Fiat 124 Sport Coupe
Photo and Information by Joe Clemente

The photos provided are of Frank Clemente’s 1970 Fiat 124 Coupe. This particular car won 4 consecutive regional B-Sedan Championships in the northwest including CASC, ICSCC and COWPAC. In 1972 the car had also accumulated enough points at the SCCA national level to qualify for a championship but was not able to make an appearance at the Runoffs. It competed in the original Trans-Am Two-Five Challenge with appearances at Portland and Riverside in 1972.

Strong Points

• 1608cc motor is a strong, high revving unit and produces very good power . 
• Front and rear discs are standard equipment, easily upgraded .
• Chassis is strong and well balanced .
• Performance parts are still available.
• Pound for pound, the 124 Coupe is as strong a competitor as any other car in B-Sedan. It has adapted well to GT and Production classes as well.

Weak Points

• Very few good examples remain on the road today. Fewer still on the track.
• Although performance equipment was available in the early seventies, competitors suffered from having no factory support in N. America.
• 124 gears are not ideally spaced for competition and some gearboxes were prone to breaking with too much power.
• 4X98mm bolt pattern meant wheel choices were limited

Common Setup

• Weber 40mm or 44mm IDF carburetors
• Breda, Alquati or Pitattore racing camshafts (Note: Suppliers of performance cams today also include PBS, Guy Croft and Colombo & Bariani)
• Oversized valves (44mm int./ 40mm exh.)
• Asso 81mm pistons (Venolia forged pistons commonly used today, made to spec)
• 13X7” Alloys (Carroll Shelby or American Racing Libre) – 0mm offset
• 4.3 or 4.1 rear end ratios
• Factory 4-link rear suspension plus panhard rod can be modified incorporating heim joints. Three link rears are a popular and effective road racing conversion.

Internet Sites

The Fiat 124 Sport Coupe Owner’s Registry

Firebreathing Fiats

The Fiat Page at Mirafiori

Books

Modifying and Tuning Fiat and Lancia Twincams by Guy Croft

Fiat and Lancia Twin-Cams by Phil Ward

Fiat & Abarth 124 Spider and Coupe by John Tipler

Essential Fiat 124 Spider Coupe by Martin Buckley

Road & Track on Fiat Sports Cars 1968-1987 Road & Track