The Autobianchi A112 was a very popular car, and arguably one of the best looking hatchbacks of the late 1970s - somehow appearing quite modern without losing the classic style. When production ceased in 1986, more than 1.2 million units had been produced at the Desio plant in Italy. A particularly desirable model in the A112 line-up is the Abarth, being a performance oriented model introduced from 1971, and widely regarded as the world's first 'hot hatch', having been introduced well before competitors such as the MK1 Golf GTI.

This 1978 example of the A112 Abarth is currently advertised in Belgium here on 2dehands.be, asking €13,800. We've seen a few priced above and below this in similar condition, but what we like most about this particular car is its originality. The seller claims the car has no rust, less than 90,000km on the clock, and is in its original state (other than the wheels - although the original rims are included in the sale). As a 1978 model, this car received the 1050cc 70hp engine, and with weight at 700kg, this places the car near the power-to-weight ratio of the 1275cc Mini Cooper S.

The power, weight and handling of these cars has made them a natural choice for motorsport, with many having been entered in rally, racing and hill-climb events over the years. The cars even spawned their own racing series, and remain a very popular motorsport option today with enthusiasts. Their status as the earliest hot hatch and popularity in motorsport should continue to benefit the A112 Abarth as a collectors item, and we certainly expect the prices of genuine and original cars to continue to climb.

This is the first Autobianchi on Classic Register. If you own one, please sign up and add your car - we'd love to hear your car's story and learn more in particular about the desirable Abarth models.  Follow us on Facebook for more interesting cars found for sale around the world.