The Abarth Works Museum from Lier participates with 4 teams in the Legend Boucles rally @ Bastogne

On Saturday 3 and Sunday 4th of February, the 'Abarth Squadra Storica' team, the rally team of the Abarth Works Museum in Lier, will take part in the rally 'Legend Boucles @ Bastogne' , with 4 cars from the museum collection.

After all, the 'works' in Abarth Works museum stands for the fact that the cars are still regularly used in rallies, and we are happy to honour that name.

The 2024 edition of Les Legends Boucles

The Legend Boucles is a rally spread over two days, with tarmac tests on Saturday and tests in the woods on Sunday. On Friday evening there are some celebrations, including an autograph session at Place McAuliffe and a parade through Bastogne's main street.

In 2024, the Abarth Works Museum also celebrates 2 special anniversaries: the 75th anniversary of 'Abarth', and the 75th birthday of the museum's founder Guy Moerenhout. Because of these special occasions, Guy will participate in a 1975 Fiat 131 Abarth.

There are several categories, 'Classic 50', 'Classic 65', 'Legend', 'Challenger' and 'Youngtimers'. This year, the team will participate in the classic 50 category. In this category, the aim is to drive varying average speeds of up to 50km/h as correctly as possible throughout the course, with various obstacles along the way. The teams are experienced with very good co-pilots, so if the cars keep up, a podium place is definitely in the cards for the Abarth Squadra Storica. Another special feature is that there are three generations driving along. Guy Moerenhout (founder AWM), stepson Jeroen Nys (owner AWM) and his son Brian.

Abarth Squadra Storica's participating teams

The teams are as following:

Guy Moerenhout - Filip De Munck in a 1975 Fiat Abarth 131 rally
Jeroen Nys - Brian Nys in a 1986 Lada 2105 Junior
Eric Vlaisloir - Kristof Vermant in a 1969 Fiat 125S Abarth
Marc Van Bouwel - Koen Goossens in a 1986 Lada 2101 - 1600 GROUP 2

For the past three years, ex-Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt has also been part of the Squadra, but this year he unfortunately has to forfeit because his latest rally car project has been delayed and will therefore not be ready in time. In addition to pilots and co-pilots, a service team will also travel along, headed by Guy Desmet, and a kitchen team to provide everyone with food and drinks on time.

The rally cars from the Abarth Works Museum collection.

FIAT 131 ABARTH RALLY (Team Moerenhout – De Munck)

In 1975, 400 Fiat Abarth 131 Rally cars were made for homologation purposes. This was done in a collaboration between Fiat, Abarth and Bertone.
The car we are using in the rally is 1 of the first 25 ever sold. We know this because of the C-sign that appears on the mudguards. This stands for 'concessionaria'. Every Abarth concessionaire was obliged to buy one for the showroom.
Meanwhile, the car got a Group 4 suspension, and 2 twin 48 IDF weber carburettors and won several rallies.

Lada 2105 Junior (Team Nys – Nys)

The Lada 2105, 2107 (sedan) and 2104 estate are cars produced by Russian manufacturer Lada-AvtoVAZ since the early 1980s.
The car we are using in the rally is a special version of the 2105, which Guy Moerenhout designed in collaboration with Scaldia-Volga. They were convinced that there was a market for a more attractive version of the car. So modifications were made to the bodywork: including a new front and rear bumper, different side aprons and a special rear spoiler. The car was available with a 1300, 1600 or 1700 CC engine and was sold in France, Greece, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The car we are using in the rally is fully rally-ready, with 1700CC engine, over 170 HP and cervo steering.
The car has already been used 3 times in the Legend Boucles.

FIAT 125S ABARTH (Team Vlaisloir – Vermant)

The Fiat 125 Special was introduced in 1968. The engine was modified on several points compared to the regular 125. The car was equipped with a 5-speed gearbox and the interior had a more luxurious finish. Externally, the Special was distinguished by more chrome accents and different trims. The Special achieved a top speed of 170 km/h. Acceleration from 0-100 in 11.2 s was fast for the time. The car we are using in the rally was previously owned by Paul Frère. He donated it to the museum on condition that we continue to use it for rallies, and so we do.

Paul Frère was 1 of the best Belgian rally drivers and won Lemans several times. In his book 'My life full of cars', he also mentions this car. The car was given to him by Fiat, after he got a group 2 transformation at Abarth, with a unique Abarth engine that revs very fast. The car served as a model for the renewed edition from 1971.

LADA 2101 – 1600 GROUP 2 (Team Van Bouwel – Goossens)

The Lada 2101 marked the era of the USSR. Between 1960 and 1988, this sedan based on the Fiat 124 was the quintessential example of the Soviet car: simple and efficient. A low-cost model for our western societies where this Lada was quite successful and even became the brand's bestseller.

The car we are using for the rally was built along the lines of Statsys Brundza's cars, to Group 2 specifications, and homologated with a 1600CC engine and 7'' rims.

It has already driven the Legends rally five times , also with Guy Verhofstadt at the wheel.