A new engine, this time with a capacity
of 3235cc and producing 165bhp, replaced the 2800 engine in the 130 saloon
in 1971, accompanied by a stronger automatic transmission. A number of
smaller improvements were also made, the clearest visual difference being
the replacement of the four round headlights with two large rectangular
units. At the same time a new Coupé, designed and built by Pininfarina,
was also released (at the Geneva Motorshow of 1971). This used the 3200
engine, mechanicals and floorpan from the saloon but with a new two door body and new interior.
Production of the saloon continued until
1976, by which time 15,093 units had been built. The Coupé survived until
the following year, with a total of 4,292 units being produced.
Interesting variations produced as prototypes
by Pininfarina included a four door coupé, the
Opera, and an estate version,
the Maremma
(see the Fiat concept car page for various other studies).
The
Fiat 130 was introduced in March 1969 to replace the 2300
lusso at the top of the Fiat range. Powered by a completely new 2866cc
60º V6 with 140bhp in a conventional front engine rear wheel drive
layout, it was fitted with an automatic transmission as standard. Independent
suspension on all four corners used torsion bars at the front and coil
springs at the rear. A manual five speed transmission, bought in from ZF,
was optional. In 1970 the engine recieved a boost of some 20bhp taking it up to 160bhp.
Technical Details
| Engine | berlina : 2866cc (96x66mm) V6 with 149bhp @ 5,400rpm (later 160bhp @ 5,800rpm)
berlina & coupe : 3235cc (102x66mm) V6 with 165bhp @ 5,600rpm Click for diagrams of the cooling system and the lubrication system. |
| Driveline | longitudinal engine at front with rear wheel drive |
| Suspension | front : independent with telescopic dampers and torsion bars
rear : independent with telescopic dampers and coil springs wheelbase : 2720mm front track : 1448mm (srs I) ; 1468mm (srs II) rear track : 1457mm (srs I) ; 1467mm (srs II) |
| Brakes | front : ventilated discs (diameter 275mm)
rear : ventilated discs (diameter 262,5mm) vacuum assistance handbrake operating on the rear via a cable |
| Gearbox | 5 speed manual
3 speed automatic (Borg Warner) cable or hydraulically operated clutch (9" single dry plate) |
| Steering | worm and roller (assisted) |
| Kerb weight | 1500kg (2800) - (automatic 1510kg)
1570kg (3200) - (automatic 1615kg) 1555kg (coupe) - (automatic 1600kg) |
Performance
| model | max speed |
| 2.8 saloon | 185km/h (later 190km/h) |
| 3.2 coupe | 195km/h |
For books on Fiat see our Online Bookstore
There is also a list of all our picture galleries (including museums, motorshows and various events).
Wallpapers/Desktop Backgrounds of numerous Fiats also available to download.
Links
Several pages from the 130 manual are on this website.
A German Fiat 130 website which includes a scanned parts catalogue.
A French 124/130/850 website
130 comment form
Your Comments
Hi everybody! I did own a
130 Coupé a few years ago...It's a wonderful feeling to drive this
car. It's a pure '70 feeling, with lots of chrome buttons "a la James Bond"
(you can open the passenger door from the driver's seat). The engine is
great and the driving stability unexpected excellent.
Problem? Well, as a little
production car, it is full of "little" details that doesn't work properly...
Spare parts are difficult to find and expensive, not to mention the luck
you neet to find someone who knows how to work on it. To make it short,
I couldn't afford it any more, but I enjoyed the whole time. (Roby, Switzerland)
I had a job as a chauffeur
in a Fiat 130 Coupé with the 3.2 litre engine and auto box in '73
and '74. I loved it - it was a style statement of the day, and would
cruise effortlessly at 100 mph returning 20mpg every time. It was
comfortable, powerful and stylish, and I loved powering along in it.
It proved that Fiat - with a bit of help from Pininfarina (and Ferrari?)
- can make a decent big car.
I don't recall any mechanical
problems, though might be prejudiced by the fact that one of the other
vehicles in the fleet was an Jag XJ12 which lived in the dealer's workshop! (John, UK)
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