The 1979 Rally Monte Carlo was the first round of the World Rally Championship season, and among its entries was a Fiat Ritmo 75 Abarth carrying race number 7. Behind the wheel was Swedish driver Per Eklund, navigated by Hans Sylvan — a pairing active across European rally championships throughout the late 1970s and into the 1980s. IXO Models captures that entry in 1:43, with the Night Version designation pointing to a specific stage configuration that sets it apart from a standard daytime release.
The Fiat Ritmo 75 Abarth as a Competition Machine
Introduced in 1978, the Fiat Ritmo — sold as the Strada in certain markets — was the basis for an Abarth-developed rally variant. The homologation road car used a 1498 cc four-cylinder engine producing around 75 hp, while competition-prepared versions were significantly uprated. Abarth reinforced the bodywork and drivetrain to withstand the demands of international rallying, creating a credible factory-backed weapon at a time when Fiat was deeply invested in the WRC.
Alitalia Red, Green and White at the 1979 Monte Carlo
The Alitalia sponsorship scheme — red, green and white, drawn from the Italian national airline's identity — was among the most recognisable liveries in rally during the late 1970s. It appeared across Fiat and Lancia works entries of the era, and its presence on number 7 in Monte Carlo 1979 gave Per Eklund's Ritmo Abarth an unmistakable appearance on the stages. The Night Version designation indicates the model represents the car configured for nocturnal stages, a distinct specification within the event.
IXO Models and the RAC Rally Series in 1:43
IXO Models produces 1:43 scale model cars covering WRC and historical rally subjects through its RAC range. The Ritmo 75 Abarth falls within that catalogue, rendered in diecast metal with plastic components — the standard construction approach IXO applies across its rally car line. The detail work on the Alitalia livery, race number 7 graphic, and Night Version configuration makes this a specific variant rather than a generic casting reissue.
Where This Model Sits in a Rally Collection
This release occupies a precise niche: the Alitalia livery on a Ritmo Abarth is considerably rarer in 1:43 than the same scheme on a Lancia Stratos or Fiat 131 Abarth. Collectors building a complete Alitalia rally livery grouping, a Per Eklund subject collection, or a 1979 Monte Carlo entry set will find this a specific and not easily duplicated addition. It pairs naturally alongside other WRC round-one entries from the 1979 season.
