Though Fiat’s 124 Sport Spider debuted in 1966, it was not until three years later that the petite convertible would make its mark in motorsports.

Encouraged by its performance in national rally races at the hands of privateers in 1969, Fiat increased the displacement of its inline four-cylinder engine from 1.4 liters to 1.6 liters for the 1970 Italian Rally Championship.

Despite fierce competition, the driver and co-pilot team of Alcide Paganelli and Ninni Russo won the national title in a 124 Sport Spider.

Capitalizing on the positive momentum and its recent acquisition of Turin-based tuner Abarth, which would become Fiat’s official racing department, the company created a works team in 1971 to campaign the 124 Sport Spider.

A flurry of victories followed, culminating in an overall win at the 1972 European Rally Championship by driver Rafaelle Pinto and co-driver Gino Macaluso.

Rechristened the 124 Abarth Rally, Fiat further upgraded the car for homologation in the Federation In...