp... but its light-weight and unusual-for-the-time 5-speed transmission make for a very entertaining drive. This is the legendary FIAT Twin-Cam engine designed by Lampredi of Ferrari V-12 fame... so naturally, it's a delight to rev to the redline.

Back in 1966, American writers in Car and Driver magazine said: "It is the Italians, and the Italians alone, who possess the ability to create a small car -even a 1.0L economy car- with the sound and feel of a race car." And if you've ever had a FIAT or Alfa Spider... or even a family sedan like my 131 here... you surely know what they were talking about.

FIAT engineers did their famed magic on the suspension of the 131; you'd never believe the car had a solid, live rear-axle. In an incredible innovation, the car even features an early, mechanical version of an ABS anti-lock braking system- if the car lifted in the rear under heavy braking, a lever regulated pressure to the rear brakes, moving bias to the front disc-brakes as needed... impressive and visionary, and with no computer whatsoever. FIAT also delivered other standard features unusual in 1978- such as a tilt steering wheel.

In a testament to it's enduring, timeless design, the 131/Brava line continued to be built in numerous countries after production ceased in Italy in 1984, some until just recently... in Spain, Turkey, and Egypt.

I loved driving this car in the California canyons of course, as all FIATs are nimble above-all to deal with the mountains, short reaction times, and decidedly un-straight roads and avenues of Italy... however the real surprise was just how well the Mirafiori could clip-along at 85 mph all-day-long on road-trips... and while returning 30 mpg.

A sporty, fun sedan that loves curves... but can rip down the Autostrada for hours too... what a car. And this is how my final day with my 131 Mirafiori was to be in January 2006, as I drove up to deliver it to the new owner in the Bay Area... smooth, fast, comfortable... and fun.

I really do miss that car...