The Fiat 124 Sport Coupé is a two-door, four-seater notchback coupé produced by the Italian automaker Fiat in three generations between 1967 and 1975. First shown at the 1966 Turin Auto Show, it was based on the Fiat 124 saloon.

Its four-cylinder aluminum and iron, twin overhead cam "Lampredi engine" was designed by ex-Ferrari engineer Aurelio Lampredi. Originally, the AC, or first generation, featured a 1,438 cc engine, which was joined by a 1,608 cc unit in the second, or BC, generation. The third generation, or CC, was first officially offered with the 1,592 cc and later the 1,756 cc engine (although some early CCs were fitted with leftover 1,608 cc engines).

Equipment included a five-speed gearbox (although very early AC models featured a four-speed), four wheel power disc brakes, double wishbone front suspension, one carburetor per cylinder (two dual-choke Weber or Solex carburetors on the BC series, 1608 cc engine — except for the US version which received mild carburation due to emissions constraints), electric fuel pump (on the CC series), and suspension by coil springs.

The Fiat 124 Sport Coupé was also built under license in Spain with 1600 (FC-00) and 1800 (FC-02) engines as the SEAT 124 Sport.

Design

The 124 Sport Coupé was designed as a three-box, 2-door notchback coupé by Mario Boano, known for styling the bodywork on the Ferrari 250 GT "Boano". As many parts as possible were used from the 1966 FIAT 124 Berlina saloon. Boano was hired by FIAT and made responsible for the in-house Centro Stile Fiat, while the iconic softtop Fiat 124 Sport Spider, which also shared the same basic platform as the 124 Sedan but rode on a 14 cm shorter wheelbase, was outsourced to famed Italian carrozzeria Pininfarina.

Approximately 113,000 AC Coupés, 98,000 BC Coupés, and roughly 75,000 CC Coupés were manufactured. There were ongoing changes with all models making them almost individual by year (e.g. lack of rear anti roll bar on 1969 ACs, etc.)

The Fiat 124 Spider Abarth came with dual Weber 44 IDF carburetors unlike the regular 124 coupés and spiders which were equipped with dual Weber 40 IDF carbs. Fiat twincam engines tend to be oversquare, with a larger diameter bore than length of stroke, allowing it, when combined with dual camshafts and proper carburetors, to rev to high rpms. The 1608 cc, however, is a perfectly square engine, 80 mm by 80 mm.

Engines

  • 1400 (1438 cc) - at 6,500 rpm, at 3,600 rpm

The torque-tube rear axle of the A series was replaced by a four-link rear axle with a Panhard rod in mid-1968, and remained the same throughout the B and C models.

Second series (Type 124 BC: 1969–1972)

thumb|right|Fiat 124 Sport Coupé 1600 BC 1969

  • 1970 BC - #113870 - #115876
  • 1971 BC 1438 cc - #115877 - #139912
  • 1971 BC1 1608 cc - #139913
  • 1972 BC1 1608 cc - #181442

The BC featured revised styling with twin headlights and revised taillights; the taillights were also used on the Lamborghini Jarama. The 124 BC, including the 1600 model, was first shown at the 1969 Turin Auto Show.

The SEAT derivative was presented for the first time at the 1970 Barcelona Motor Show and it was built in Spain under license from Fiat. Identical to the Fiat 124 Sport Coupé second (1600) and third series (1800), it was launched in order to meet the rising local market demand for sports cars at the time.

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File:Seat 124 SC 1600 (1971) 20120818 090.jpg|Seat 124 Sport SC 1600

File:Oseira, SEAT 124 Sport.JPG|SEAT 124 Sport 1800

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References

  • Fiat 124 Sport Coupé Italia