Fiat 500 Abarth R3T Rally Car WRC

[@kahumike]

This channel just gets better and better... combining my love of WWII aircraft and Italian cars. From one Alfa driver to another, thanks Greg.

[@christiandemmler9787]

Any italians present correct me: One cannot understand the true meaning of Carlo Abarth's legacy without having seen a couple regional rallyes in northern Italy, talking to the tifosi and drivers on the grid. Abarth was a folk hero there, allowing regular folks to do actual racing on a budget, with a car they could drive every day...a genius, selftaught, hard to handle, singleminded pragmatist.

[@randyallen2771]

Great video Greg, I loved it! Reminded me of a guide I got back in the 80s on turning the X1-9 into a rally/race car. Wish I had the space and time to get one of these 500 Abarths and build a pocket rocket. On line these are seldom seen, usually drown out by the Toyotas and Hondas. At least I know who to turn to for guidance if my situation changes. I found this video much more interesting then hearing about an ugly Russian ground attack plane from the 40s, thanks for posting it! 😊

[@jacktattis]

My friend Wally put a 1.5 Litre Wolsey twin carb engine in a Fiat 500 way back in 1960 No radial tyres then and still had drum brakes Plenty of dirt roads to play around on back then. He loved it.

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

I love these little hot hatchback cars. My second car was a mini metro turbo. Small and nippy as flip. I also had a Citroen AXGT. Another pocket rocket. Cheers for doing some car tomflippery Greg.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Had two black MG Metros myself, but the basic 1300 ones. I was advised not to get a Turbo, I was told - 'The way you drive, you'll be changing the gearbox every six months.' 😳🙃🇬🇧

[@gothicpagan.666]

​@@huwzebediahthomas91936 months is being optimistically. Built one as a rally car at club level. Even with the Jack Night dog box, it would still break with less than 60 miles use, and the engine only had 180 bhp @ 18psi

[@kevin2542]

Thanks so much for this video! Definately the most informative I've ever watched regarding history, racing technology and set-up. I have a 2019 Abarth with some parts from you ( EC ) as well as Italian DNA components. Greetings from Albuquerque!

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks Kevin.

[@randyhavard6084]

Glad you take the time to make these videos about airplanes and cars

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Nuts car. I remember the original Fiat Cinquecento one litre class at the 1970 British Saloon Car Championship - it was nuts. Trunk held open for cooling.

[@petermuller3995]

YES Car Contnet aggain! Love the Fiat 500 my favorite out of all the "retro" cars atm.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks Peter.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobilesAutounion 1930's Grand Prix cars, nuts too, something like 500bhp on skinny tires/tyres. Do a video sometime on Akron Ohio, USA's tire city for Detroit, a state or two away. DEVO City. 🎶

[@Kaiser_Kenny]

These videos are great.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks.

[@morgananderson9647]

Great video Greg! I have a 88 Mazda 323 GTX with many mods w a 91 J-spec engine swap. Such a fun car. I also attend and help at a lot of the PNW ALFA drivers school & track day events they offered each year. I instructed a student in an Abarth 500. I was very impressed overall. As far as the 500 goes, I love it so much more than the re-incarnated Mini. It holds so true to the original intent of the designs. The Mini is big, and bloated, a mere insult to Alec Issigonis... I were going to get a hot hatch in this day and age, I'd go for the 500 Abarth. Best regards, M-

[@jamesp2293]

Very informative and objective. I have a 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth and have been modifying it here and there. I don't know as much as I wish I did and have been making mistakes here and there, the consequences of which I am just having to live with. Little stuff like knowing how to repaint and clear coat and remove panels and whatnot without breaking anything. You clearly know a great deal about these cars. I wish I lived in Tulsa so I could ask you my car questions IN PERSON! You wouldn't know of a good place to take my car somewhere in the Northeastern US would you? Great video!!!

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks and we do have a list of authorized installers on the Eurocompulsion page. There are several in the North East.

[@barlasalagoz159]

Thanks for an upload Mr. Greg; you seem to be fond of Italian cars, maybe an Italian aircraft video would complement :)

[@burntnougat5341]

He needs to do a Piaggio series

[@mttbob]

I wasn't able to find the FIA/ASN homologation papers but some thoughts of my own. It wouldn't be unusual to have a different brake setup for gravel events in order to fit smaller diameter wheels. Dampers are also likely changed. The light pods would be removable with quick release fasteners for daytime use, and the wheel studs would likely be pressed into the hub from the rear instead of threaded in. Thanks for the great video!

[@SeannoG1]

Had one of these as my desktop background in high school. Always paint my 500s like these in racing games too.

[@Surestick88]

I switched the stock 17" rims for 15x7 Konig Dialins with Conti Extreme Contact Sport 2 tires. The unsprung weight reduction made a noticeable improvement in comfort, and I don't notice any reduction in sharpness of handling. The downsides are a need to use wobble bolts instead of stock bolts to hold the wheels on and the rear sway bar linkage needs to be sved on the bottom by a couole of millimetres.

[@nigelsmith7366]

U sprung weight is a often over looked aspect.... I noticed a significant difference when I swapped from factory 15inch alloys to Hart racing 15s on my old Toyota Celica st162

[@lorrinbarth1969]

I drove a WRC homologation special as daily for 19 years. What a sweet ride. The handling was telepathic. When I wrecked that thing against a couple of guard rails in Colorado it left a hole in my heart. Now, the rules are completely changed and the chances of anyone owning a current rally car as a driver are gone.

[@bassplayersayer]

Interesting video. I've not worked on the little cars.

[@hairychris444]

Ah, 500 Abarths are silly cars, but in the best possible way! Awesome things and they look so cool. Also great that your family business is going well. EDIT: Oh yeah, my ex-boss is an Alfa freak who spends his weekends in his workshop. Beautiful cars.

[@Palaemon44]

One of the things I like most about Greg is his glorious obsession with technical exotica. It makes sense that someone who makes long videos poring over blurry 80 year old aircraft performance charts would also work on a MIAT (Fazda?) 124 to see how fast you can get a 80 cubic inch powered car through the 1/4 mile. Thank you for a great KZbin channel.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Ah of course, Greg, I came across you first with your Fiat/Abarth 124 Spyder/Rally, when they were doing the RGT rally class on the Monte Carlo Rally about 10 years ago. Of course. 🙂🇮🇹👍

[@FrankRuiz66]

Awesome

[@admiralqualityspretendingtofly]

Cars are so 2D. :P (Liked anyway, out of solidarity. Cheers, Greg!)

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks Admiral.

[@admiralqualityspretendingtofly]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles I even watched most of it too! LOL! ;)

[@heintmeyer2296]

The power and torque levels are more significant when you factor in the air intake restrictor leading into the turbo visible at 24:30. All the air that engine gets has to squeeze through a hole that's something like 34 mm in diameter!

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I know it looks like a restriction, but that metal tube is actually the size of the turbo's inlet. It's a really small turbo! The huge size transition right there is simply because they didn't use or have a 90 degree coupler that could make that size transition.

[@charlesclement383]

Thanks for the info. I', expecting some funds,when i get it I'll bring my car for a good tune up and upgrades.

[@stoneylonesome4062]

Greg, I’d love to see a video on the original FIAT 500. Same on the Citroën 2CV.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

And then came along the Austin Seven/Morris Mini-Minor 850's in 1959, with their non-existent brakes, and weak pressed and welded together steel wheels, that had a habit of coming apart going around sharp bends at 70mph max speed.

[@20chocsaday]

​@@huwzebediahthomas9193 Never heard tell of that on a Mini in the family. One of them was towed home but we never touched the wheels except to get at the brake drums.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

@@20chocsaday It's s a wonder they had one leading shoe hydraulic brakes all around, rather than Austin A35/A40 mechanical brakes on the rear. Different times. 👍🙂

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I did talk about the original Fiat 500 in my TWA terminal video. They had one in there.

[@fishsquishguy1833]

Hey Greg, since you design automotive aftermarket parts I had a random idea for a part I haven’t seen: When drag racing or even taking a 4 wheel drive off off road disconnecting the front sway bar end links have a benefit for weight transfer (Drag Racing) or suspension articulation (Off-roading) A piece of hardware designed with say a cam-lock type connection (Like some bicycles have) would make this easy and tool free? IDK? Might be stupid but I always thought it might work? Love your channel and both subjects are my favorites!

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Hmm. I'll think about this.

[@kraigantonjon]

haha....brilliant choice my good friend

[@BookAutowerks]

Such a cool car! Thanks for breaking it down for us. The suspension is really stock? No reinforcement around the mounting points? So you worked at Faza, huh? I bet that was a trip 😅

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Yup, I could talk all day about FAZA and Al Cosentino.

[@julianginniver5785]

Jusr wondered if the Lancia/chrysler Ypsilon is sold in the US. Im a lancia nut and would like to put the Euro Abarth 595 engine in the Ypsilon and tune it. 😊

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

1970 Lancia Fulvia with their narrow V-4 engine is nuts, such a narrow V-4, it only has one cylinder head, not two. An engine machine shop head scratcher when you ask them to do a rebore and some surfacing skimming. 😳😁

[@stoneylonesome4062]

It’s not. Not that we’re missing much, anyway. It’s not really a Lancia, it’s really a FIAT creation. The last “true Lancias” were the Fulvias, in the sense that, they were the last ones designed before FIAT took over, which is a shame, because up until that point, Lancia was actually known for good build quality and reliability. Kind of like how the CX was the last true Citroën, in the sense that, it was the last one designed before Peugeot bought the company.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

We don't have the Lancia Ypsilon in the US. We have had very few Lancias here and no new ones in about 40 years.

[@RogerAlan]

Hey Greg, can we expect any more from the 1960s muscle car series?

[@fbomb3930]

No, more euro car stuff

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I know.... I really am trying to get the 1968 episode out this year. I really need to finish that series, then I'll start another, either pony cars, or the senior muscle cars, or maybe the junior muscle cars.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I will have more Italian car stuff and I'll start to show what we have been doing on the Mustang EcoBoost.

[@fbomb3930]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles Good show, Greg

[@davidholder3207]

Would like to have heard & seen it run.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Sorry I couldn't work that out. However there are some youtube videos of running R3Ts and on the Eurocompulsion youtube channel, link in the description, there are many sound videos of 500s.

[@Surestick88]

Out of curiosity would water injection with the stock intercoolers be as good as a better intercooler?

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

For anti-knock, yes. For increasing the density of the charge air, no.

[@weedwacker1716]

I did a little bit of -stalking- research off of the information you dropped. I really enjoyed your blog article about superchargers from your HPSIMotorsport web site. Was that magazine article you referenced from the July 2021 issue of Hot Rod?

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Thanks, I'm not sure what article you're asking about. I doubt it was from 2021 as I haven't read anything from Hot Rod in a long long time.

[@weedwacker1716]

The article I saw was "Battle of the Boost Turbo vs. Blower: Which One Is Best?" by Johnny Hunkins but all I could see was the first paragraph as a teaser. The rest was behind the pay wall and I'm not paying for that. Which was why I asked, but it's not important. @@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Ahh, I remember that article and commenting on it. I don't know what issue it was in, but it was way before 2021.

[@UncleJoeLITE]

The Arbath is way too big & heavy for me, compared to my Alto Turbo RS, Greg. ;-) _We got both Arbath versions in Australia, but very, very few ever sold. Lovely little beasts, but..._

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

There a fella in Melbourne that is involved in classic Italian cars, including mainly I think Abarths. I think he is Italian extraction himself. I've seen his videos around Melbourne years ago. 👍🇮🇹😎

[@UncleJoeLITE]

Cool, thanks! @@huwzebediahthomas9193

[@dysr5035]

What lights are in the rally pods

[@Mrdrcaptaintroy]

I'd love to see a video on the 2CV Sahara. Only the French would think to make a car 4wd by adding another entire drivetrain in the trunk

[@964cuplove]

I‘m in germany and most of the options would probably disagree with German TÜV but I almost regret that I’m driving a cooper S these days 😜

[@alanrogers7090]

Jay Leno swears by Wildwood brakes and uses them on all his vehicles.😊

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Hmm, I didn't know that.

[@kidpagronprimsank05]

I wonder for quite a while. Why rally seems favor hatchback instead of sedan? Now, all rally are hot hatch.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I don't think it exactly favors the hatchback design, I think it's a case of lack of alternatives. Cars like the Fiat 131, Datsun 510, and other small sedans are in many cases not made anymore and or don't come in hot versions.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

17:20 - used to use coal mine strength steel cable for handbrake cables to lock the rear wheels on my rally BMC/BL Minis. The standard cables from factory used to stretch like ladies knicker elastic. My ones were instant - off, then on. 😳😳😳😁

[@DoDo-dq7yf]

I got my driving license on a 500L, I had no idea they were a thing in the US

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

There are not a lot of them in the US, but they were sold here. Now in Europe, they are everywhere.

[@DoDo-dq7yf]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles I've never seen them in Germany, ofc plenty in Italy I can't say I'm that big of a fan☺️

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I see huge numbers of them in Italy, quite a few in Spain and Poland and some in Germany. I like the car, it's an excellent people mover.

[@rayschoch5882]

Technically interesting, and 50 years ago, I'd have been hot to try one out, but at age 79, with my knees and my back, I'm certain I wouldn't be able to get into or out of one of these. I did plenty of modding (much of it worthless) of the cars I drove when I was in my late teens and early 20s - as a lot of people of my vintage were inclined to do, but I couldn't afford a rally or any other type of genuine race car now. So, thanks Greg, but in this case, the game is too expensive, and I'm not physically qualified…

[@itowmyhome797]

🎉

[@20chocsaday]

Fiat 500. The name has always made me think the owner could push it faster.

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

Nice to know your not just a mouse clicker in and basement

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Abart? I have always called the Italian sporting car company as... A a a a - bah - thththth. As like - A Bath. 🙃🇮🇹😎

[@Surestick88]

"Abart" is the Italian pronunciation of the name. It's questionable if that's the correct way to pronounce it in an English speaking country. Depends on your way of looking at it I think. Hyundai seems to have different pronunciations in the UK and the US/Canada, as an English speaker you don't pronounce Paris "Pareee" unless you're insufferably pretentious, etc. I figure it's like in aviation where there's a saying that there's four ways to fly a plane, the right way, the wrong way, the company way, and the captain's way. Only one of them counts. Obviously the saying is supposed to indicate that the only way that counts is the right way but if you want to pass a company check ride then maybe the company way is the one that counts or, as Groucho Marx said, "these are my principles, if you don't like them I have others".

[@johnnypenhale5743]

One day please Greg water injection pro and con and application plz

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I might do that with my Supercharged 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider. It has water injection and no intercooler.

[@johnnypenhale5743]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles sounds good cheak out David vizards water injection clip

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I have seen it. He is awesome.

[@nigelsmith7366]

Oh you make race car parts..... Can you make me a skid plate for my 87 Celica GtFour.... Please please please 🙏🙏👍

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

If I had one I would. I really like those cars, but I don't have one and I image that market is pretty well covered.

[@nigelsmith7366]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles to be honest I have not really looked into what race bits are available for the 165.... There are a few bits for the 205 that I know of.... Hopefully next year I can start on the restoration of my st165

[@Coverly]

A lot of time & money wasted, because when it comes to WRC... ...there will always be a crazy Finn that smashes the time your Arbarth sets in his daily driver, before drinking his wife's weight in beer... 😉

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

...and then they'll go disco dancing. What is it with Finns and disco dancing? It's 2023! They were nuts in Swedish SAAB 96' too...

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

These two things are not mutually exclusive. A Finn could drive a Fiat.

[@agskytter8977]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4nKiIqEf7uXj6M

[@FeintMotion]

Little Guy World Championship contender

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I think they were actually in the JWRC, junior world rally championship. Of course today they are being used in all sorts of events.

[@3ducs]

I put the Flyin' Miata Wilwood brake kit on my 2016 Miata, did it in my driveway, not too hard even for a creaky 77 yo man. Wilwoods are excellent brakes, much lighter than the stock iron calipers. I put auto bleed valves on them for one man bleeding since I have no friends.

[@GeneralJackRipper]

WAAAP WAAAP WAAP PFHWSSSH!!!

[@arthurhackman3229]

Every time i've seen a 500 in a rally it's ended up on it's roof just to damn rollie polie and top heavy !

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

"every time"? In my experience they don't seem top heavy at all, but I'm not sure how I could measure that.

[@Barstool_cub_driver]

These skid plate things you’re discussing should be fastened using “limited tool or tool-less fasteners”. You’d only need a quarter turn from an Allen wrench and after tightening each bolt would be shielded from corrosion, cross threading, damage, and retained within either the flat bottom or bottom less bolt hole. Nuts and washer are a thing of the past.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

We attached it the same way the factory guys did, which means we had to use the existing provisions on the chassis. You do need tools to take it on and off, but it's easier than the factory plastic under car tray and you don't need to remove it nearly as often.

[@tombier9170]

Rally car skidplates get bolted on because you can count on the plate to stay attached when bouncing it off rocks even when the bolts get bent and get the heads ground down. Skidplates are an occasional removal item, so quick disconnection isn't a real need. Even top level factory WRC cars bolt their skidplates on.

[@nigelsmith7366]

It's cute.... 🤣🤣But I think my 1987 Toyota Celica GtFour still cuts the best looks of nearly all rally cars....except maybe... Just.... By a hair... The RS200

[@Surestick88]

Ahem... The Stratos and 037 want a word.

[@nigelsmith7366]

@@Surestick88 🤣🤣🤣🤣close..... But not quite 👌😁

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I'm with Surestill on the Stratos and 037, but that GTFour is super cool.

[@kidpagronprimsank05]

One thing for sure, Celica could take a lot of beating, and still kept going

[@burntnougat5341]

It's a fun car but its WRC version doesn't really mean anything for the end consumer

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I think it does, because unlike a lot of other WRC type cars (this was actually in the JWRC) the R3T really is representative of the road car. It's the same chassis, body, engine and main suspension pieces.

[@burntnougat5341]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles that's like the good old Subaru WRX rally pedigree argument, which doesn't translate to real world use. Most end up as vape boy cars or grocery getters. Abarth is still too expensive for now but later on some base model pops might start becoming popular in scca rallycross

[@kidpagronprimsank05]

Well, with exceptions of Group A homologation special, and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (up until 6.5 Tommi), you are right

[@jimb8904]

I. Watched. This. And. It. Was. Interesting. But. After. Seeing Your. Aircraft. Video.s..... I. Was. Expecting.... maybe. An. Original. Muscle. Car. Rundown..... or. An. Evaluation.of. The. Reintroduction. Of. The. Mustang. And. Camero. The. New. Upto. Date. Muscle. Conversions.. and. The. Advancements.... In. The. Transmissions....brakes. clutches...ect... don.t. get. Me. Wrong.... This. Was. Good. Enough. For. .interests... even. As. A. 4 cyl....and. I. Always. Liked. The. Small. Muscle. Engines.... anyway... like. The. 283...302...327. Chevy.s.... 289...302. 351w. Fords. And. The. 318. 340. Chryslers... another. Good. Job. Thankyou. For. That. And. Have. A. Nice. Day....

[@BrodeyDoverosx]

KW V3 won’t touch what’s on the R3T. I’m drawing a blank on the company that sells it, but regardless MCS would be one of the best kits for the Abarth and Ohlins dealers can replicate the compression travel with a ttx setup…or just snag the Italian DNA modified custom Ohlins kit.

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

I'm not following you. Are you saying you don't know what was on the R3T, but your sure it's that much better than KW V3? Please provide a link to a picture of the MCS kit on an actual Abarth.

[@jacktattis]

Greg you do know this car is Italian and NOT a muscle car ??????

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

What?

[@jacktattis]

@@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles I am just surprised that you even mention a car that is not American.

[@777anarchist]

fogh