SUPERLEVE

In the bustling outskirts of Honeydew, Johannesburg, 71-year-old engine builder Jose Lopes celebrates a journey that spans both history and a dream that became reality. Fifteen years ago, Jose’s path diverged from his beloved Alfas when his then boss, Neil Lobb, a passionate Fiat racer, handed him a dull, mauve purple, Fiat 131 body. “Look, I’m an Alfa man,” Jose chuckles, offering me a cold beer. “But at the time, Neil used to race Fiats, and I was tasked to prepare his cars. I soon became tired of preparing the same Alfas all the time, and he gave me the Fiat shell.” This was the spark that ignited a passion that would lead to a 4.5-year in-house build, that would eventually attack the field under the Historic Racing banner.

The super-rare Fiat 131 Stradale, a model with a storied history dating back to the iconic Abarth-designed rally cars built for homologation in the ’70s, became a canvas for Jose’s ingenuity. “The build was a journey filled with challenges, but every hurdle sparked a sense of excitement within me,” he reveals, his eyes gleaming with pride.

Over those 4.5 years, every inch of the Fiat underwent a transformation guided by Jose’s skilled hands. “I stripped the body right down to nothing; it was a bare shell,” he explains, recounting the meticulous process that saw the removal of 340kg, leaving the car at just over 600kg. The roof vanished temporarily, making room for a roll cage and structural reinforcements.

Flared fenders, reminiscent of the genuine 2L 16v Stradale version, adorns “Super Leve”. “Once you start with the fiberglass, you can’t stop,” Jose chuckles, reminiscing about the addictive nature of his craft. The body was meticulously rebuilt (and painted Ferrari Red) late into the night, earning him concerned calls from his wife.

Underneath the lightweight, vented hood lies a fully worked 2L 8-valve Fiat motor. It’s a pretty engine bay with servings of red wrinkle paint and custom-made gold pulleys. An enclosed airbox draws cold air from where headlights once resided to the set of 45mm Dellorto side draughts. “It’s the same setup that I’ve used on my Alfetta GT race car for over 30 years now,” he proudly adds.

Paulo turns the ignition, and the motor sounds glorious on idle. “I guesstimate power to be in the region of 240-horsepower.” The engine features a 13.5:1 compression ratio, custom designed 86mm CPS pistons, flowed and ported cylinder head with bigger valves, and a lightened crank and pulleys. “Everything that I can lighten, I lighten. I look at everything, and everything for me is power-to-weight,” Jose explains, showcasing his meticulous approach to achieving the perfect balance between power and efficiency.

There’s a lightweight dashboard, a race seat that weighs 4kg and of course, polycarbonate windows…and that’s when the “Super Leve” decals on the sides suddenly make sense. In Portuguese, “Leve” translates to ‘Lightweight,’ a fitting tribute to the weight reduction efforts undertaken by Jose. While the Fiat was Jose’s creation, its dance on the racetrack was entrusted to his son Paulo and his former boss Neil Lobb. “The track is where it belongs. I built it, but my son and Neil race it. It’s a family affair.”

The Festival of Speed at Zwartkops Raceway marked its maiden outing. Out of 36 cars, Neil Lobb qualified 3rd, an impressive feat considering the predominantly V8 competition. Paulo currently showcases the Fiat’s prowess at Zwartkops Raceway, achieving a remarkable 1 minute and 10 seconds, with potential for a 1 minute and 9 seconds with bigger rubber and shorter diff ratios.

Before the Fiat dream began, Jose left an indelible mark on the South African motorsport scene. He once worked for the Alfa Romeo works team, where his expertise guided a full factory onslaught of three genuine Autodelta / N-Technology prepared 3.2-litre 147 GTA Production Cars that gave the BMWs a serious run for their money. The team’s exploits were featured in Speed and Sound during that era, with Jose smiling for the camera too.

In the surgical Jose Lopes Racing workshop – where he designs pistons, crafts 320-degree cams and builds R200K-plus power plants – is where you will find his beloved Alfetta, another personal 131 rolling chassis project on a lift, and of course “Super Leve”. The track may be where the Fiat’s heart races, but it’s in Jose’s office and at Jose Lopes Racing that its soul comes to life.