The engine from the Fiat 124, made Lancia world champion

When Aurelio Lampredi halfway the years '60, designs a complete new engine for the Fiat 124, he couldn't have dreamt that he is building the base for a world champion. On top of that, his engine appeared to have such good bones, that is survived almost four decades.

As a successor for the 1300/1500-series, Fiat presents the sharp edged 124 on the Autosalon Genève in march 1966. Under the hood of this 4 door sedan, houses a complete new engine, internally known as 124.A.000.
With his pushrods and aluminium head, the cast iron block is a perfect fit for this time frame.

translated from AutoWeek, original text by Cornelis Kit
https://www.autoweek.nl/autonieuws/artikel/de-motor-van-de-fiat-124-maakte-lancia-wereldkampioen/

This engine was the brainchild of Aurelio Lampredi, and yes indeed, the same Lampredi that made name (and fame) at Ferrari with his legendary V12's.

Since 1955 he is reponsible for the development of new engines at Fiat. That includes the engine of the new Fiat 124, a car at that moment complete state-of-the-art.

With a bore and stroke of respectively 73,0 and 71.5 mm, the 4 cilinder engine has a volume of 1.197 cc, capable of producing 60 hp. With the years new variations are created with variaton on bore and stroke.

One of the first variants arrives in 1968 with a 1.438 cc volume and 70 hp in the Fiat 124 Special. Also Abarth handles the 124 engine, with a altered volume in the Abarth 1300 Scorpione.

When in 1974 the successor Fiat 131 arrives, this car gets an development of the 124-engine.

There is more than variants of bore and stroke. In october 1966 the Fiat 124 Sport Spider arrives. For this convertible the volume is enlarged to 1.438 cc, and they changed the pushrods for an cilinderhead with 2 overhead camshafts, with are linked to a distribution belt. Thanks to these alterations the power raises to 90 hp.

But this is only the beginning. Because the engine is further developed and is used in the Ritmo, Croma, Tipoa and untill 1999 in the Fiat Tempra.

Besides Fiat, the engine finds it's way to Lancia and Alfa Romeo. At Alfa it is used at the 164 Turbo and the 155 Q4. Lancia uses the engine in Beta, Thema and the Trevi.

When in 1986 the Fiat Croma 1.9 D arrives, even that engine shares "bones" with the Lampredi Twin Cam.

And... Lanca wins with the further developed DOHC-engine seven times the World Championship Rally.

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