Abarth

Abarth & CSpA
legal form	Società per azioni
founding	March 31, 1949 in Bologna
Seat	Turin , Italy
management	Alfredo Altavilla, CEO ;
Branch	Automotive industry
Website	www.abarth.com

Abarth & C. is an Italian automobile manufacturer and automobile tuner . The company was founded in Bologna in 1949 and has been part of Fiat since 1971 .

The name Abarth is used today as a brand for particularly powerful models of Fiat cars. The company logo shows a scorpion as a reference to the zodiac sign of the company founder Carlo Abarth .

history

The Abarth & C. company was founded in Bologna in 1949 by Carlo Abarth, an Austrian motorcycle racer and entrepreneur living in Italy , and Armando Scagliarini . The company headquarters were soon relocated to Turin .

When building its own models, Abarth specialized in sports cars with a small displacement. In the beginning, various one-offs and vehicles were created in very small series with special bodies by a wide range of designers and bodybuilders, including Allemano , Beccaris , Bertone , Boano , Luigi Colani , Ellena , Francis Lombardi , Ghia , Giorgio Giugiaro , Pininfarina , Sibona-Basano , Vignale , Viotti and Zagato . The Abarth company became known as an automobile tuner .

In the 1950s and 1960s, vehicles from Fiat , Simca and Alfa Romeo were made suitable for racing. For the Abarth racing team, drivers drove like:

Fiat 600 Multipla Abarth

Abarth 500 (1973)

In 1971 Carlo Abarth sold the company and the naming rights to the Fiat Group. The motorsport department, on the other hand, took over Abarth's former employee Enzo Osella, who built his Osella Squadra Corse racing team on this basis . The takeover of the automotive division by Fiat brought some changes with it. Until then, Abarth's cars had brought in up to 600 race and class victories a year due to the enormous range of the model range. With the trend towards more displacement, which was also noticeable in Italy, the success of his business model declined. In addition, the basic vehicles for the tuned models were no longer produced.

In 1976 the motorsport activities of Fiat and Lancia were merged. Until then, the companies had been in competition with one another, for example with the Lancia Stratos and the Fiat 124 Spider , from this point on the activities in the group should be better coordinated.

A joint motorsport department was founded under the name Abarth Corse, which was located in old halls on Corso Marche in Turin. Head of this motorsport department was Aurelio Lampredi , the development engineer was Sergio Limone and the tester Giorgio Pianta, Abarth had around 100 employees there.

From now on, series products were only manufactured insofar as the homologation for motorsport made it necessary, otherwise Abarth concentrated exclusively on sports activities.

Products developed during this time were the SE030, a vehicle based on the Fiat 131 with the engine of the 130 and extreme body modifications for the Giro d'Italia , the Fiat 131 Abarth Rally for rally use, the Lancia Rally 037 based on the Lancia Beta Montecarlo , also a pure rally vehicle, and the Lancia Delta S4 .

After the end of rally group B , the SE043 Lancia Delta HF 4WD was developed from a pure series product that was not originally intended for competitions and was further developed by Abarth to make it suitable for competitions. From this, Abarth developed primarily competitive vehicles with the SE044, SE045 and SE050 Lancia Delta Integrale (8V, 16V and Evo) in different stages of development, which were then mass-produced.

Today the name Abarth is used by Fiat for the sporty offshoots of the group's model series, which are equipped with engines with increased performance; it is based on similar procedures from other automobile manufacturers. In the eighties these were the Ritmo Abarth 125TC and 130TC, which with a displacement of 2000 cm³ were brought to 125 PS (92 kW) and 130 PS (96 kW) as standard. The offshoots of the Fiat models Cinquecento , Seicento , Punto , Bravo and Stilo, however, were only present as an equipment line. Only Abarth accessories were available for the Tipo and Tempra . The Fiat Grande Punto and Fiat 500 (2007) models have been available as Abarth versions since the end of 2007 / beginning of 2008 . The new 500 has as Abarth 99 kW (135 hp) and as Abarth esseesse 118 kW (160 hp). The Grande Punto is offered as an Abarth with 114 kW (155 PS) and as an Abarth esseesse with 132 kW (179 PS).

The revised Fiat Punto Abarth Evo has been available since mid-2010. This makes 163 hp.

Models

In-house constructions

This group includes cars with a distinct appearance. Abarth used production parts whenever possible.

Monomille GT

This coupé, no longer designed by Zagato , was roadworthy. The displacement was 1000 cm³. "Mono" stood for a camshaft .

Road cars

Abarth Scorpione (1969)

Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato 1956
Fiat Abarth 1300 Scorpione, called Scorpione . The self-supporting body (on the floor pan of the Fiat 850 ) came from the Lombardi Grand Prix, the engine was from the Fiat 124 , was brought to 55 kW (75 hp) by Abarth and provided with a clutch bell that fitted onto the gearbox of the 850. The body offered space for two people, had pop-up headlights and a single wiper . With an empty weight of 670 kg, the power- to- weight ratio was 8.9 kg / hp. The top speed was 185 km / h. The model was presented in Paris in 1968.

race car

Abarth 2000 Sport Spider at the Solitude Revival 2019

Abarth-Simca 1300 : Only the floor pan came from the Simca 1000 , the engine was designed by Ing.Luciano Fochi. The number of vehicles almost reached the 50 vehicles required for homologation . Data: 1288 cm³, 94-102 kW (128-139 hp), top speed 230-250 km / h.
207A Spider Boano 1955
1000 P (1963)
Fiat Abarth 1300 Spider Tubolare 1963. This model was also available with 1000 cc. The names Spider Sport 1000 , Spider Sport Tubolare and Abarth 1000 Sport were common. Four copies of the version with 1000 cm³ were built. The 74 kW (100 PS) of the engine in connection with a total weight of 420 kg were sufficient to achieve overall victories in tight, winding hill climbs against much stronger competition, for example with the Swiss Tommy Spychiger at the La Bolzano-Mendola Mountain Prize in 1963. The body was open and had a flat windshield that merged almost seamlessly into the even lower side windows. The total height was 103 cm.
Abarth 2000, 1964
Fiat Abarth OT 2000 1966
1300 OT (1967)
Abarth 2000 Sport Spider 1968
1000 Spider (1969)

The spectrum of not only modified, but also self-manufactured vehicles appears very broad for the size of the company and the short company history. Small, light models with a small displacement (even for contemporary ideas) were often successful in automobile races not only in their class but also in the overall standings.

After the Abarth brand was sold to Fiat in 1971, the Abarth racing team was taken over by Vincenzo "Enzo" Osella, who continued it under the name of Osella Squadra Corse in Turin and later in Atella and with him in sports car races as well as in formula racing. Sport up to Formula 1 ( 1980 to 1990 ).

Third-party products

This list includes the models with body from large series manufacturers.

Simca

Engine compartment of a Fiat Abarth 1000

Abarth tuned or built the following models on Simca chassis :

1962–1966: Abarth-Simca 1300 with 101 kW (138 PS ) from 1288 cm³
1963–1964: Abarth-Simca 2000 GT Corsa with 141 kW (192 hp) from 1946 cc
1963–1965: Abarth-Simca 1150 (tuned Simca 1000 ) with 40 kW (55 PS) from 1138 cm³

Fiat

Abarth TC in a slalom

Fiat Abarth 1000 TC, built in 1970, at the DAMC 05 Oldtimer Festival

Fiat Nuova 500
Fiat-Abarth 595: 594 cm³ displacement, 20 kW (27 PS), V _max 120 km / h.
Fiat-Abarth 595 SS: 23 kW (32 HP), two different gear ratios.
Fiat-Abarth 695
Fiat-Abarth 695 SS: 690 cm³, 28 kW (38 PS), 140 km / h, homologated in group 2
Fiat-Abarth 695 SS Corsa, homologated in group 5

The weight of the models was between 470 and 484 kg. However, these models were somewhat overshadowed by Steyr-Puch . For market orientation: the Fiat 500 weighed 520 kg and had 13 kW (18 hp).

Fiat 600 Fiat-Abarth 850 and Fiat-Abarth 1000, both as TC, the 1000 also TCR

In terms of the number of units, this was the most successful model, although the price at that time prevented homologation in Group 1 . In motorsport with touring cars in Group 2 , the 850 and 1000 were overwhelmingly superior. The vast majority were not allowed to drive, but only served racing. In many cases, the cars presented today (2006) do not come from Abarth itself, but are subsequently modified Fiats. The front water cooler is characteristic from 1965.

Fiat-Abarth 850 TC Corsa

This model, homologated from 1961 in Group 2 at that time, weighed 583 kg and had a tuned 847 cm³ engine in the rear, which came from the Fiat 850 series . Mind you, just the engine; the body corresponded to that of the Fiat 600 and, depending on the year of manufacture, had doors hinged at the rear and later at the front. With a compression of 12.5: 1, the output was 57 kW (78 hp). Further technical data: hanging valves (eight), side camshaft driven by a chain, light alloy cylinder head, triple bearing crankshaft, centrifugal oil filter in the main flow, a downdraft twin carburetor Weber 36 DCD 7, electric Bendix fuel pump, five-speed gearbox with selectable Reduction ratios for final drive and gears 2, 3, 4 and 5, Girling four-wheel disc brake, front diameter 21.1 cm, rear 22 cm, petrol tank 31 l, on request 40, 50, 60 or 70 l, top speed 180 km / H.

With the base engine you can tell that economy was the primary development goal, not performance. The performance ultimately achieved is astonishing and was the basis of the numerous successes in the 850 cm³ class for the light car. The demanding technical details meant that the price was around four to five times higher than that of the basic model.

Fiat 850 Coupé different types up to 136 kW (185 PS)
Fiat Abarth OTSS 1000 (1965), also based on the Fiat 850 Coupé
Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
Fiat 131 Rally Abarth

Autobianchi

Autobianchi A112
Abarth versions of the Autobianchi A112 were made in the 1970s and 1980s . The short wheelbase, the low weight (700 kg) and the powerful and easy-revving engines (51 kW / 70 PS) ensured above-average performance.

Ferrari

In 1953, a Ferrari also served as the base vehicle.

Lancia

Lancia 037 (Rally) (pure competition vehicle with a small homologation series)
Lancia Delta S4 (pure competition vehicle with a small homologation series)
Lancia Delta Integrale (roadworthy competition vehicle derived from a series product)

Details of the Abarth automobiles

Abarth automobiles have been produced since 1949. It all began with two-seater racing cars , which were in the tradition of the Cisitalia automobiles, where Carlo Abarth had headed the racing department in the post-war years until 1949. Numerous other racing car models followed continuously from 1955 to 1975. From 1952, Abarth regularly produced special concept vehicles for automobile shows that remained unique or were created in very few individual pieces. The series of “show cars” ended in 1958 when Abarth was busy building series vehicles . In the mid and late 1960s, the company revived the tradition of concept vehicles and design studies ; Background were structural changes in the company Abarth & C. , which in 1971 finally to the integration into the Fiat - Group led.

In terms of numbers, the largest proportion of vehicle production was made up of the standard Abarth street models , which were produced from 1956 until the late 1980s, most recently as pure model variants from the parent company Fiat and its subsidiary Autobianchi . The boundary between road and racing models was often blurred, as was the case with homologation models that could be approved for road use . A special role the Abarth - Record vehicles from 1956 to 1966, and also the single-seater racing cars 1964 to 1972 and again in 1979 and the special rally vehicles from 1971 to the mid-1980s, most recently for Lancia .

First Abarth models (1949 to 1955)

The first passenger cars that had the name Abarth in the model designation or appeared under the brand name Abarth came from the years 1949 to 1955. These are models that were only created as unique items or in very few individual pieces, some primarily for racing, partly primarily as design pieces for exhibition purposes. In total, at least eleven different models can be distinguished; What they have in common is the design with a front engine , manual four-speed gearbox and rear-wheel drive . The technical basis came from Cisitalia , Fiat , Ferrari , Alfa Romeo , Renault and, in one case, probably Simca ; the body design came partly from Abarth himself or from the design offices of Vignale , Bertone , Ghia and Boano , who then also took over the body construction .

The first model was the Cisitalia Abarth 204A Spyder Corsa , an open two-seater racing car from 1949. The vehicles carried Abarth's project number 204A ; Carlo Abarth had developed the model as a Cisitalia racing director and continued production when he and Cisitalia owner Piero Dusio separated in 1950. The performance-enhanced engine and the gearbox came from the Fiat 1100 and corresponded to the Cisitalia 202 , the chassis and the simple body was an own design. The wheelbase was only 2100 millimeters, the front track 1250 and the rear 1240 millimeters.

The next independent model was not completed by Abarth until 1951, the Abarth 205A Berlinetta Vignale , a closed two-seater racing car. The vehicles carried Abarth's project number 205A ; Turn the engine and transmission came from Fiat in 1100 , at the request that was four cylinder - series -Triebwerk but increased to 1,200 cubic centimeters. The chassis was largely independent. For the bodywork, Abarth worked for the first time with a well-known design office, Carrozzeria Vignale . The wheelbase of 2210 millimeters was 11 centimeters longer than that of the racing spider; the front track was 1258 millimeters, the rear 1248.

A year later, the Abarth 1500 Coupé Biposto Bertone followed , an unusually designed, sensational two-seater coupé, which was primarily designed as a "show car" for exhibition purposes. The engine and transmission were again from Fiat , now the 1400 model , with the engine enlarged to around 1500 cubic centimeters. The chassis also came from the Fiat 1400 ; the wheelbase was accordingly 2650 millimeters, the front and rear track 1320 millimeters. Abarth worked with Carrozzeria Bertone for the first time on the body .

In 1953, not just one, but three new models were created for the first time, each with a different technical basis. For the first time, Abarth used a French base model in one case, and a Ferrari in another , whereby the cubic capacity reached 2.0 liters for the first time:

The Abarth GT from 1953 was again an unusually designed, sensational coupé, which was primarily designed as a "show car" for exhibition purposes. The engine and transmission came from French production, depending on the source from Simca or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from a Renault . The chassis had a wheelbase of 2400 millimeters, the front track was 1240 millimeters and the rear 1248. The exterior of the Abarth 103GT 1100 Ghia Coupé was very similar . At Abarth , the vehicle had the project number 103GT ; it deviates from the usual Abarth typology, but rather contains the project number of the Fiat Nuova 1100 from 1953, which suggests that this model was created with the support of Fiat . The engine and transmission came from this new Fiat model. The wheelbase in this case was 2420 millimeters, the front track width 1231 millimeters and the rear 1288. For the first time, Carrozzeria Ghia was responsible for the design of the two Abarth models.

The third Abarth model in 1953 was the unusual Abarth Ferrari 166 Spyder Smontabile , an open two-seater racing car. The vehicle had the project number 166 ; it also deviates from the usual Abarth typology, which suggests that this model was created with the support of Ferrari . The vehicle used the engine, gearbox and chassis of the Ferrari 166 MM / 53 with chassis number 0262M , which was originally bodied as the Vignale Spider ; the wheelbase is said to have been 2324 millimeters, a rather unusual dimension between the regular Inter and Mille Miglia / Export models. The special feature of the model designed by Abarth itself was the low weight of the light metal body and the fact that the structure consisted of several parts that could be removed individually and replaced separately if necessary ( Italian : "smontabile"; German : "removable") .

In 1954 at least four new models were created, all of them “show cars” for exhibition purposes, which in turn had different technical bases. For the first time, Abarth used an Alfa Romeo as a starting point in one case and a Renault in another .

The Abarth Alfa Romeo 2000 Ghia Coupé featured an elegant hatchback, rounded tail fins and a striking two-tone paint job. The engine, transmission and chassis came from the Alfa Romeo 1900 Berlina sedan ; the four-cylinder in-line engine had a displacement of 2.0 liters. The wheelbase was corresponding to the sedan 2630 millimeters and the front and rear track was 1325 millimeters. The design, which was apparently aimed at the American market, came in turn from Carrozzeria Ghia .

The Abarth Renault Frégate Boano was an elegant four-seater two-door car. The engine, transmission and chassis came from the Renault Frégate sedan ; the four-cylinder in-line engine - like the Alfa Romeo - also had a displacement of 2.0 liters. The wheelbase was 2800 millimeters, unchanged from the original model, making it the vehicle with the longest wheelbase in the history of the Abarth brand . The front and rear track was 1400 millimeters. The body and design came from the newly founded Carrozzeria Boano after Mario Felice Boano had separated from Ghia .

Two other new models for 1954 were the Abarth 208A Spyder Boano and the Abarth 209A Coupé Boano , two "show cars" that were sold individually. The project numbers 208A and 209A continued the series started with the 204A from 1949 and the 205A from 1951: The intermediate project 206 and 206A probably concerned the racing car with a four-cylinder sports engine and a displacement of just 500 cubic centimeters, which was intended for record drives; the Abarth 207A Spyder Corsa Boano racing car made its official debut the following year. The four-cylinder in-line engines with 1.1 liter displacement and the transmissions of the models 208A and 209A came in turn from the Fiat 1100 ; the chassis was an in-house construction in the form of a light, stable box frame. The wheelbase was unusually compact at 2034 millimeters; the front track was 1229 millimeters, the rear 1212. The characteristic design with eye-catching fins on the front and rear fenders, folding headlights and distinctive exhaust pipes, which ran embedded in the right side of the body below the door, came again from the Carrozzeria Boano .

In 1955, the brand finally presented the Abarth 207A Spyder Corsa Boano , with which Abarth returned to motorsport - apart from individual pieces - after a four-year absence. He also used the more powerful engine and transmission of the Fiat 1100 . The wheelbase here was 2050 millimeters, the front and rear track widths in turn 1229 and 1212 millimeters. The Boano design was largely similar to the 208A and 209A models , but the passenger seat was regularly covered and instead of a conventional windshield, there was a small plexiglass pane in front of the driver . The pop-up headlights were dispensed with, instead the 207A had a hump at the rear behind the driver's seat, which took up the striking design of the fender fins. A total of twelve vehicles from the 207A to 209A series were built , mostly racing Spider 207A and only two 209A coupes . These models thus initiated the transition to the subsequent, continuous series production of Abarth automobiles, primarily with technical components from Fiat .

Abarth automobiles based on the two-cylinder Fiat 500

From 1957 to 1959 and from 1963 to around 1971 Abarth built various models based on the small Fiat 500 . Fiat had presented it in 1957 as the Nuova 500 and modified it to the 500 D in 1960 . Features were a new self-supporting body with particularly compact dimensions, independent front and rear suspension and an air-cooled rear drive unit . The two-cylinder in-line engine had a displacement of just 0.5 liters and with a wheelbase of 184 centimeters, the mass-produced sedans were only 297 centimeters long.

As recently as 1957, Abarth presented its sporty version of the Fiat 500 Elaborata Abarth as a roadworthy series model, in retrospect often referred to as the Fiat Abarth 500 Berlina . The track width remained unchanged compared to the original model at 1121 millimeters at the front and 1135 millimeters at the rear, but the output increased from 13 and 15 hp (9.5 and 11 kW) at 4000 rpm to 20 hp (14.5 kW) at 5000 Revolutions per minute. However, the model only stayed in the range for a short time until 1959, because Fiat itself offered the Nuova 500 Sport with 21.5 hp (16 kW) from 1958 to 1960 .

Also in 1957, Abarth presented two sporty coupés on the same technical basis as "show cars": The Fiat 500 Elaborata Abarth Coupé Zagato , which even developed 23 hp (17 kW) and reached a top speed of 133 kilometers per hour, was created in the A few copies subsequently; Its distinguishing feature was a high, panoramic rear window directly behind the B-pillar . In contrast, the Fiat 500 Elaborata Abarth Pininfarina Coupé was probably a one-off; its body was more elegant, a little more spacious and featured small rear side windows with a normal rear window.

For 1958 Abarth built two special racing vehicles based on the Fiat Nuova 500 in order to achieve land speed records over long distances. The Fiat 500 Elaborata Abarth Record had an only slightly modified series body. The Fiat Abarth 500 Pininfarina Record , however, had a mid-engine , a wheelbase extended to 2000 millimeters and a track widened to 1140 millimeters at the front and 1150 millimeters at the rear; Particularly noticeable was the particularly flat and extremely streamlined body with a single central seat designed by Pininfarina .

The latter model continued the series of Abarth record cars that Pininfarina had outfitted the year before with displacement of 1,100 and 750 cubic centimeters and Bertone in 1956 with displacement of 800, 750 and 500 cubic centimeters; the older record car with a displacement of 500 cubic centimeters still had a water-cooled four-cylinder in-line engine derived from the Fiat 600.

As early as 1960, Fiat had further developed the Nuova 500 into the 500 D , which developed 18 hp (13 kW) at 4400 rpm. The next Abarth model based on the Fiat 500 did not appear until 1963, the Fiat Abarth 595 Berlina . Its engine has the type number 205 , the vehicle model the project number 105 . As with the original model, the track width was now 1150 millimeters at the front and 1160 millimeters at the rear. The engine, enlarged to 594 cubic centimeters, now developed 27 hp (20 kW) at 5000 revolutions per minute. Apart from the usual model updates by Fiat, including the further development of the 500 F , the Fiat Abarth 595 remained almost unchanged until the model series was phased out in 1971; Among the Abarth complete vehicles, it was the entry-level model and achieved one of the highest production figures for a single Abarth model. In 1969, Abarth added the 595 Berlina Lusso variant with a higher-quality interior to the range.

In addition to the Fiat Abarth 595 Berlina from 1963, Abarth began series production of three other sports sedans based on the Fiat 500 D and later the 500 F , which were also able to obtain regular road approval:

The Fiat Abarth 695 Berlina with the Abarth project number 106 was available from its presentation at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show and remained in the range until 1968. Its engine - still an air-cooled two-cylinder in-line engine - was given the type number 206 ; Abarth had already used the same engine type number for the power unit of the Fiat Abarth 500 Record Bertone record car in 1956 , at that time a reduced-displacement variant of the water-cooled four-cylinder in-line engine of the Fiat 600 . The displacement of the new two-cylinder Tipo 206 had been increased to 695 cubic centimeters; In the first few months it developed 36 hp (26.5 kW) at 5200 revolutions per minute, then 30 hp (22 kW) at 4900 revolutions per minute.
The company presented the Fiat Abarth 595 SS Berlina at the beginning of 1964, initially produced it individually, primarily for near-series motorsport, and added it to the regular sales program in 1965. The model kept the Abarth project number 105 and remained in the program until the model series expired around 1971. The engine was given the type number 205 / A , which should not be confused with the project number of the Abarth 205A Berlinetta Vignale racing car from 1951. It developed 32 hp (23.5 kW) at 5200 revolutions per minute.
Above the Fiat Abarth 595 SS Berlina and the 695 was the Fiat Abarth 695 SS Berlina . It was also presented at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show and was initially produced individually, primarily for near-series motorsport, before Abarth added it to the regular sales program in 1965. The model kept the Abarth project number 106 and also remained in the program until the model series expired around 1971. The engine was given the type number 206 / A and developed 38 hp (28 kW) at 5200 revolutions per minute.

Abarth offered the 695 SS assetto corsa variant especially for motorsport . The hallmarks were the flared fenders at the front and rear; Due to the widenings carved out of the fender sheet, widened rims with wider, race-ready radial tires fit into the wheel arches. Other external features were eye-catching stickers with the Abarth brand logo and the words “Fiat Abarth” and “695 SS”, as well as a special Abarth sports steering wheel in the interior .

The most radical Abarth version based on the Fiat 500 F was the Fiat Abarth 595 Competizione , which was only offered from 1970 to 1971 and exclusively for use on the racetrack. The model continued to run under project number 105 and the base price only included the base engine type 205 with 27 hp (20 kW). An external characteristic was the particularly wide, separately attached fender flares. They made it possible to widen the track width by 3.5 centimeters at the front and by 3 centimeters at the rear to 1185 and 1190 millimeters, respectively, and also to use particularly wide rims with racing tires in conjunction with an extreme camber .

From mid-1964 on, Abarth offered special aerodynamic plastic roof panels as an extra for all models built on the Fiat 500 in the body variant “convertible sedan” or “sedan with fabric sliding roof” . In their most extreme form, they lengthened the vehicle roof by several centimeters and ensured improved aerodynamics through sharp air separation edges above the rear window and on the side of the C-pillars . In addition, the lightweight GRP material reduced the weight and the vehicle's center of gravity. The manufacturer of these roof panels was the Italian company Carrozzeria Sibona-Basano , also based in Turin, until 1967 ; It specialized early on in the manufacture of bodywork and other parts made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic and had worked closely with Abarth as a body construction company since 1963 .

The last Abarth project in which the company used the technology of the small car Fiat 500 F was the Abarth SE 024 from 1971. On behalf of the highest national motorsport authority in Italy, the CSAI , Abarth designed a monoposto racing car with free-standing wheels for an inexpensive entry-level vehicle. Formula with a displacement of 500 cubic centimeters. However, because the racing authorities gave up the project prematurely, it stayed with drafts and no vehicle of this model was ever built.

At times, the Abarth models based on the two-cylinder Fiat 500 dominated their racing classes in circuit, slalom and hillclimb races in an overwhelming way: some starting fields temporarily resembled a Fiat Abarth brand cup; the biggest opponents were often the more powerful Puch 500 small cars; they used the same bodyshells of the Fiat 500 , but here with air-cooled two-cylinder boxer engines from their own production. Other competitors of the smallest Abarth models were the BMW 700 and the French sports cars from Automobiles René Bonnet and Panhard .

Abarth automobiles based on the Fiat 850

From 1964 to 1970 Abarth built various models based on the small Fiat 850 . Fiat had presented it as the two-door sedan 850 Berlina in April 1964; The 2 + 2-seater 850 Coupé designed by Fiat itself and the two-seater 850 Spider designed by Bertone officially followed in the spring of 1965. Features were new self-supporting bodies, an independent wheel suspension at the front and rear that was further improved compared to the Fiat 600 D and again a water-cooled one Rear engine. The four-cylinder in-line engine now had a displacement of 843 cubic centimeters and the wheelbase was 2027 millimeters.

In 1964 Abarth presented its sporty versions of the Fiat 850 . To distinguish them from the 850 series that Abarth had been manufacturing based on the Fiat 600 D since 1960 , the TC series, the new models were referred to as the OT series (Italian: "Omologata Turismo"; German: "als Touring car homologated ”). Both engine series with a displacement of 850 cubic centimeters differed in terms of the ratio of bore and stroke. The new Abarth models mostly retained the manual four-speed transmission from the Fiat 850 and the normal track widths of the original models of 1150 millimeters at the front and 1160 millimeters at the rear.

In 1964, several roadworthy sedan models appeared. The entry-level model was the Fiat Abarth OT 850 . At Abarth it was given project number 101 . The standard Fiat 850 Berlina developed 34 hp (25 kW) at 4800 revolutions per minute and 37 hp (27 kW) at 5000 revolutions per minute in the 850 Super . The Abarth type 201 engine, on the other hand, produced 44 hp (32.5 kW) at 5400 revolutions per minute for the OT 850/130 and 53 hp (39 kW) at 6000 revolutions per minute for the OT 850/150 .

At the same time, the Fiat Abarth OT 1000 Berlina with a 1.0-liter four-cylinder Abarth type 202 engine appeared under project number 102 . A displacement of 982 cubic centimeters resulted in 54 hp (40 kW) at 5200 revolutions per minute.

Under the project number 100 / B appeared Fiat Abarth OTR 1000 Berlina with 1.0 liter four-cylinder Abarth motor of type 200 . It differed in a new cylinder head; The letter "R" stands for "Radiale" and refers to the V-shaped instead of parallel hanging valves as well as the shapely hemispherical combustion chambers, which enabled a significant increase in performance.

The radical top model had the project number 135 and the model name Fiat Abarth OT 1600 Berlina ; It was also basically street legal, but only a few copies were made - exclusively in 1964. He used a 1.6-liter four-cylinder Abarth engine of type 235 with two overhead camshafts (DOHC valve control) and an enormous 154 hp (113 kW) at 7000 rpm; the engine had already been presented in an Abarth Simca 1600 GT in 1962 . Special features of the OT 1600 Berlina were a differential lock and a special Abarth 6-speed manual gearbox type 132 ; large fender flares made it possible to enlarge the front track by 17 centimeters to 1320 millimeters and to use wide sports tires. Abarth took over many of the special chassis and drive components for the two-seater racing sports car Abarth 1600 OT Spyder with project number 135 / A in the two following years .

Even more extreme, but only a “show car” in this form in 1964 was the Fiat Abarth OT 2000 Berlina with project number 136 and the nickname “Mostro” (in German: “Monster”). It largely corresponded to the OT 1600 Berlina , but used a 2.0-liter four-cylinder Abarth engine of the type 236 , also with two overhead camshafts. Many of the special chassis and drive components came from the two-seater Abarth Simca 2000 GT racing coupés from 1963 with the same project number. A few unique pieces of the OT 2000 Berlina were only created in 1965 under the project number 136 / C as the successor to the OT 1600 Berlina . The track width was now a uniform 1200 millimeters front and rear. In the following year , Abarth took over some of his chassis and drive components for the two-seater Abarth 2000 OT Spyder racing car with project number 136 / A, as well as other racing models.

Thanks to close contacts with Fiat , Abarth was able to work on sporty versions of the upcoming Fiat 850 Coupé at the end of 1964 . Among the project numbers 102 / A and 102 / D formed precursor of the Fiat Abarth OT 1000 coupe with 1.0 liter four-cylinder Abarth engines of the type 202 / A and 202 / D .

In 1965, three new series models supplemented the Abarth range .

Under the project number 102 / C , the production version of the originated Fiat Abarth OT 1000 coupe with the 1.0-liter four-cylinder engine of the type 202 . The standard Fiat 850 Coupé at that time produced 47 hp (35 kW) at 6200 revolutions per minute with a displacement of 843 cubic centimeters; With a displacement of 982 cubic centimeters, the Abarth model had 62 hp (46 kW) at 6150 revolutions per minute.
Under the project number 100 / C which originated Fiat Abarth OTR 1000 coupe with the 1.0-liter four-cylinder type engine 200 . Thanks to the special “radial” cylinder head, a displacement of 982 cubic centimeters resulted in 74 hp (54 kW) at 6500 revolutions per minute.
Under the project number 102 / S which was created Fiat Abarth OT 1000 Spider with the 1.0-liter four-cylinder type engine 202 . With a displacement of 982 cubic centimeters, this model also developed 62 hp (46 kW) at 6150 revolutions per minute; the standard Fiat 850 Spider with a displacement of 843 cubic centimeters, on the other hand, only had 49 hp (36 kW) at 6200 revolutions per minute.

The Bertone Abarth OT 1000 Berlinetta and Bertone Abarth OTR 1000 Berlinetta models presented in 1965 remained just a “show car” . It was based on the Spider body designed by Bertone, which the designer and bodybuilder modified with a permanently mounted roof. The body was combined with a 1.0-liter four-cylinder engine from Abarth , either type 202 with parallel hanging valves or type 200 with "radial" cylinder head, V-shaped hanging valves and hemispherical combustion chambers.

In 1966, four further street legal models based on the Fiat 850 supplemented the Abarth range . The Fiat Abarth OTR 850 Berlina was created under project number 103 . The sedan was the only Abarth model to have the type 203 four-cylinder engine ; he combined the type 201 engine block with a displacement of 850 cubic centimeters from the OT 850 Berlina with the special “radial” cylinder head. The front track was reduced by 4 to 1146 millimeters, while the rear track was widened by 51 millimeters to 1211 millimeters, which had a positive effect on driving behavior.

The Fiat Abarth OTS 1000 Coupé with 68 hp (50 kW) at 6400 revolutions per minute served as a model supplement ; so it was between the OT 1000 Coupé with 62 hp and the OTR 1000 Coupé with 74 hp.

The Fiat Abarth OT 1300/124 Coupé , which was given the project number 104 , served as an upward model extension . It combined the body of the Fiat 850 Coupé with an engine modified by Abarth from the Fiat 124 presented in the same year . The displacement of the Abarth type 204 engine was increased from 1197 to 1280 cubic centimeters; this increased the output from 60 hp (44 kW) at 5600 revolutions per minute to 75 hp (55 kW) at 6000 revolutions per minute. The front track of the coupé was increased by 9.5 centimeters to 1245 millimeters, and by 11 centimeters to 1270 millimeters at the rear. Another external characteristic was the front radiator grille, behind which the water cooler, which was moved to the front, was hidden.

In addition, the Fiat Abarth OT 2000 America Coupé replaced the Fiat Abarth OT 2000 Berlina in 1966 . The model intended especially for the American market combined the mechanics of the previous sports sedan with the usual coupé body. The front track remained unchanged at 1200 millimeters; At 1270 millimeters at the rear, it corresponded to that of the OT 1300/124 Coupé presented at the same time .

The end of the OT 2000 Berlina is also to be seen against the background that Abarth end of 1966, all models based on the 850 hired he sedan: The 850 ER and 1000 ER TC models based on the Fiat 600 D were lighter and shorter , thus also more agile; on the other hand, the OT-1000 coupés were aerodynamically more favorable than the sedans, so that there was no longer any need for the latter after around two years.

For 1968, Abarth restructured its program based on the Fiat 850 : The background was that Fiat had been offering an independent coupé version of the 124 since 1967 ; In addition, the company revised its models 850 Coupé and Spider technically and optically, which from now on developed 52 hp (38 kW) at 6500 rpm from a displacement of 903 cubic centimeters. Abarth made these visual changes. The company renamed the OT 1300/124 Coupé to Fiat Abarth OT 1300 Coupé for the last two years ; The designation OT 1324 is often used unofficially to avoid confusion with the pure racing coupés 1300 OT from the years 1965 to 1967. In contrast, the OT 1000 Spider was discontinued in 1968 and the OTR 1000 Coupé was also discontinued in the following year . For 1969 and 1970 the OT 1000 Coupé received the more powerful engine of the previous OTS 1000 , which meant that the entire series was phased out at the end of 1970.

Other Abarth models that used essential technical components of the Fiat 850 , in particular chassis components

the thoroughbred racing sports car Abarth Simca 2000 GT with the project number 136 from the years 1963 to 1968,

the thoroughbred racing cars Abarth 1300/1600/2000 OT Spyder and Coupé with the project numbers 135 / A , 136 / A , 137 and 137 / C from the years 1965 to 1967,
the street sports car Fiat Abarth 1300/1300 S / 1300 SS Scorpione Francis Lombardi with the project numbers 104 G and 104 S from the years 1968 to around 1971 as well
the two "Show Cars" Abarth Coupé Giugiaro 1600 with the project numbers 104 G and 104 S and Abarth Pininfarina 2000 Coupé , each from 1969.

Abarth today

The traditional Abarth brand has been officially back in 2007 . However, it is 100% controlled by Fiat Group Automobiles and marketed under the name Abarth & C. SpA . The brand takes care of the production of sporty versions of Fiat models and sells them under its own company logo. Since the name is not as well known in the USA as in Europe, Abarth does not appear there as a separate brand, but as Fiat. The vehicles are marketed there as "Fiat Elaborazione Abarth".

Current models

Grande Punto Abarth

Abarth 695 Biposto

Fiat 124 Abarth GT

Abarth Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet 114 kW (155 PS) from the end of 2007 to July 2010
Abarth Grande Punto esseesse , 1.4 T-Jet 132 kW (180 PS) May 2008 to July 2010
Abarth Grande Punto Supersport , 1.4 T-Jet 132 kW (180 PS) September 2009 to July 2010
Abarth Grande Punto S2000 , 199 kW (270 PS), rally version
Abarth Punto Evo 1.4 MultiAir 120 kW (163 PS) July 2010 to January 2011
Abarth Punto 1.4 MultiAir 120 kW (163 PS) January 2011 to September 2013
Abarth Punto Supersport 1.4 Multi Air 132 kW (180 PS) August 2012 to September 2013

0

Abarth 500 1.4 T-Jet 99 kW (135 PS) since July 2008 / since mid-2015 now 103 kW (140 PS)
Abarth 500 esseesse , 1.4 T-Jet 118 kW (160 PS) since November 2008
Abarth 500C 1.4 T-Jet 103 kW (140 PS) since July 2010
Abarth 500C esseesse , 1.4 T-Jet 118 kW (160 PS) since autumn 2010
Abarth 595, 1.4 T-Jet 107 kW (145 PS) since May 2016
Abarth 595 50 * Anniversario 132 kW (180 PS) since the end of 2013
Abarth 595 Turismo, 1.4 T-Jet 118 kW (160 PS) since August 2012
Abarth 595 Competizione , 1.4 T-Jet 118 kW (160 PS) since August 2012/180 PS since mid-2015
Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari , 132 kW (180 PS) since July 2010, limited to 1,695 pieces
Abarth 695 Edizione Maserati 132 kW (180 PS) since the beginning of 2013, limited to 499 pieces
Abarth 695 Biposto , 1.4 T-Jet 140 kW (190 PS) from September 2014 to June 2016

0

Abarth 124 Spider , 1.4 MultiAir 125 kW (170 PS), since 2016

0

500 Abarth Assetto Corse 1.4 T-Jet 140 kW (190 PS)
500 Abarth R3T 1.4 Turbo 132 kW (180 PS)

The Trofeo 500 Abarth is driven with the last two models mentioned. The technical data of the last two models:

engine

Model of the 1.4 liter inline four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine (T-JET) from Abarth at the IAA 2015

Four-cylinder in-line engine with 16 valves and turbocharging, 1368 cm³ gross
Power: the rally version is specified with 132 kW at 5500 rpm, the racing version with 140 kW (190 PS)
Torque: 300 Nm at 3000 rpm
Garrett GT1446a turbocharger, 29 mm restrictor in the air inlet
Special hose connections (reinforced) for cooling water and intake air

drive

sequential six-speed gearbox from Sadev , front-wheel drive with differential lock
Double disc clutch 184 mm (metal-ceramic)
Special half waves

landing gear

front MacPherson struts , adjustable shock absorbers with height-adjustable spring plates for the coil springs. Adjustable camber with washers
rear multi-link axle , shock absorber, vehicle height and camber adjustable like the front

steering

Power steering with electric drive (EPS)

Brakes

front Brembo caliper with four M4X40 pistons, internally ventilated disc 295 mm × 28 mm
rear Brembo brake caliper with 36 mm piston, massive brake disc 240 mm × 11 mm
Racing brake pads v + h
Hydraulic handbrake
Adjustable braking force distribution

Further data

Dimensions: length 3657 mm, width 1627 mm, wheelbase 2300 mm
Vehicle interior cleared, roll cage welded into the body ; Safety cell made of tubular steel and bucket seats with harness belts for driver and front passenger (only the anchoring points are included)
Weight: 1080 kg

The rally Abarth itself can be bought for 48,000 euros (net and ready to race) with road approval.

Auto parts and engines

The exhaust systems and steering wheels were known under the name Abarth in the 1960s and until the 1970s .

Bialbero engine with two overhead camshafts ( DOHC )

Results in motorsport

Victories in the sports car world championship

year	run	vehicle	Driver 1	Driver 2
1962	Coppa Maifredi	Fiat-Abarth 1000	Italy Ludovico Scarfiotti
	Grand Prix of Berlin	Fiat-Abarth 1000	Switzerland Robert Jenny
	Coppa Cittá di Enna	Fiat-Abarth 1000	Italy Marsilio Pasotti	Italy Giancarlo Scotti
	500 km race on the Nürburgring	Fiat-Abarth 1000 Bialbero	Germany Federal Republic Eberhard Mahle
1963	3-hour race at Sebring	Fiat-Abarth 1000	Germany Federal Republic Hans Herrmann
	Coppa Maifredi	Fiat-Abarth 1000	Italy Marsilio Pasotti	Italy Benedetto Guarini
	3 hour race of Monza	Fiat-Abarth 1000	Italy Romano Perdomi
	Coppa Cittá di Enna	Fiat-Abarth 1000	Italy Romano Perdomi
	500 km race on the Nürburgring	Fiat-Abarth 850	Germany Federal Republic Hans Herrmann	Belgium Teddy Pilette
	Coppa Inter-Europa 1963	Abarth-Simca 1300 Bialbero	Switzerland Tommy Spychiger
1964	Monza Grand Prix	Abarth-Simca 1300 Bialbero	Italy Franco Patria
	Coppa Cittá di Enna	Abarth-Simca 2000 GT	Germany Federal Republic Hans Herrmann
	500 km race on the Nürburgring	Abarth-Simca 1300 Bialbero	Germany Federal Republic Hans Herrmann	Germany Federal Republic Klaus Steinmetz
1965	Coppa Bologna	Abarth-Simca 1300 Bialbero	Italy Herbert Demetz
	Coppa Inter-Europa 1965	Abarth-Simca 1300 Bialbero	Germany Federal Republic Klaus Steinmetz
	Corsa della Mendola	Abarth-Simca 2000 GT	Italy Herbert Demetz
1966	500 km race on the Nürburgring	Abarth 1300 GT	Germany Federal Republic Ernst Furtmayr
1967	Hockenheim Grand Prix	Abarth 1300 GT	Netherlands Toine Hezemans

literature

Greggio, Luciano: Abarth - A genius and his cars. HEEL Verlag Königswinter 2003, ISBN 3-89880-203-5 .
David Hodges: Racing cars from A to Z after 1945. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-613-01477-7 .
Juliane Zielonka: The renaissance of the Abarth brand. Retro branding as a future-oriented positioning feature in strategic brand management. Publishing house Dr. Müller, Saarbrücken 2010, ISBN 978-3-639-22532-7 .
Franz Steinbacher: Abarth: racing cars - collection 1949-1974. Delius Klasing & Co. KG., Bielefeld 2018, ISBN 978-3-667-11392-4

Web links

Commons : Abarth - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ Abarth Legends - Part 2: Kurt Ahrens
↑ David Hodges: Racing Cars from A to Z after 1945, p. 203
↑ home.planet.nl/~fredr079/alg/alg001de.html
↑ ^a ^b http://www.dmsb.de/downloads/1884/Homo.-Liste_historisch_ausl._Hersteller.pdf ; Page 1 of 38
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af ^ag ^ah ^ai ^aj ^ak Overview of the Abarth models on the bernimotori.com web portal , accessed August 30, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Cisitalia Abarth 204A Spyder Corsa on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 30, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Abarth 205A Berlinetta Vignale on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 30, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Abarth 1500 Coupé Biposto Bertone on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 30, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Abarth GT on the bernimotori.com web portal , accessed on August 30, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Abarth 103GT 1100 Ghia Coupé on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 30, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Abarth Ferrari 166 Spyder Smontabile on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 30, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Abarth Alfa Romeo 2000 Ghia Coupé on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 30, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Abarth Renault Frégate Boano on the bernimotori.com web portal , accessed on August 30, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Abarth 208A Spyder Boano on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 30, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Abarth 209A Coupé Boano on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 30, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Abarth 207A Spyder Corsa Boano on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 30, 2016 (Italian).

↑ ^a ^b ^c Roger Gloor: All Cars of the 50s - 1945-1960 . Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart. 1st edition 2007. ISBN 978-3-613-02808-1 , pp. 153 f.

↑ Overview of the Fiat 500 Elaborata Abarth on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 31, 2016 (Italian).

↑ ^a ^b Roger Gloor: All Cars of the 50s - 1945-1960 . Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart. 1st edition 2007. ISBN 978-3-613-02808-1 , p. 42 f.

↑ Overview of the Fiat 500 Elaborata Abarth Coupé Zagato on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 31, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat 500 Elaborata Abarth Pininfarina Coupé on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 31, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat 500 Elaborata Abarth Berlina Record on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 31, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth 500 Pininfarina Record on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 31, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth 500 Record Bertone on the bernimotori.com web portal , accessed on August 31, 2016 (Italian).

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Roger Gloor: All cars of the 60s . Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart. 1st edition 2006. ISBN 978-3-613-02649-0 , pp. 146 to 154.

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth 595 Berlina on the bernimotori.com web portal , accessed on August 31, 2016 (Italian).

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s Roger Gloor: All cars of the 60s . Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart. 1st edition 2006. ISBN 978-3-613-02649-0 , pp. 38 to 41.

↑ ^a ^b Overview of the Fiat Abarth 695 SS Berlina on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 31, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth 595 Competizione on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on August 31, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Elvio Deganello, in: Auto Italia (magazine), issue 227 (January 2015), "Italian Coachbuilders - Carrozzeria Sibona-Basano ", pp. 50 to 54 (53), background information on the cooperation between the companies Carrozzeria Sibona-Basano and Abarth & C. (English), available on the porschecarshistory.com web portal

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth OT 850 Berlina on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on September 1, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth OT 1000 Berlina on the bernimotori.com web portal , accessed on September 1, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth OT 1600 Berlina on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on September 1, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth OT 2000 Berlina on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on September 1, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth OT 1000 Coupé on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on September 1, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth OTR 1000 Coupé on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on September 1, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth OT 1000 Spider on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on September 1, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Bertone Abarth OTR 1000 Berlinetta on the bernimotori.com web portal , accessed on September 1, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth OT 1300/124 Coupé on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on September 1, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth OT 2000 America Coupé on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on September 1, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Overview of the Fiat Abarth OT 1000 Coupé (1968–1971) on the web portal bernimotori.com , accessed on September 1, 2016 (Italian).

↑ Successes in the sports car world championship in 1962 ( Memento from June 24, 2003 in the web archive archive.today )