1983 Fiat 126 'Abarth'

Legendary racer and expert race car preparer, Mike Jordan, owner of the Jordan Racing Team has had the pleasure of watching his son, Andrew, progress in racing through karts, British Rallycross and the BTCC to eventually reach the heady heights of outright BTCC champion in 2013. But many years before all that (too many to mention!) the love of his life (and Andrew's mum!) drove a Fiat 126 during the heady days of their courtship and those memories inspired Mike to recently recreate that car with a couple of subtle upgrades.....

This mint and rust free Fiat 126 was found on display in a Fiat main dealership in 2011 with just 6,668 miles recorded by just one elderly lady owner. As such it was the perfect platform to apply a few upgrades and a slightly brighter colour!

Mike then stripped and totally rebuilt the car. He individualised it by removing the plastic bumpers and side trims and handed it to the highly respected bodyshop - Normandales - for a complete repaint in bright orange. New chrome bumpers were fitted along with new Minilite wheels and tyres, a retrim was carried out in black leathercloth with new black carpets.

The engine was dispatched to noted Abarth experts, Middle Barton Garage, who rebuilt the engine to Abarth spec by fitting a sidedraught carburettor, an Abarth cam, new pistons, new clutch and an uprated gearbox with stronger driveshafts and finally an Abarth exhaust system.

Today it is a unique little car built to an extremely high standard that can provide huge fun at a very sensible budget with the added benefit that no-one else is ever going to turn up in the same car!

(Registration number in pictures not included)