Abarth is an Italian automotive brand renowned for producing high-performance vehicles and tuning kits, particularly for Fiat models, characterized by their distinctive styling and agile handling. Abarth was founded in 1949 by Carlo Abarth in Turin, Italy.
History[]
1947 - Abarth & C.[]
In 1947, Carlo Abarth assumed the role of sporting director for the Cisitalia racing team, but in 1948, the company faced closure, prompting founder Piero Dusio to relocate to Argentina.
Abarth, with financial support from Armando Scagliarini, assumed control of Cisitalia's assets, leading to the establishment of Abarth & C. on March 31, 1949, in Bologna, with the Scorpio, representing Carlo's astrological sign, selected as the company's emblem.
Following the liquidation of Cisitalia, Abarth acquired five 204 sports cars, including two complete Spiders and three unfinished models, along with a D46 single-seater and various spare parts. These Cisitalia 204s were promptly renamed Abarth Cisitalia 204A, forming the basis for a series of sports cars developed and raced by Abarth. The "Squadra Abarth" racing team boasted celebrated drivers such as Tazio Nuvolari, Franco Cortese, and Piero Taruffi, with Nuvolari notably winning his final race in the Palermo–Monte Pellegrino hillclimb on April 10, 1950, driving an Abarth 204A. Alongside their racing endeavors, Abarth's primary focus was on manufacturing and selling accessories and performance parts for various car brands including Fiat, Lancia, Cisitalia, and Simca, such as inlet manifolds and silencers.
On April 9, 1951, Abarth relocated its headquarters to Turin, marking the beginning of a significant association with Fiat, notably highlighted in 1952 with the production of the Abarth 1500 Biposto based on Fiat mechanicals. In 1957, Abarth secured a partnership deal with Fiat, receiving direct fees for successful competition finishes, leading to their extensive participation in hillclimbing and sports-car racing events worldwide, competing across various engine classes and challenging rivals like the Porsche 904 and Ferrari Dino. Given their payment structure based on results, Abarth entered their cars in diverse classes and countries globally. Notably, factory driver Hans Herrmann achieved success, including winning the 500 km Nürburgring in 1963 with Teddy Pilette. Additionally, Abarth offered Johann Abt a unique opportunity to race a factory car for free if he won all the races he entered, nearly accomplished as Abt won 29 out of 30 races he competed in, leading to the establishment of Abt Sportsline.
Abarth expanded its product line to include high-performance exhaust pipes and tuning kits for road vehicles, particularly for Fiat models, while also collaborating with other manufacturers. In the 1950s, Abarth produced racing exhausts for Lambretta models "D" and "LD," with original LD exhausts becoming sought-after collectors' items. Although reproductions carrying the Abarth name are available, Fiat's stance on this matter remains unknown. Abarth's exhausts contributed to Lambretta achieving several 125 cc motorcycle land speed records during that era.
In 1958, Abarth collaborated with Alfa Romeo to develop the Abarth Alfa Romeo 1000, with engineer Mario Colucci overseeing the project. Impressed by Colucci's abilities, Abarth appointed him as the company's Technical Director in 1960. Colucci's initial design, the Abarth Spider Sport, featured a mid-engined, tubular-framed roadster using the 750 engine, although it did not achieve significant success in competition. Despite Abarth's preference for rear-engine layouts, the Spider Sport series included variants with 700, 1000, and even 1300 cc engines sourced from Simca. Colucci's subsequent design, the Group 4 1000 SP, proved much more successful, spawning a range of mid-engined, tubular-framed, fibreglass-bodied sports prototypes.
Furthermore, Abarth collaborated with manufacturers such as Porsche and Simca in building sports or racing cars, expanding its influence and expertise in the automotive industry.
1971 - The Fiat Takeover[]
Carlo Abarth sold Abarth to Fiat on July 31, 1971, although the acquisition wasn't publicly announced until October 15 of the same year. Fiat's lack of interest in Abarth's racing operations led to their transfer to Enzo Osella, who founded the Osella racing team, taking over cars, spares, technicians, and drivers, including Arturo Merzario, thus ending Abarth's involvement in sport prototype and hillclimb racing.
Under Fiat ownership, Abarth became the racing department of the Fiat Group, managed by engine designer Aurelio Lampredi. Abarth was responsible for preparing Fiat's rally cars, such as the Fiat 124 Abarth Rally and 131 Abarth. In 1977, Fiat merged Abarth with Squadra Corse Lancia to form EASA, which developed successful racing cars like the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Group 5 and the Lancia Rally 037 Group B rally car, securing victories in various championships.
Abarth & C. ceased to exist on October 1, 1981, replaced by Fiat Auto Gestione Sportiva, which managed racing programs until 1999 when it transitioned into Fiat Auto Corse S.p.A. Additionally, Fiat and its subsidiaries, Lancia and Autobianchi, produced commercial models co-branded as Abarth, including the Autobianchi A112 Abarth, renowned for its lightweight and performance, and the Fiat Ritmo Abarth 125/130 TC in the 1980s. In the 2000s, Fiat used the Abarth brand to designate trim levels or model variants, as seen in the Fiat Stilo Abarth.
2007 - Rebirth of Abarth[]
On February 1, 2007, Abarth was reintroduced as an independent unit with the establishment of the current company, Abarth & C. S.p.A., fully owned by Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., a subsidiary of Fiat S.p.A. responsible for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The initial models launched were the Abarth Grande Punto and the Abarth Grande Punto S2000, with the brand headquartered in Officine 83, within the old Mirafiori engineering plant. As of 2022, Olivier François serves as the CEO.
In 2015, Abarth's parent company underwent a name change to FCA Italy S.p.A., reflecting the integration of Fiat S.p.A. into Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which occurred in the preceding months.
2017 - The Yamaha collab[]
In 2017, Abarth entered into a collaboration with Yamaha to create a limited-edition motorcycle known as the "Sport Heritage café racer special." Named the XSR900 Abarth, it was derived from the Yamaha XSR900, featuring a 847 cc inline-triple engine and showcasing neo-retro styling elements.
Current Models[]
Model | Engine | Notes |
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500E |
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595 |
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695 |
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595C |
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695C |
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695 75th ANNIVERSARIO |
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Pulse |
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Discontinued Models[]
Produced by Abarth[]
Fiat-Abarth 750 series, all based on Fiat 600:[]
Model | Years produced | Number produced | Notes |
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210 A Spyder | 1955-unknown | unknown |
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215 A Coupé & 216 A Spyder | 1956-unknown | unknown |
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750 Gran Turismo / Berlina | 1956-unknown | unknown |
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750 Zagato | 1955-unknown | unknown |
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700S | 1955-unknown | Estimated 17 to 19 units |
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850 Allemano | 1960-unknown | Estimated 100 to 150 units |
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850TC Berlina | 1960-unknown | unknown |
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850TC Berlina Nürburgring | 1962-unknown | unknown |
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1000 Zagato | 1960-unknown | unknown |
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Monomille | 1963-unknown | unknown, likely fewer than 100 |
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Models after 2007 rebirth[]
Model | Production | Number Produced | Notes |
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124 Spider | 2016-2020 | [Insert here] | Abarth tuned version of the Fiat 124 Spider. |
500/500C | 2008-2014 | [Insert here] | Abarth tuned version of the Fiat 500. |
Grande Punto | 2008-2010 | [Insert here] | Abarth tuned version of the Fiat Grande Punto. |
Punto | 2012-2014 | [Insert here] | Abarth tuned version of the Fiat Punto. |
Punto Evo | 2010-2013 | [Insert here] | Abarth tuned version of the Fiat Punto Evo. |
Photos[]
See Also[]
- List of Formula One constructors
ABARTH | ||
Abarth | Alfa Romeo | Autobianchi | Fiat | Lancia | Innocenti | Maserati | Iveco | Chrysler | Dodge | Ram | Jeep Current 500 Abarth esse esse · Grande Punto Abarth · 500 R3T · · · · · Historic
Concept Land Speed Record (LSR) Record Bertone · 750 Bialbero Record · Monoposto da Record · 1000 Pininfarina Record | ||
Carlo Abarth | Corporate website | A brand of the Fiat group |
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Abarth vehicles |