Beschreibung:

Based on the 130 saloon that had appeared two years previously, FIAT's flagship coupe was introduced in 1971, with UK deliveries commencing the following year. A two-door four-seater, the 130 Coupe used only the larger (3.2-litre) of the saloon's two overhead-cam V6 engine options while retaining the latter's all-independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. Three-speed automatic or ZF five-speed manual were the transmission options. Top speed of this elegant luxury Gran Turismo was 118mph (manual) or 115mph (auto). Production of the 130 Coupe ended in 1977 after 4,491 had been built. The owners recount that as young men growing up in Italy in the 1970s, the Fiat 130 represented the same dream as purchasing any Mercedes or BMW in other parts of the world. As it happens their nostalgic acquisition of this car came a little later in life than perhaps they had imagined as youths. Ever conscious of wanting the most original example that they could find, they stumbled across this example while driving in Tuscany in 2000. The Fiat had covered just over 30,000 kilometers, while its remarkably good bodywork and interior meant that it just simply had to be bought. Shortly after this the car was shipped to America and into the collection building where it has resided ever since. In the course of the last 10 years they have had the interior retrimmed in leather, but otherwise the car is as new.