When we say that it is sporty and hatchback, it is likely that the Volkswagen Golf GTI jumps out at first for many people, and we quickly note that it is right, since the German veteran has been with us since the 1970s. However, it did not have an easy task in the 1990s, as it had a worthy challenger in the form of the then most powerful version of the Fiat Tipo.
It also received the addition of Sedicivalvole after its name, behind which one can imagine some cunning, Italian logic, although in fact it only hints at the fact that it has a 16-valve, 2.0-liter engine hidden under the hood. The 148 horsepower output of the four-cylinder block is delivered to the front axle by the five-speed manual transmission, which is accompanied by a torque of 173 Nm.
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Photo: Catawiki
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It is interesting that the drive chain was not manufactured by Fiat, but by the also Italian Lancia, which was originally installed in the sedan Thema, but it has features that resemble the improved version of the legendary Delta HF Integrale engine. Even if it doesn’t sound like much in writing, at the time the sporty version of the Tipo was praised for its performance and handling, which is why the Golf GTI had reason to fear.
While the first and for a long time the only generation of the Tipo ran between 1988 and 1995, the Golf 3 was introduced in 1991, and the GTI version produced from 1993 to 1997 also had a 2.0-liter engine. It surpassed the Tipo with just a few nuances: not only did it produce better data with its 152 horsepower and 180 Nm torque, but its 8.1 second acceleration (0-100 km/h) and top speed of 225 km/h were also better than the Tipo 8 .4 seconds and 208 km/h.
Photo: Catawiki
Recently, a copy from 1991 changed hands on the Catawiki site, where its value was estimated at 12-15 thousand euros, converted to 4.7-5.9 million forints. The Ferrari-inspired body in Rosso Corsa shade – apart from some ice damage – is in good condition for its age, and the rear spoiler and 15-inch light-alloy wheels are Sedicivalvole features.
There are also cosmetic flaws, such as the fact that the electric sunroof does not work – it is true that such functions were not available in many high-end cars at the time – and there are also signs of oil leakage. In the interior, together with the Recaro seats, the upholstery of the rear row of seats is also intact, and although minimal wear pressures are visible, this is natural after 131,000 kilometers.
Photo: Catawiki
