1978 Fiat 130 Coupe
(Featured on 3rd December 2013)
Make: Fiat
Model: 130
Year: 1978
Mileage: 16,000
Sellers original description:
Just the perfect 1970's style icon, and in near perfect original condition too.
Only 3 owners, the first for two years, the second for twenty and the last for eleven.
Finished in delightful gunmetal with russet velour interior - complete with factory seat covers in the same material too, most unusual.
In fact the luxury compartments on Italian trains in the 1970's had the same wonderful seat coverings too.
A very expensive car in period, clothed in a classic PinninFarina body design and running a V6 twin cam engine of 3.2 litres, designed this time by Ferrari engineer Aurelio Lampredi, the 130 Coupes were a rare sight in period and naturally more so today.
Boasting features such as self dimming lights upon the closing of the doors, twin horns ( town and country ), head rests, sundym glass, air conditioning, electric windows, power steering, opening rear quarter windows, handbrake warning buzzer, front & rear seat belts, 5 speed manual gearbox, alloy wheels etc the 130 was very highly specified for it's time (introduced in 1971)
It had to be, as at £6000 it was just about twice the price of an E Type V12.
Unfortunately for the sustainability of the cars, and our well heeled new owners too, the metal used by Fiat to make these luxury cars, was of the poorest quality and within 6 months of taking delivery many were already riddled with rot and after a year or three were disgarded as worthless.
Hence decent examples are, and have been for years, almost unheard of.
Our example on the other hand has led a cossetted existence, the first owner ensuring that the bodywork was carefully sealed with Ziebart protection and then the second owner keeping her in dry storage and not using her as he had another 130 for everyday use (of course, why didn't I think of that too) and only selling her as he was emigrating to Canada.
The most recent owner had previously owned 2 Coupe's and liked them so much he decided to fund the very best example in existence for his collection (Lamborghini's and the like therein)
Over the next 11 years he added only 2.000 enjoyable miles and part exchanged her for an Aston Volante.
The 130 Coupe has become a real symbol of 1970's stylish motoring, understandably so - after all, if one was good enough for El Commendatore this one is sure good enough for us.
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