(first posted 9/27/2013) Is there is a more forgotten sedan of the late 1970s and early 1980s than the Fiat Brava? As a replacement for the more well known 124 it sold only briefly from 1978 to 1982 the Brava was the North American version of the 131 Mirafiori. Despite sporting a twin cam engine and a range that included coupe, sedan and wagon body styles there a few survivors today.
The 131 had a much longer and more successful life in Europe than North America. Introduced to Europe in 1974 the 131 was a relatively conventional, yet advanced in many respects, three box design with rear wheel drive. On the conventional side, it featured a live rear axle but it was unusually well located to give respectable handling. The rear suspension was a neat multi-link affair rather than a leaf sprung cart axle. Initial engines were carried over from the 124 but still featured aluminum heads with double overhead valves available which was still quite a novelty, especially in its price class. A five speed manual gearbox could also be had and was an uncommon treat compared to most of the 131’s still four speed equipped contemporaries.
Although Volvo, Saab and Mercedes got more of the safety related press at the time Fiat was very committed to the safety of its cars. The body shells were uncommonly strong (the Fiat X1/9 is as well) with front and rear crumble zones built in. Rear seat belts even offered shoulder straps. In an era known for (somewhat inaccurately) flaming Ford Pintos, the 131 had its gas tank right up against the rear seat out of harms way. As a further nod to safety the 131/Brava was tuned for mild and safe under-steer at the limit.
The rest of the world name of Mirafiori came from the factory’s location in Turin, Italy. Perhaps Fiat figured Brava would be easier to pronounce for us North Americans as the car dropped the 131 and changed its name on its way over the ocean. North American cars were generally higher specification than what could be found over in Europe. There was actually a model dubbed SuperBrava offered briefly before the base specification was dropped altogether.
We also got a smaller selection of engines to choose from as the smaller OHV engines were not available but instead, we only got the lovely 1,756 cc or 1,995 cc twin cam four. Both carburetor equipped 1,756 cc and 1995 cc made 86hp except in California where extra smog equipment strangled the smaller motor to only 80hp. Fuel injection optionally arrived in 1980 and bumped the larger motor thus equipped to 102hp. The injected motor was then standardized for 1981.
We can tell this example is at least a 1980 model since a badge in the tail light tells us it features fuel injection. North American sales ended in 1982.
Like many European cars of the era the big, North American specification impact bumpers don’t do the cars any favors in the looks department. The Brava’s overall boxy shape means they look better integrated than something like a BMW 3-series though.
You don’t see nice airy greenhouses like this on modern cars. With such a thin rear pillar I suspect the visibility is excellent.
Nothing but straight lines back here unless you count the trunk keyhole.
The interior of the Brava was generally trimmed quite nicely for the era. Comparably reviews praised the logical layout and easy to use controls.
People will often assume because a car is Italian, French or British it is automatically an unreliable pile of crap. It might be different but that doesn’t make it automatically bad as Gil Cormaci’s 500k mile Brava coupe proves. His story made the rounds a few years back as it still wears original paint and runs the original drive-train minus an automatic to manual gearbox swap. The fact that his car lives in the Sun Belt rather than the Rust Belt certainly helps too.
Any Fiat 131 article would be sorely incomplete without mentioning its very successful rally racing career. With twenty WRC event wins and three championships the Abath 131 was one of the most successful racing cars between 1976 and 1981.
This ad shows one of the Brava’s most novel features, the glove box. Unusually it featured two top mounted sliding panels rather than the conventional drop-down door arrangement. The payoff was a compartment that was 24 inches long, 6 inches wide and a depth of 4 inches. Probably bigger than the trunks in some mid engined exotic machinery.
A last look at the rear of the Brava shows off its large glass area with no blind spots which is contrary to the gun slit style windows and massive pillars on many moderns designs. The 13″ rims are again a throwback to a different era as even humble cars these days seem to come with 18″ and 19″ chromed artillery wheels.
Probably more survivors in the US than the UK,ages since I saw one.The twin cam engine had a wonderful growl to it
I still have my 1981 Brava 4dr sedan in the silver blue color.It has 50k miles and is like a brand new car inside and out.
Hi My Lovely Friends in Fiat Community, I’m Indonesian and I love Fiat since 1969, when my father buying brand new Fiat 125A from the dealer. Then in 1973 I bought Fiat 1100’52 in Indonesia we called that car Fiat Cooper and in 1985 I sold that car and change to Fiat 1100 Deluxe’ 1966
Now I just dealing with my friend to buy his car Fiat 131 Brava 1983. Actually in the recent year my Collection Car are VW and Daihatsu. You can see my Collection in website bosmobil.com at Classic Corner (VW Jeep 181, VW Beetle, VW Buggy) and Retro Life (Daihatsu). And Now I build/ Modified Sand Buggy, it’s modified from Old VW type Jeep 181 The Thing
I hope, I could have a Fiat again for my collection….Fiat is my first love, caused my first car I drive is Fiat…..
I’m very glad to have a lot of information about Fiat, especially Fiat 131 Brava… even though the car not yet in my garage, cause I will send it to the workshop to minor repair.
In Indonesia Fiat 131 Brava is very difficult to found it in recent year in the good condition….I found it in not good.
Again thanks for all…see you soon
regards,
Yudha
Quite a find, David. I have not seen an old Fiat in years, but in a sort of CC effect, saw one of these in an old movie that we watched over the weekend. (Coma, from about 1978 – a young Michael Douglas drove a blue one of these).
I always found these good looking cars. I particularly like the one you found, in its unusual color. I also love the way the rear nameplates live in the taillights and not on the decklid. It also warms my heart to see a super-high-mileage one of these still chugging along. Cars of this era seem to get so little love, it is nice to see one that its owner found to be a real keeper.
The sad part is not that you hardly see any old Fiats anymore: it is the fact that one hardly sees any new Fiats anywhere, anymore. In europe they are very scarce now. Except for the 500 and Punto most of the model line up is more than 10 years old. Anyone else but me thinking, AMC, Hudson and the like?
Most of the ones sold in the U.S. have probably long rusted away. My mom’s first car was an orange Fiat 124 Sport Spider convertible, purchased used from a neighbor. It was only a few years old when she bought it but was already suffering from rust and other reliability issues. Getting parts for it was difficult and expensive as well. She jokes that FIAT stands for “Fix It Again Tony”.
My first car that I drove regularly was my mom’s 1978 1/2 SuperBrava 4 door in Champagne (a pale yellow) which we originally got via European Delivery picking it up at the factory in Milan. The car, like our previous Fiats, was nothing but trouble but I loved it anyway. The SuperBrava’s also distinguished themselves in their only half year of existence with a really cool (and totally impractical) Citroen-like uni-spoke steering wheel. I remember that the original ads stated that it was the ‘$5000 car with the $8000 interior’. And they were right…for its day, it was a fantastic interior that rivaled many cars more expensive than it and downright blew away anything in its class.
What would be even rarer than this car or a SuperBrava would be the 1978 1/2 decontented Brava as I only saw one…ever. Sitting in the service area of the Fiat dealer back in the day. Essentially it used the original 131 interior with the new updates to the sheetmetal that the SuperBrava had.
This is the wheel I believe. Very funky indeed.
I’d guess the base one would be more rare but have no facts to back that up. The base model was dropped shortly after so couldn’t have sold super well.
So if the Brava was the spiritual successor to the 1915 tourer, are the Viaggio and Dodge Dart the spiritual successors to the Brava? 🙂
Hahah good point!
I encouraged my mother to buy a Dodge Dart based on the Alfa Romeo chassis. I’m curious to see if I’m rewarded for my wisdom or forever hailed as king of the lemons. 6 months in and no problems.
Hopefully this will lead to the return of Alfa and a larger Fiat range!
Crumble zones? 😉
From what I’ve seen the whole car is a crumble zone on a Fiat, not just the front and rear. Just takes a couple of salty winters.
I’d forgotten these even existed, they used to be seen regularly until about the mid 80’s.
Pre-internet parts availability probably killed off quite a few in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I remember a lot of Capris disappearing around the same time.
That’s the way the cookie crumbles.
I admire the functional simplicity of these designs, and it has been literally eons since I’ve seen one. This is quite a find, as they were rare in the U.S. to begin with, and time did them no favors. Back in the early 1980s, I had a friend whose father was into Italian cars (he had Alfas and Fiats), and he owned a Brava 2-door in that “European Beige” color that was popular on imports at that time. Once my friend borrowed the car and took it to school, giving a group of us a ride. The car was roomy and airy, especially given its overall size. It was a stick, and seemed reasonably quick, even with a load of 4 high school kids. I’m not sure what happened to that car after I graduated, but I assume it was traded on for another Italian, though the pickings were getting pretty slim at that point. I know his last Italian was an Alfa Romeo Milano (around 1988), the one with the upturned rear-end styling (looked like it had been shunted from behind). After that he moved on to Infiniti, which I guess produced more reliable oddballs.
Shortly after after Fiat left the North American market, people here in Puerto Rico began selling them really, really cheap for fear of being stuck with a car that didn’t have dealer support. I was around 8 or 9 years at the time, and I remember that my dad purchased one, used it for a few weeks and sold it for a small profit. I was just a kid at the time but I found the interiors really nice, even sporty looking compared to the offerings from Japan at the time.
The dealerships had cool names: Autorico, Autorama, Olympic Motors and Pacific Auto are four that I remember.
These were great cars. When they were current, I worked in the local Fiat/Lancia/Volvo emporium, and I don’t remember any dissatisfied owners. My brother had a ’76 131 sedan, much more desirable than any of its competition. It was at home taking two couples to dinner, and just as at home tearing up back roads. As Fiat ads used to say, “Che bella macchina!”
Deeess your carr?
Preeetty car!
I shake my head still to this day every time I think of that scene. Thank goodness the Dino survives all the carnage!
My guess that this was something Japanese was totally wrong, but I maintain that the clue is something that might have appeared on a Toyota or Datsun of that period.
I actually test drove one of these at a dealer in Orange County, California. I distinctly remember the Mirafiori badge on the left rear. I’m pretty sure that the Brava name was probably on the righthand side, but I’m not certain. Don’t remember that exact year. Does anybody else know anything about this?
If you remember the Mirafiori badge, then you test drove a pre-1978 1/2 131. When the 131 was updated in mid-1978, in the US Fiat dropped the 131 nomenclature (and the Mirafiori badge) and went with the Brava and SuperBrava model names. In Italy and most of the rest of the world, the refreshed car was known as the 131 SuperMirafiori and the 131 Mirafiori for the base model.
I remember my father mentioning to me that you could buy one of the these incredibly cheap (something like $2500-3000) once Fiat announced they were pulling out the American market. I was sorely tempted, but the wife (not a car lover) really wanted me to go with the Dodge Omni that we ended up buying.
Probably just as well. As I had married a woman who consider an automobile one of those unfortunate necessities of life, automatics were mandatory. I had tried to teach her to drive a manual while we were dating, and while she caught on to what was needed, one lesson was enough to firmly put the “why would you do it this way when there’s an easier alternative?” attitude in her mind.
A truly wonderful little car, killed only by a dispirited dealer organization, and the usual American bone-headedness when it comes to automotive maintenance.
…and rust.
There is a medium blue metallic 131 that shows up at cruise-ins here. Four door, automatic, blue plaid interior, in amazing survivor condition. I don’t know where it spent most of its life, but it couldn’t have been around here.
Since im priced out of the I would love to own (alfa giulia step nose) maybe I should start looking for one of these. Seems to offer a similar charater in probably a much less expensive price point. Although a bunch more modern Im sure its driving characteristics would be close. In NA the giulia is probably easier to find than one of these but their price (fiat) could make it worth the search.
When they come up for sale the asking prices do seem quite affordable. The engine being shared with the Spider means the parts supply situation shouldn’t be too horrible.
I remember these back in the day, and haven’t seen one in the wild in a long time.
I rather like these for their basic, simple, but stylish lines.
Out here in Seattle, these would still exist since rust isn’t a factor here and I do see my share of Fiat/Alfa Romeo/Lancia models, and the occasional Yugo for that matter.
Mostly though, it’s the 124 Spider, the 850 Spider, the Alfa Romeo Spider (Veloce and Graduate), mostly of the 80’s, though a few years back, someone had a pre ’74 Alfa Spider, in red, though in very nice, unrestored condition, and I know it was pre ’74, as it had the smaller chrome bumpers, and a few years back, also saw an older Alfa coupe, in dark green, I forget the model now on the road.
There is an orange 850 Spider that I’ve seen at least twice the last couple of years, around work.
Today, I see lots of the diminutive Fiat 500’s on the road, and saw a larger 500L in the wild almost a month ago, though I KNOW they are selling.
Glad to see Fiat back, and rumor has it that Alfa Romeo is to return by Christmas.
Ciddyguy, where and when did you hear that Alfa was to be back in the US before Christmas?!
P.S. Remember, my username used to be Alfasaab99.
Christmas which year?
A sales person at a local Fiat dealership as they “rumored” are slated to be the dealer that sold them.
I believe this Christmas was what he was hinting at.
Remember, it’s a RUMOR, not cast in stone, so don’t take my word for it. 🙂
Right now both Alfa Romeo and Lancia are brain dead.
It’s about time they come up with some new REAL Alfa Romeos and Lancias.
Not some revamped and rebadged Fiats and Chryslers.
I certainly wouldn’t say no to a new Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1750 QV, but that’s about it. For now, the rest of the brand is (a stunning) history…
I’ve read more than once that VW wants Alfa Romeo.
They already got Lamborghini and Ducati, that’s for sure.
MY FATHER before I was even born had a white 131 and great car compared to the rubbish aussie manufacturers were coming out with at the time.Lancia was outzapped by the japs in this land by the mid eighties,we had a used beta from 1987 to 1989 which by performance standards of the day would have been eaten alive by twin cam corollas and 1.8 litre pulsar’s even if the latter’s engine in terms of cc’s was smaller taking the use of unleaded into account.an interesting fact would have been compare a 1.8 pulsar q,a then new for 89 corolla 1.6 and a tx3 out to a racetrack up against a beta 1800 and see who would win.it would have been the oriental twin cams who have the edge.if i had known anything on cars when it came time to upgrade the lancia for my father i would have suggested a pulsar or other fast hatch given there was nothing from europe that comes close in terms of performance of the day.
The Fiat 131 got a more longer lifespan elsewhere from what I read at http://www.autosavant.com/2008/06/17/the-ancient-fiat-putting-ethiopia-on-the-motoring-map/ First by Tofas in Turkey where it was made until 2008 and more recently in Ethophia
One of the rare cases where I like the 4-door’s styling best. The euro version had rectangular headlamps.
My aunt’s & uncle’s was the first twincam I ever drove. Nizza car!
Splendid addition to our coverage; I was beginning to despair about ever having a 131 CC. I have not seen one since leaving CA 20 years ago; there are just none around these parts. Maybe there wasn’t a Fiat dealer here? No 128s either.
These were very popular in Austria in their time, mostly as lo-end OHV versions, to replace aging VWs. My uncle picked us up in one at the Munich airport in 1980, and I was impressed at what an airy and pleasant car it was to ride in.
Fiats were always very successful in Germany and Austria for such a long time, because they had so much going for them compared to the German cars back them, especially considering how affordable they were. Fiat was by far the second most popular car in Austria back in the fifties and sixties. And they maintained much of that momentum until more recent decades.
I admit being surprised by the CC clue but the only 131s I remember seeing on the road were the 2 door coupes. Also the last time I saw one on the road was in the late 80s in a heavily Italian neighborhood in the Bronx. BTW I always thought of these as the 131 and not the Brava due to a steady diet of car magazines, and Sandro Munari’s rally car.
This brings up a side question of national loyalties and imported cars. I get the impression that Italian-American’s may have hung on to Fiat daily drivers longer out loyalty to the old country. I also noticed that every car parked in front of the Swedish cultural center in the Portland suburbs was a Volvo, but they may be a self selected sample.
This was taken in Calgary, AB, Canada and while Fiats were not super common they weren’t as rare as you think here back in the 80s. There was a dealership, Ansel Motors, that sold Alfa and Fiat and eventually Lada. They were located in a little pocket of Italian-Canadians for there was always a few about. A lot of the Fiat fans swapped to Lada or Alfa after they left.
It’s a shame that, until the Chrysler purchase, the last Fiat remembered to be sold in the US isn’t the Brava, 124 Spider, or X1/9, but this:
I actually saw one of these, the Strada/Ritmo about a year ago on Capitol Hill, and I think that was the first time in over a decade I’d seen one in the wild, and it ran under it’s own steam too.
I remember one contemporary story about the Strada. It was advertised on posters as, “The Car Built by Robots.” To which the local Italian comedians would add, “…and Driven by Idiots.”
For a short time it was advertised as built by robots not Robbos (Red Robbo BLs bolshy shop steward).
I bought a 1980 Brava with 39,000 miles on it from a Toyota dealer in 1986 or 1987 for $900 and found it to be quite usable, especially for a Fiat. It was surprisingly fun to drive, especially after I put the 14″ tires and wheels from a 1982 Spider on it, but not particularly fast since it didn’t have fuel injection. It was one of those slow cars that was a lot of fun to push to its limit. Believe it or not it was also reasonably reliable, especially for a Fiat.
I havent seen a 131 in decades rust feasted upon them and suddenly they were gone, Datsun built a lookalike called the Stanza that rusted nearly as fast but the Fiats when running were a much better car without the driving issues that came from Japan, but there are none left.
…my grandad had the estate car, 1600, I believe, my mum dented the c-pillar ( a little) learning to drive in it (in her 30s). He was a (retired) Rolls Royce engineer (jet engines) engineer who worked (in a very minor capacity) on the flying bedstead, the Harrier jump jet test device.
Those got diesel engines in europe as swell. If I recall correctly, you could still buy one (SEAT at least) in 1983 with a 2500 diesel engine (http://www.pruebas.pieldetoro.net/web/pruebas/ver.php?ID=982.6) . Back in 1980 they were sold with a 2l diesel Perkins (http://www.pruebas.pieldetoro.net/web/pruebas/ver.php?ID=982.3). I remember those were very common taxis in Barcelona.
I have two personal anecdotes with this car: One of our neighbours bought in 1983 one of those, the Diplomatic series (http://www.pruebas.pieldetoro.net/web/pruebas/ver.php?ID=983.55) and had an accident a few days he got it with his parents and his wife. His father died but the rest of the family was ok. He then bought a brand new Renault 9.
Then one of my uncles owned one of these. He stated that it was an “export” version with a luxury interior with the standard 1.6 liter two-barrel (we actually cleaned the carburettor once). He got it for 15 years and just got rid of it because it was too thirsty and switched to an Injected Golf GTI. I remember being very jealous (my dad had a 127 at the time).
I don’t think I’ve seen one of these in years. I still vividly remember the Alitalia-liveried Matchox car I had of the rally version as a child in the ’80s though – it was bigger in scale that most of the other cars.
They also had a cool sounding horn
I rode on those while I was a kid as our neighbor had a red one with metal dog dish hubcaps.
In Venezuela they sold them with 1.6 SOHC and 2.0 DOHC engines and with both the Euro and US bumpers. We got the European headlamps which look far better than the shown up there. I think a variant (from the Turkish Tofas) is still in production in some African country, if you Google enough you may find it.
Nicely trimmed interior (for the times and for a FIAT) and I remember the clever glovebox.
The 2.0 twin cam ones are quick, and can be souped up. One of the mechanics I worked with had a 132 with the 1.8, and he told me both the 1.8 and 2.0 were pretty tough/hard to wear blocks. Engines, despite being DOHC, only have 2 valves per cylinder.
I like the 131 and wish I could have one, a good project would be an ITB EFI conversion + Megaskirt and possibly a turbo, but down here they are like hen’s teeth.
Wow such a cool car. Bet it sounds great.
I love the look of the rally car. I wonder if the Brava would have sold better in the US if they pushed a flashy flared-fender version. I guess the GTI/3-series/Saab Turbo trend wasn’t quite in gear by the time Fiat gave up.
the rally car is what got me too.
These are everywhere in Turkey- it seems every car is either a Renault 12 or Fiat 131, not surprisingly as both were made there until recently- or maybe are still being made there, sharing street space with Hummvee like Desoto and Fargo trucks and 4x4s. (Turkish built and designed but using names from an antiquated Chrysler CKD arrangement or something).
Also, in my experience, Fiats are quite reliable- it is their dealers that are abominable. Considering the reputation of Chrysler dealers in the US and Fiat dealers in Europe, you can imagine the new corporate dealer training meetings as something from the ‘stonecutters’ association from the Simpsons. What’s Italian for ‘what noise?’ or ‘they all do that?’ or ‘you didn’t follow the correct oil change schedule?’ or ‘the 2.7 engine is considered a consumable item- like brake pads.’
I know people on here tend to remember poor build quality, but honestly, I’ve owned many US and foreign cars from the ’70s and ’80s late in their life, and there really is no difference. Remember, this car was an alternative to Cortinas and Avengers. Only Toyota and Mercedes had anything like build quality back then, and both would rust out years before a piece of trim came loose.
Nowadays, Fiat Pandas and 500s have a great reputation and I have yet to see a rusty one, whereas the Merc w210 and Tacoma frame rot show how far the mighty have fallen from their brief decade of perfection in the mid 80s to mid 90s.
Now cars like these really take me back in time ! Until 10-15 years ago they still were some of the most common older cars on the street, mainly metallic blue 4 door sedans and even the wagons were pretty common. I’ve never, ever, seen a 2 door in the metal, they must be quite scarce right now. These were nice, strong cars, a bit of a let down in performance for who loved the lively 124s and 125s but it was after the energy crisis, so i guess Fiat wanted to play it safe with more comfort and interior appointments. They still had that distinctive, gritty muffler sound anyway !
My BIL bought a Brava in Jan. ’82, I bought a Celica. His was gone by a year later due to constant malfunctions. But it was a hell of a lot more fun to drive when it ran.
I always loved the sharp, clean lines of these cars. A friend in grad school in the mid-80’s had a silver, four-door, five-speed one that I coveted. The interior was spacious, comfortable and businesslike, and the engine sounded awesome. I’m sure it bit the dust a long time ago, as he parked it on the street in Chicago year-round.
I just discovered the site – cool stuff. Nice job.
During the ’80s, I owned a string of used Fiats. At the time, cheap and fun to drive. The list: ’75 128 sedan. ’75 128 Sport. ’73 124 wagon. ’77 X 1/9. And finally, a ’77 131 as featured in this post.
During that era, friends of mine also owned numerous Fiats. A few 128s, 124 and 850 Spiders. I’ve been in many Fiats and worked on ’em as well.
always loved the 131/Brava. I owned a ’74 X1/9 (beloved, my first new car purchase) and – after the 12K warranty period – had it worked on at a great independent Fiat shop in Orange, Ca. Upon seeing one of these at that shop, I remember asking the mechanic Mark what he thought of ’em. His response was that it would feel like a limo compared to the X. My Bro-in-Law had a ’77 131 Wagon, which he liked and put approx. 75K miles on before trading it in on an ’80 Olds Cutlass.
Still have the Fiat bug… I bought a 2012 Abarth and here’s my ’81 x19…
I’m a little late to this article of course, but I am probably one of the few remaining 131/Brava fans in the U.S. I’m still trying to save a few bucks and on the lookout for another 131 or Brava. I have many many fond memories of the 131’s and Brava’s having owned several of them as well as having owned and enjoyed a ’68 Fiat 850 Convertible, a 124 Spyder and a few different years of the X1/9, but I’ve spent most of my Fiat time with the 131 and Brava.
I’ve been involved with Fiat’s since my very first car, which was a ’74 X1/9. I hit my height in the early 90’s when I owned so many Fiat’s that the City came down on me for having too many cars in, on and around my yard. I’d always have one in the garage being worked on, when finished, I’d pull in another one and just kept on doing this. I always intended on selling them as I finished them, but ya know how it goes, ya get a bit attached to them after you’ve spent time with them.
Of all the Fiat’s I’ve had, the 131/Brava’s were the most enjoyable, easiest to work on and best performing cars I’ve ever had. I’d see one parked in someone’s backyard, I’d ask them what they were doing with it and usually walk away with the car for free. Tow it home, find out what’s wrong and either fix it and sell it, or strip it down to body and send it to the salvage yard. They were so easy to work on, fun to work on, fun to drive and abuse. But if you abused them you also needed to keep up with the maintenance of them too.
My favorite was my 78 Mirafiori 131. I put a lot of work into it and loved every minute of it. Did some home custom work on it as well. Dropped a Brava interior into it just for the heck of it.. Sweet car inside and out when I was done. I used to put a lot of rice burners to shame off the line and down the straights in that car. The highest I ever took it was 125 and I wasn’t even to the floor, but I just didn’t have the confidence in myself to chance going any faster in it, that and the Ford I was racing was already so far behind me that I didn’t need to go any faster.
My next favorite was a Brava which I picked up for $100. It was in mint condition and had been sitting in a field for a few years. Something in the engine compartment had caught fire, so after they put it out, they just shove it into their field and left it, never looking into it. I take a quick look and see that it was just a fuel line that had gone bad, offered the money, towed it home, cleaned up the engine compartment, dropped in a new fuel line, vacuum, wash, wax and it was like new and ran like it was new.
The ’78 eventually fell from grace due to my abuse and I warped the head. This came at a time when we were in financial trouble and I had to sell everything off. The ’78 ended up going to a junk yard, my X1/9 was sold to a friend and I lost track of the Brava after I sold it. I had given a 131 to my brother-in-law only to see he traded it in for a Chevy instead of either giving it back to me or selling it back to me.
Last Fiat I had was a 124 Spyder a few years back. Didn’t want to sell it, but nobody else in the house knows how to drive a stick and we needed a car that they could drive, so sold it and got a Chevy Celebrity… another car that I have high praises for.
anyway, yeah, love 131/Brava’s.. here’s a pic of my ’78, you can also see the yellow 131 I gave my brother-in-law in the background.
Does anyone have a 1978 fiat 131 2 door us version for sale? Please email me at delarosa2350@gmail.com
I own this exact car.Was cool to find this article a few months back. It was my brothers car and was completely mint with 60000KM when he bought it in 2004, and it still has only about 100000km’s roughly. Sadly he let it sit for so many years out in the elements, with a blown diff bearing for about 5 years to be precise. It was broken into and the dash got hacked up you can’t see it in the pic. I paid him $500 bucks for it last September 2014 and I am in the process of resurrecting it for the spring/summer. I will return with some photos when and I make it happen. Cheers everyone.
Roberto, glad to hear this Brava is getting taken care of. Such rare and under appreciated cars. Had two 79 Bravas growing up and have a 80 Spider 2000 now with the optional EFI. Really miss my old Brava and have searched for several years to find another. Be sure to post photos when you finish.
When I turned the right age, I made sure that my driving lessons were with the only driving school I knew using the 131 Mirafiori. They had a metallic blue 1600 Special 4-door (1st series), but just two weeks before my lessons would start, it was traded in!
Thank god, the replacement was nothing less than the 2nd series 1600 CL 4-door in a quite odd taupe color. After some 20-22 lessons I took the test and passed (in my country only 35% of the people passed the driving test at the first go in those years, now it’s 41%), I’m still sure this car helped by giving me confidence.
I built up my first driving experience in my favorite car brand, in this particularly great model, and no one can take that away from me. The only thing I regret is that I never took a photo.
(In this picture almost the right car: model, model year and interior are correct, but this is the 2-door version instead of the 4-door).
Still being worked on. It is now running again, not yet road worthy as I got lots to do between fluid changes, and new tires, stripping out the interior to tackle the rust on the floor pan and repair the dashboard. and will be going to take care of the rest of the body work in the coming months over the winter. Should be back on the road in the spring of 2016. Will be sure to update this as soon as I can.
Which is the power of the engine and the maximum speed
By 1980 HP on a carbureted engine was rated at 86. HP with fuel injection was 110. Same engine as in the Spider 2000. Rumor has it HP was underrated for this engine to avoid an Italian tax based on HP. I had my 1979 carbureted Brava up to 100 mph.
unrelated topic but the name came back for other markets in the 21st century.I do remember at one time due to Mazda Australia having the rights to the name BRAVO they had to call it a RITMO.whatever did happen to that car might one ask.All I see in Fiat dealers now are either 500’s,Pandas or in many cases Vans for either work purposes or to be bought new as airport shuttle vehicles.
Hi dear Friend….
Excuse me if interrupting your valuable time, in a middle of your great activities.
Enclosed my Fiat Brava 131 1984, in Original Mode event not in a perfect one.
I have a little bit problem in my Steering system is too heavy after I reconditions and my Clutch to heavy to operate.
Thanks and wish you all the best
Prayudha M
” front and rear crumble zones built in ”
Hilarious brilliant typo regarding the legendary rust!
:o)
Tried to read all the comments but stopped about 1/2, to 2/3rds the way through. How the automotive “situation” has changed in 5 years.
As a start, I may be wrong but I believe the 131 hit US showrooms, about 1975. Having bought a 1974 Audi Fox, and regretting my purchase within a year, I remember looking at the new 131 at the Fiat dealership that was next door to the Audi dealership long before I traded my Fox for a new, 1976 Pinto.
Having owned a classic 3 box sedan, I could have seen myself behind the wheel of another 3 box sedan. I especially liked the light yellow color these cars came in.
Ironically, Jacksonville was once (and may still be?) an important part of entry for Fiat and they once had a huge parts depot here, but even 124 Spiders are rare here. At least the new 500 seems to be moderately successful. But the new 124 and new Alfa sedan are still extremely rare.
Don’t recall ever seeing one of these outside old advertisements, movies and photos.
Even here in road salt free New Orleans the Brava was a serious, serial rustmobile with electrical issues that would make Lucas, The Prince Of Darkness, proud.
After the mid 1980’s the survivors quickly faded (or dissolved) away.
I drove several of these neat 131 Fiats, near new with low mileage. I found it a refined Fiat, more powerful and logical that my past Fiats (124, 128) in the interior and controls placement. The DOHC engine gave off a delightful growl.
Unfortunately, even the two or three year old models I found on used car lots were rapidly denigrating as they sat there. Rust, paint, splitting seams on the seats made them look three times their age and mileage.
The “factory approved dealer installed” air conditioners were particularly gawd-awful.
After experiencing the “joys” of Fiat 124 and 128 ownership I lusted momentarily over used 131s but quickly moved on to other cars.
Typical 70s Italian car. Absolutely brilliant to drive, bomb proof well built mechanicals and a body that dissolved like a piece of tissue paper in the rain, combined with seriously crappy electrics. Also see Alfasud and Lancia Beta, similarly cursed.
I haven’t seen one here in the U.K since the 80s. It really is a shame, the twin cam versions were a delight, especially if you got hold of a racing/sport or Abarth version.
Nice article, thanks. In my opinion the 131 has a such a purposeful design and character. To see it on old or classic really videos is a blast. It really breaks my heart to see the shape of FIAT right now. If I’m not mistaken in the 80’s it was Europe’s second largest automaker and now… Well I hope for the better but fear for the worse.
Fiats were a common sight when I was growing up in the Bay Area, (I think it might have been due to the then large Italian-American population,) so I remember seeing a lot of these on the roads back then, and finding them rather attractive. They even turned the head of my father, the GM man, who would see one and say, “Hmmm…a Fiat…” but they were all gone by the time I was able to buy one, so I switched to the Tricoleur and got a Fuego…
Another interesting market difference here the 131 replaced the 125 which was the first model we got with the twin cam engine(the 4 headlight Lada was a 125 clone) the 124 was replaced in the late 60s early 70s, I havent seen a 131 in a very long time the anal rust regulations are most likely to blame.
A pity to see how the mighty have fallen. Fiat built so many desirable cars in the Sixties and Seventies, and now…
I remember reading an interview with Giovanni Agnelli in about 1970 in which he stated something like, “In the future there will be only ten car companies in the world. I intend that Fiat should be a leader among them.” I’m glad I knew Fiat in their glory years.
I’m biased, I have a Fiat currently, and we had an 1100 way back in the 60s, but I really do not get the hatred towards Fiat, especially from enthusiasts who should know better. As the 8th best selling company worldwide, they are exactly where Giovanni Agnelli predicted they would be.
Every car company built some crap cars. Fiat did, yes, but so did Ford, GM, and Chrysler, especially back in the 70s. Combine that with a shortage of dealers and mechanics, along with the USA consumer disregard of any maintenance, and you will always have people saying that the cars were crappy and unreliable.Rust? Ask the owner of early 60s Mopars or Vega drivers and see what rust issues are about.
If you truly love cars, you should know that Fiat has been successful for a very long time. (Same with the French companies, last I checked, PSA and Renault are doing pretty well in Europe where they know a thing or two about cars.) In numbers, they are the 8th, 9th, and 10th largest producers in the world (in that order). All three sold more units than BMW did (and I understand pricing may have something to do with that fact) so they must be doing something right.
I get frustrated with the groupthink that keeps piling on Fiat (and the French cars, too). I doubt that many of the haters have had their butt in the seat of any of these cars, much less driven or owned one. I don’t excuse any company when they produce shoddy products, but I think that the reputation of a lot of companies have been sullied by folks who have 0% firsthand experience with those products.
JFrank
I agree with you about some points you stated. Many people criticize FIAT and the French makers based only on prejudice. I can personally attest that Fiat built a number of fine durable automobiles (and not only beautiful and fun to drive…). I regularly see many 20 plus year old daily drivers Uno and Palio showing fairly good condition. I live in Brazil were FIAT was market leader for about 20 years, leaving the mighty VW eating the dust. Now Flat is number 2 right behind GM. But the problem with FIAT is obviously not in the Brazilian market. It may begin with Europe, not to talk about the (at least until now) failed comeback to USA market. I’d be very pleased to see FIAT return to former glory, bringing back Alfa and Lancia too, but I fear for the worse. Maybe somebody from other countries can update my assessment bringing some new information. I really wish I’m totally wrong!
Alfa and Fiat (and probably Chrysler and Dodge too) will be with us for some time yet. Even should FCA continue losing market share, it is in the “too big to fail” category on both sides of the pond. Can anyone imagine Italy without Fiat? The pressure is building up and possibly some heads may roll, but the company is such a behemoth, too many people would suffer in case of collapse. So the odds are it won’t be the next Rover.
Last I heard, Ferrari and Maserati are doing ok, but then I haven’t been paying much attention to those two lately. Drop in the ocean anyways.
Lancia, however, is a dead duck of a marque.
I must recognize that FIAT has a huge strength on creating and exploring new market niches (at least in the Brazilian market). The guys brought the first car based mid sized pickup in Brazil, the Toro (think of it as 4/5 Honda Ridgeline) which is a huge sucess outselling any kind of truck around here expect for the small sized FIAT Strada. They invented the “popular” car in Brazil when they put a 1.0 liter engine on the Uno, and every other maker followed then but AFAIK never outsold FIAT on the 1.0 segment. There are other examples I could bring.
I must recognize that FIAT has a huge strength on creating and exploring new market niches (at least in the Brazilian market). The guys brought the first car based mid sized pickup in Brazil, the Toro (think of it as 4/5 Honda Ridgeline) which is a huge sucess outselling any kind of truck around here except for the small sized FIAT Strada. They invented the “popular” car in Brazil when they put a 1.0 liter engine on the Uno, and every other maker followed then but AFAIK never outsold FIAT on the 1.0 segment. There are other examples I could bring.
I found a way to own a 131 – Polistil makes a 1/18 scale diecast of the famous rally racer (see image.)
FCA is actually doing pretty well in USA, where Jeep and Ram are carrying them. Jeep is increasingly a global brand, and the newer Fiat-based Renegade and Compass are much improved over the old Compass and Patriot. Alfa has found a niche. Regrettably the Fiat 500 and siblings seem not to have gotten traction with us Yanks now that oil is relatively cheap.
soy dueño de un fiat brava modelo 1980 automatico necesito carroceria tengo 25 años con el quien pueda ayudarme le estare agradecido
hello everyone ,
I am looking for 2 door fiat 131.
if you are looking to sell please call me .,
Alkan
9178543336
New York, USA
By the way: The two crash-cars in the third image are both Fiat 132 (second series). In Europe, the type 132 replaced the 125 whereas the type 131 replaced the 124.
Here the Fiat 132, first iteration (1972 -1974):
It may have not been considered a classic when this article was first posted, but that is a 1989 Chevy Sprint parked beside it.
Serendipity – I believe that the 124 to 131 move sort of matches the 510 to 710 move of the article above it!
The 124 was a superbly-refined smooth riding car in its day, but its replacement (I drove an early 131) did nothing to move the game forward a decade and was simply another tin-box saloon/sedan. It seemed tinnier/plastickier and lost the ride advantage, presumably for spurtier handling or something. It was in fact no better, merely bouncier. The rank opinion steering was a bit sharper, but now it had jouncy McP struts in place of double-wishbones.
Admittedly, the phase 2 cars pictured had the lovely twin-cam return, plus a much nicer interior. What would the Americans have made of the word ‘Supermirafiori’?
The story went that the 131 was intended as a ‘stop-gap’ model (like the Marina) after the poor sales of the FWD Autobianchi A111, but history suggests that wasn’t actually true.
Still, it’s always prejudiced ny view of the 131.