The Fiat 131 Abarth is one of the most consequential rally cars of the 1970s, and 1977 was its breakthrough year. This 1:43 scale model by Portuguese manufacturer Trofeu focuses on a specific and historically pointed entry: car No. 5, run under the Team Svenska Fiat banner at the 27th International Swedish Rally, held 11–13 February 1977 around Karlstad on snow and ice. Production is capped at 150 units, placing this firmly in the collector rather than the general-release category.
A Front-Engined Challenger Built to Win
Homologated for FIA Group 4 from 1976, the 131 Abarth was Fiat's deliberate move away from the exotic mid-engined Lancia Stratos toward a more conventional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive architecture. At its core was a 2.0-litre inline-four DOHC 16-valve engine displacing 1,995 cc (84×90 mm bore and stroke), producing around 230 bhp in full competition specification, with dry-sump lubrication and a five-speed ZF gearbox. To satisfy FIA Group 4 rules, Fiat produced approximately 400 road-going Stradale homologation cars, launched at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show.
Round 2, 1977: Karlstad in February
The 1977 Rally Sweden covered 736.20 km of competitive distance on snow and ice — conditions that suited Scandinavian specialists. Timo Mäkinen, the Finnish veteran who had won the 1973 RAC Rally alongside Henry Liddon in a Ford Escort RS1600, was a logical choice for a home-market entry. Under the Team Svenska Fiat banner, their No. 5 car wore a white-and-red livery distinct from the works Olio Fiat blue-and-yellow scheme used on the main squad at the time. Mäkinen and Liddon retired, as did the other front-running Fiats; the best-placed 131 Abarth was No. 7 (Simo Lampinen/Sölve Andreasson) in fourth. Despite this, Fiat went on to claim the 1977 WRC Manufacturers' Championship — its first — with five wins from eleven rounds.
Trofeu's Die-Cast Rendering
Trofeu, operating out of Portugal, built its reputation on precise, small-run rally replicas in 1:43. This example, catalogued as RR.SE15, is die-cast in Zamak — the zinc-aluminium alloy standard in this scale — and replicates the white-and-red No. 5 livery with the Team Svenska Fiat graphics specific to this entry. The edition is strictly limited to 150 units. Each model is supplied on a black plinth inside a clear plastic display case, with a printed outer card box providing both protection and identification.
In the Display Cabinet
At 1:43, the model measures approximately 9.5 cm in length, consistent with the real car's 4,190 mm overall length scaled down. That footprint suits standard shallow-depth shelving and pairs naturally with other Trofeu 131 Abarth releases from the 1976–1981 period, as well as contemporary Lancia Stratos and Opel Kadett GT/E entries from the same WRC seasons. The white-and-red livery makes it visually distinctive from the better-known Alitalia-liveried cars that arrived in 1978, giving any 131 Abarth collection a historically earlier data point from the championship-winning year.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the 1:43 scale model?
The Fiat 131 Abarth Rally competition car measures 4,190 mm in overall length. Divided by 43, that gives approximately 97 mm — rounded to 9.5 cm. On a shelf, that means a compact footprint suitable for standard display cases, though you should allow a little extra depth for the black plinth on which the model is mounted.
Does the model have opening parts?
The fact sheet does not confirm any opening parts for this Trofeu die-cast. Trofeu's small-run 1:43 rally models in this series typically feature a sealed body with detail concentrated on the exterior livery graphics, rally lighting, and wheel/tyre rendering rather than opening bonnets or doors.
Who made the model and what material is it?
The model is made by Trofeu, a Portuguese specialist manufacturer known for limited-run WRC replicas. It is die-cast in Zamak (a zinc-aluminium alloy), the standard material for 1:43 scale model cars of this type. Production is limited to 150 units under catalogue reference RR.SE15.
Why is this livery historically significant?
In 1977, the works Fiat entries ran the Olio Fiat blue-and-yellow livery; the famous Alitalia red, white and green scheme did not arrive until 1978. The Team Svenska Fiat white-and-red livery on No. 5 is therefore an earlier, market-specific variation from the 131 Abarth's first WRC title-winning season, making it visually distinct from the majority of 131 Abarth models on the market.
