Monthly Archives: January 2012

Ferrari, Modern Classic

2001 Ferrari F550 Maranello

Ever since the mid 1990s, I've found vehicle design to be rather uninspiring. From ill-proportioned cars to the controversy surrounding BMW and the designs of Chris Bangle, I've felt like the days of beautiful cars have passed us by. There have been some bright spots though. The revival of the MINI. The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. And this car, the Ferrari F550 Maranello. Along with the 456, this car signaled a return to front engined V12 grand turing machines at the famed sports car manufacturer. Introduced in 1996, the F550 was positioned as Ferrari's flagship. With a 5.5 liter V12 pumping out 485 horsepower and plenty of luggage space for two, this was one of the most practical Ferraris to date. Our feature car is a 2001 model with under 20,000 miles on the clock and has the desirable 6 speed manual gearbox.

2001 Ferrari F550 Maranello

As a grand tourer, the Ferrari 550 Maranello successfully embodies Ferraris high performance ideologies while presenting a luxurious and spacious interior. The 550s naturally aspirated V12 mated to a 6 speed manual transmission produces an impressive 485 hp and 419 lb-ft of torque that allows the Maranello to speed to 60mph in 4.2 seconds while its rear trunk is still large enough to accommodate a full set of golf clubs. The roomy interior of this silver grand tourer sports grey leather seats and a red trim throughout.

F550 prices have been dropping steadily, with some early examples seeing values in the $50,000 range. This isn't much more than what a new Infiniti G37 Coupe sells for, but the eternal sticking point is the maintenance costs. This particular car is priced quite a bit higher at $83,900, but that is a mere pittance to what these cars cost new. Personally, I would have rather seen this silver color teamed with an all red interior, but there are worse color combinations. If your bank account can handle it and you are seeking a Ferrari that can be used a little more than once in a blue moon, the F550 is a fantastic proposition. I would hasten to say that in twenty to thirty years time, these coupes will have aged just as gracefully as that other legendary Ferrari coupe, the 250GT Lusso.

-Paul

Fiat, Uncategorized

1975 Autobianchi A112 Abarth

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Autobianchi was a joint venture between the bicycle manufacturer Bianchi, Fiat and Pirelli set up in 1955. The mission of this company was to test out new technologies and advancements for Fiat that would eventually make their way into the lineup. Introduced in 1968, the A112 was marketed solely as a 3 door hatchback and saw over 1.2 million examples produced over an 18 year time span. It was also the vehicle which helped bring front wheel drive to Fiat's range in the form of the 127.

Along with the standard A112, Abarth tried their hand at souping up this diminutive runabout and debuted the A112 Abarth in 1971. The 1975 model of the A112 Abarth brought about improvements to the model, most notably a larger displacement engine with 69 horsepower and a 5 speed gearbox. These were raucous little cars that were sought out by young enthusiasts and rally drivers. As a result, few mint examples survive today. This particular 1975 A112 Abarth for sale in Belgium is quite tidy, has a breathed on engine cranking out 90 horsepower and has only a little bit more than 11,000 miles on the clock.

1975 Autobianchi A112 Abarth

Rally prepared, FIA papers, 1054cc engine, engine prepared to 90 HP. Excellent technical condition and well maintained interior.

For under $7,500 USD, this is a unique piece of Italian racing history and is a good alternative for those who think a vintage Mini Cooper is a bit too boring. Autobianchi ceased operation in 1996, the last car to wear it's badge being a version of the Lancia Ypsilon. Today, the official Autobianchi club, Registro Autobianchi, owns the rights to the company name. These loyal and passionate enthusiasts of the mark see to it that owners have a forum to help keep hot hatches like the A112 Abarth around for many years to come.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1976 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV

The Alfa Romeo Alfetta Sedan and GTV Coupe were the cars that introduced the legendary front engine/rear transaxle combination so favored by enthusiasts and missed greatly when front wheel drive became the norm in the 1990s. The GTV could be best described as a bridge between classic and modern day Alfa Romeos, with styling cues taken from the V8 Montreal coupe but with sharper edges more akin to the later 75 sedan. This particular GTV represents the third year of production for the GTV Coupe and comes with an amazing provenance and recognition from the Alfa Romeo Owners Club.

1976 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV

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This is a 1976 Alfa Romeo Alfetta Coupe GTV in concours condition. It came in second place in "Class 22--Transaxle Coupe" Class in the 2004 AROC national Convention held at Manchester, New Hampshire. Prior to this event, it was regularly entered in the Rolex Vintage Festival at Lime Rock where it achieved 90.9 and 94.1 points (I only have two score sheets) as well as Concourse Italiano in Brookline, Massachusetts. The car underwent sort of "no expense spared" (if this can be even applied to the Alfetta series?) restoration effort in the early 90's by Keith Goring at Alfas Unlimited in Conneticut, when the car had around 25,000 miles.

The engine was built with European 9.6 high compression pistons and Shankle high performance camshafts. It originally had European Ansa tubular headers, but I converted over to Euro Cast Iron for its many benefits including to me better sound. All other mechanical parts were replaced or rebuilt at that time. The Spica injection was fitted with K&N air filters and new exhaust was placed. When I bought the car in November 2004, Spica was tuned to perfection by Joe Lore of Alfa Imports along with higher output alternator from later series. Original Spica air filter housing was also placed to bring the engine bay to as original condition as possible and I never liked the "snorty" sound of the K&N filters. More impressive is the body restoration where the quality of paint and more important, the body prep work done on this car is comparable to restoring a Ferrari.

All new sheet metal was sourced in Italy and the prepwork under the paint is exquisite. Keeping in mind today's exhorbitant cost of "proper" restoration job in terms of labor cost and material cost, this level of "quality" restoration will probably never be repeated in an Alfetta, at least until people realize what an amazing car the first series Alfetta coupe represents in terms of crisp design and ambitious engineering complexity attempted on a mass production car. It also has the rare European stainless steel bumpers in near new condition. Interior wise, the carpet is original and in excellent condition. The driver's bottom seat was redone, otherwise the rest of the seats are in original pristine condition. The dash and steering wheel are near perfect. The original tool kit, jack, and owners manual are included.

The suspension has been updated with new Bilsteins and performance rear springs by the previous owne, and I added the 15 inch Ronal wheels for slightly more aggressive stance. I have owned the car as part of my small collection of Iconic Italian cars which I am down sizing due to my age and change in my passion and hobby. Over the years I only put enough miles to keep the car well lubed and suspension and rubber components supple and in good working order. The Spica injection is amazing and alwys starts up after pumping the gas a few times. The ignition switch was updated and works flawlessly. Engine has plenty of power and torque and yet breaths very well all the way up the revs like a 1600cc or 1750cc. The driveshaft is fully balanced up the revs, clutch is progressive, and synchros are all good. Brakes work fine and with the Bilstein and 15 Ronals, and of course the famous Dedion set up, there is a lot of feel good factor built into the handling. I sourced an Ansa rear muffler but never bothered with the change as the single tip muffler with the Euro cast iron headers to me sound, just right, a quintessenial Alfa music. In summary, this is for the Cognoscenti of the transaxle Alfetta series, who is looking for one of the best out there and ready to enjoy winning in concourse meeting.

I've come across a slew of GTV Coupes in good condition lately. Usually, anywhere between $8,000 to $15,000 can net you some of the best GTVs money can buy, be they the earlier four cylinder models or later V6 versions. With this car's desirable color combination and impressive rebuild, the seller would be within reason to expect a return of at least that much and perhaps even more.

-Paul

Ferrari

1967 Ferrari 330 GTC

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The Ferrari 330 range was the successor to the Ferrari 250, which was the vehicle that drove Ferrucio Lamborghini to complain about frequent clutch issues to Enzo Ferrari. If you're an enthusiast of Italian vehicles, you know how that story ended. The GTC shared it's chassis and independent rear suspension with the Ferrari 275. Over a two year model run, 600 examples of the GTC left the factory. This particular example is mostly original and looks sublime in this shade of brown, reminiscent of Steve McQueen's famous 250 GT Lusso.

1967 Ferrari 330 GTC

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This 1967 Ferrari was originally purchased by John Dale Jr. in May of 1968 from Algar enterprises in Rosemont, PA after it had been a demo over the weekend and had 500 miles on odometer. During the first year of ownership the car was registered in Pennsylvania. Thereafter it was registered it was registered in New Jersey. Original sticker price was 15,800 and Mr. Dale paid $13,500.00. The vehicle was sporadically used by Mr. Dale until his death. The car was taken out of circulation by Mr.Dale widow until 1998. When it was purchased by its current owner Dr. Cook of San Diego Ca. The car was a rare find and required 2 years of work to reach its current sate, Emphasis was placed on presentation not restoration.

The car has been exercised frequently around San Diego and driven to Los Angelos for the recent Ferrari Nationals and to Orange County for numerous club events. The vehicle is considered a time warp. The vehicle still retains its original drivetrain, its original interior and 90% original paint. All in stunning preserved condition.

Dates of Service:

May 30th 1974: Miles 19,113, Modena Racing Company 770 11th Ave NY,NY. Engine Tune: Spark Plugs, Oil Filters, Shocks, Points and Condenser, Front Brake Pads.

April 11, 1976: Miles 19,706, Wide World of Cars Route 59 Spring Valley NY. Spark Plugs, Engine Oil and Filter, Flush Engine Cooling, Secure and replace all Hoses, Adjust Clutch, Adjust Front End, Adjust front and rear brakes.

Dec 3, 1979: Miles 20,500, Wide World of Cars: Oil filter, Flush Radiator, Points Condenser, Front Suspension Joints, Headlight Bulbs, New Tires.

Oct 29, 1981: Wide World of Cars: Master Cylinder Service, Radiator Antifreeze, Oil and Filter.

June 1984: Hoses, Grease fittings, Battery terminals, Antifreeze, Cigarette lighter, 4 Wheels re-chrome.

Sept 4th 1986: Change Oil/Filter, Clean Fuse for Window

Dec 23 1986: Replace rear exhaust Hangers, clean fuse box/new Fuses

From 1989 to 1998: Various Service records, including oil changes, adjustments, Air filters, rebuilt fuel pump all in service records of Mr.John Dale. Since purchased by New owner in 1998, Symbolic Service of La Jolla Ca has rebuilt the engine, clutch, brakes. Precious Metals of San Diego has rebuilt, Carbs AC System and Suspension, Steering Box, Light paint work to nose.

Over $20,000 has been recently invested. This vehicle is one of the finest original example 330 GTC on the market the vehicle has low miles of 26,539, it is a true 2 owner vehicle, we have receipts back to 1974 documenting all the work that has ever been completed, The interior is in stunning original condition. The drivetrain has been toughly gone through by professionals, and all its components are in excellent working order. The vehicle is virtually flawless inside and out its paint is original and spectacular. This is a no nonsense Ferrari and a fantastic investment car of this marque.

As the saying goes, they are only original once. The description provided by the seller leaves little guesswork for potential buyers. These GTC models usually sell in the $275,000 to $300,000 range, and at this price, the premium reflected is accounting for the car's originality and history.

-Paul

Lancia

1976 Lancia Scorpion

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In the 1970s, Lancia's product lineup began to be influenced by corporate parent Fiat and the Scorpion was no exception. Developed as a complementary model to the Fiat X1/9, the Montecarlo, as it was known in Europe, bowed at the Geneva Motor Show in 1975. The name Scorpion was chosen for the US market as Chevrolet was already using the name Montecarlo stateside. Too meet federal regulations, a smaller 1.8 liter twin cam engine was employed, larger bumpers were installed and pop up headlights differed from the fixed, flush mount Euro market units. Only 1801 Scorpions were made between 1976 and 1977, and as with many Lancias of the 1970s and 1980s, few survived, succumbing to rust issues or mechanical failures too great or expensive for owners to sort out. This Scorpion for sale in California has seen only 47,000 miles and appears remarkably well preserved.

1976 Lancia Scorpion

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1976 Lancia Scorpion. VIN: 137AS 0101192 CA Plate: 1QHV502

Fuel Injected, Montecarlo transmission with overdrive. I am a Lancia nut. I have owned more than two dozen Lancia Scorpions and this is by far the best, cleanest chassis I have found yet. I then had the entire car disassembled and fortified as listed below by the best known scorpion authority and marque specialist, Mark Rawlings of Sacramento. Extremely nice car with sunfaded original silver paint with a slate alcantara suede and black interior. This car has extreemely low mileage at 47,028 and has always received all necessary attention and maintenance. There is no rust on this vehicle and I invite all inspections. Please read the list of accessories and improvements to this car.

O37 Double-Bubble Hardtop
Series II "through the glass" side mirrors
Cromadora Daytona "melted" 5-star 14" wheels
Koni red struts all around
Alcatara suede interior
Sony CD/Infinity speakers

Blueprinted and balanced high performance engine including:
Bosch fuel injection conversion
9.5 to 1 high compression pistons
High lift, high performance cams
4 into 1 header and exhaust

The transmission is the extra rare Montecarlo unit modified further with a special 5th gear overdrive. (allows 80mph @ 4,000rpm) I call it Ultradrive. Incredible opportunity to own a fresh example of a very rare car. Drive this one anywhere. Very nice. Sounds Awesome.

Ever since the seeing the movie Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo as a kid, I've been interested in the Scorpion/Montecarlo after watching Herbie chase after the Scorpion in the flick. The asking price of $12,000 is steep for this particular model, but this car is in great shape, owned by an enthusiast of the marque and represents a fairly inexpensive way into a mid engined Italian exotic with more reasonable running costs than your average Ferrari or Lamborghini.

-Paul

Lancia

1971 Lancia Fulvia Sport 1600

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The Fulvia was the car that put Lancia front and center in the minds of rally drivers. Made famous by its impressive showing as the car which won the 1972 International Rally Championship, the Fulvia was the last car to be designed wholly by Lancia, with Fiat taking the reigns on product development thereafter. These coupes had a V4 engine mounted at 45 degrees and the Zagato added a bit of pedigree with bespoke styling and aluminium body panels. Here is a 1971 Fulvia Zagato Sport 1600 with the largest capacity V4 engined offered, a 1.6 liter.

1971 Lancia Fulvia Sport 1600

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This is a 1971 Lancia Fulvia Sport 1600 - Imported from Italy in 1996 to Brookfield Wisconsin. It has a 1.6 Ltr, V4 Engine that starts and runs very well. This vehicle is mechanically in great shape. The odometer reads 95,000 KM, roughly 59,000 Miles, but runs and drives like a new vehicle. The gearbox also has been taken care of and shifts well with no syncro issues. No major repairs on the engine, gearbox, or other major parts have been needed.

Clearly, this vehicle has been stored well as there is no rust to be found anywhere on the vehicle. Please refer to photos of the underside too. There is no frame or body rust whatsoever. The paint is original and still in great shape for its age - there are no dings or major scratches in the paint. The interior surfaces are all also in great shape the leather looks as if it has only been rarely used. Included with this sale is the original manual, as well as assorted service and registration records from Italy. This Lancia is in great shape and ready for a new home - whether you plan to drive this car daily, or show it, this car is up to the task! Don't miss your chance to get a Lancia in great shape!

Personally, I prefer the delicate looks of the standard Fulvia over the Zagato version, but with 115 horsepower on tap, this is one cracker of a lightweight. The matte trim and absence of the usual chrome bumpers lends an air of weekend track day car to this particular Fulvia, but with it's five speed gearbox and accomodating hatchback design, it would be practical enough to use during the week. With about five days left in the auction, bidding is glancing $30,000 and the reserve has not been met. This is very dear money for a Fulvia of any kind, as honest examples are seeing prices top out in the low $20,000 range. One can't be certain if we've reached the tipping point in terms of Fulvia popularity, but there is no denying that car represents a high point in Lancia engineering and innovation.

-Paul

Alfa Romeo

1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 1600

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Before the days of the BMW 3 series or the Cadillac CTS-V, spirited driving and sedans were very much mutually exclusive terms, except for a few offerings such as the BMW 2002, which was only offered as a two door at the time, and the Datsun 510. Almost a decade prior, however, Alfa Romeo broke the mold with the Giulia. Introduced in 1962, this revolutionary sedan had a low drag coefficient of 0.34 and with 78 horsepower on tap from the 1300 engine, a top speed of around 100 miles per hour could be achieved. These cars soon garnered favor with the Italian police force and enthusiasts alike, even earning the role of the chase car in the original version of The Italian Job. Here is an original example of the later 1600 model with just less than 30,000 miles on the clock.

1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 1600

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You are viewing a very rare 1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 1600. Model number 10526. Very rare "Biscione" edition. VIN # AR188741901. Color: AR343 - Blu Olandese with Tan Interior. Ultimate Alfa daily driver! I purchased this very rare Giulia from an Alfa enthusiast that was living overseas. He imported the Alfa from Belgium in 2005, and since then, the Alfa has seen very little use. It is fitted with the original 1600 cc engine with dual solex carbs. The odometer shows 48,885 Kilometers. The "Biscione" Edition makes this Super quite a rare find here in the States. "Biscione" means "Snake" in Italian. The trim differences from a standard Giulia Super are as follows:

1. Sunken Alfa Romeo badge on the trunk
2. Chrome center strip on the hood.
3. Snake badges on C Pillars
4. Chrome "Berlina" Spears on the rocker panels
5. First part of headliner is black near the visors
6. Chrome surroundings on the interior light switch.

Mechanically, the Alfa runs very nicely. As shown, it has a very tidy engine compartment, and is completely stock under the hood. The 1600 engine starts easily with the pull of the choke. There are no charging issues, and the battery has never gone flat since I have owned it. I drove if for it bit this past summer, and it pulls nicely on the highway with plenty of power to keep up with the flow of traffic. Transmission had been rebuilt prior to being imported. It works fine with no syncro issues. The clutch feels fine as do the brakes. Emergency brake works in good operating condition as well. As shown in the pictures the car has "hanging" pedals. Driveshaft/Ujoints are all in good working order - donuts & Ujoints recently replaced. Electrics work fine except for heater fan. Exhaust system is in good condition with a rear straight pipe (stinger) for a nicer sound. All tires are in good shape. Known issues: At some point, the ignition switch was bypassed due to a broken key, so now it just requires the pull of a switch and the touch of a button to start the Alfa. Transmission leaks some oil. Steering has a bit of freeplay. Stone chip on windshield.

The interior is in very nice original condition as shown in the pictures. The dash is in nice condition including the wood trim. All of the gauges are in nice shape (Euro Gauges including Speedo in Kilometers). Door panels in very nice condition. The rear seat is in near perfect condition. Passenger seat is very nice as well. As shown, the driver's seat has a sheepskin seat cover to cover a rip in the lower portion of the seat. The headliner is in excellent condition. All windows work properly as well as door handles. The Alfa is fitted with European headlights as well as the red rear fog light.

The body has an older repaint in it's original AR343 Blu Olandese. It has held up pretty good, and has the normal "Patina" one would expect from a "driver". As shown in the picture, the passenger side front shows some evidence of repair. There are some misc. spots where paint has flaked off - including under the front bumper. Both bumpers are in excellent condition with no dents or damage. The body is very solid including the rocker panels and floors. There are also some other misc. spots that have been touched up or repaired over the years. There are some misc rust spots - most notably on both rear wheel arches and the passenger side rear quarter panel. There is no rust on the trunk lid or around any of the glass.

In summary, this is essentially an all original 41 year old un-restored Alfa. Far from perfect, but would make the perfect daily driver for the Alfa enthusiast. Something you can drive and enjoy without worrying about getting a door ding or a stone chip. The Alfa is ultra reliable and always starts. I would not hesitate to drive the Alfa anywhere. I put a bunch of Kilometers on it this summer and it never missed a beat! These Sedans are a blast to drive, and will always draw compliments wherever you go! I have done my best to describe the Giulia to the best of my knowledge. There may have been something I may have missed. If you have any questions, please contact me. License plates are not included - they are from my other Alfa.

I'm amazed how little miles this Giulia has under its belt, as they are a blast to drive. Cars like these put a driver back in touch with the purity of driving, unhampered by elements such as electronic aides and over-assisted steering. The German publication Auto Motor und Sport wrote about the Giulia at the time: “superiority that you can only use in moderation, if you do not want to frighten the other road users.” Around $10,000 should be a good estimate of where bids will probably go with such an unmolested example, but given the right amount of enthusiast interest, bidding could possibly surpass that figure.

-Paul

Maserati

1971 Maserati Ghibli SS

In the 1960s Ferrari had the Daytona. Lamborghini had the Miura. And Maserati had the Ghibli. This was the most celebrated Maserati yet, and in 1970, they turned up the heat with the Ghibli SS, bumping capacity of the quad cam V8 to 4.9 liters with horsepower increasing from 335 to 350. These are sleek cars and with the extra horsepower, few vehicles of the time could match its performance. This particular Ghibli SS is for sale by the owner of the Lamborghini Islero we featured last month, as you can see from the pictures.

1971 Maserati Ghibli SS

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1971 Maserati Ghibli SS - Eurospec, (French Market)

This is a Real Eurospec SS, the rarest and most desirable of all classic Maserati V8 GT coupes only around 100 were ever made. #2110 was a Special Order for a long time Maserati customer, the President of the Société Marseillaise de Credit, Edouard de Cazalet. The car was ordered in Black with Wild Boar Skin Interior including headliner. It features a unique full width storage bin behind the seats with straps to secure additional luggage. The odometer indicates 60,000 kilometers (37,000 miles).

When the Bank was Nationalized, de Cazalet joined the World Bank in Washington DC bringing Ghibli SS #2110 with him. It was sold to an Airline Pilot that owned the car for 17 years restoring it, including rebuilding the engine. (Photo of bare metal restoration included) In 1996 it was sold to an attorney that kept the car for 10 years until I purchased it in 2006. The car was featured in Autoweek's Escape Roads - May 21, 2010.

Includes copies of the original Factory Build Sheets and extensive records dating back over 20 years including those related to the engine rebuild. Service performed by former National Technical Director of Maserati North America (from the 70's thru early 90s) during my ownership, previous work performed by the well respected Grand Touring, Inc of Laurel, MD (now Dew Motorcars) for the previous owner.

The car is good driver quality, it is very reliable with a strong engine. I have owned 11 Maseratis and driven many more. This is without a doubt the most powerful classic GT V8 I've ever driven. I was told by the previous service shop that the engine was rebuilt during restoration by Holman Moody which is located in the home town of the previous owner. I don't have documentation to verify it. The car has 5 relatively new correct Michelin XWXs tires. Books and Tools. 1968 Lamborghini Islero in last picture is also for sale on ebay.

With its history and documentation, this Ghibli should garner its fair share of interest, as we can already see with the amount of bids. Even though it is not an original, it wears an older restoration that presents well and comes with a history that is as interesting as the company that built it.

-Paul

Ferrari

1980 Ferrari 308 GTSi

The Ferrari 308 and 328 could perhaps be considered the poster child for all things Italian and exotic. It's appearance in the popular Magnum P.I. television series solidified it's place in automotive folklore. The 308 GTSi was an evolution of the original 308 GTS and included Bosch K Jetronic fuel injection to help meet ever tightening emissions controls. This particular low mileage GTSi is an original owner vehicle with polished magnesium wheels instead of the more commonly seen painted versions.

1980 Ferrari 308 GTSi

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My Dad bought this car new at Hollywood Motors an old Ferrari dealer now closed. He thought he bought an 1981 in 1981 but it was actually a 1980. This car just received a new timing belt and service from the Auto Gallery Service in Canoga Park Ca. and has only just 8,XXX original miles with the original 85 MPH factory speedo. He has just passed and thus the reason for selling the car now.

The wheels are magnesium and with magnesium to stay shiny like chrome would need to be clear coated after polishing. This was never done. The leather is a little dry as can be seen in the pictures. There is a slight whistle from the exhaust which I was told is common. Otherwise the car drives great and the A/C was just serviced and blows cold. I have a file full of records

I will require a $2000 deposit within 24hours of auction close via PayPal with remainder due with Certified funds (cashiers check) 7 days from auction close to complete transaction exchange. Please ask questions before bidding. I will facilitate shipping (at buyers expense) once funds are clear but require US bidders and US delivery only. I will not sell outside of the US. This vehicle has some private interest outside the auction and if sold I reserve the right to end the auction and cancel all bids early.

The Ferrari 308 is one of those Ferraris that tend to be used by enthusiasts and not just stored away, so finding one with under 10,000 miles is not too common these days. With the all important cam belt service and a full host of service records, this car would be a good proposition for a collector or an enthusiast looking for a fun weekend drive.

-Paul

Fiat

1959 Fiat 750 Abarth Allemano Spider

The Fiat 500 was the basis for a plethora of model variants, as we saw with the Giardiniera version featured two days ago. Carlo Abarth is no stranger to Italian automotive enthusiasts. Born in Vienna as Karl Albert Abarth, he started his career racing motorbikes and after World War II helped form the company Compagnia Industriale Sportiva Italia, or CIS, this firm would later become Cisitalia. The Cisitalia project fizzled and he founded Abarth & C. in Turin, using the Scorpion, his astrological sign, as the company logo. The influence he wielded over the diminutive 500 was impressive, having created a wide variety of competition versions. This particular vehicle was one of them. Crafted by Carrozzeria Allemano, this coachbuilder was known for variations on famous models such as the Lancia Aurelia and Fiat 1500 and even had a hand in creating a few Panhard models. With a breathed on engine from Abarth, only a few of these 750 Allemano Spiders were created for competition use. This one has been restored to like new condition and would be a fantastic piece for vintage racing.

1959 Fiat 750 Abarth Allemano Spider

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1959 Abarth 750 Allemano Spider. Sold new to USA, in Europe since 1991. Full aluminium body. Restored, ready to drive condition. The car is present on the book Italian Car Registry written by John De Boer (see attached photo). Custum duty paid in Europe, old USA Title comes with the car. According with many Abarth publications only 20 Abarth 750 Allemano Spider has been built for race use. Dr. Lorenzo Avidano (Abarth Racing Director) in front of the car during Carlo Abarth Centenary Celebration in Turin (2008).

This car is a great piece of Fiat history and with no reserve should test the waters for vintage Abarths. I'm fascinated that this car was sold new in the United States around the same time '59 Cadillacs with their huge tailfins roamed the streets. It took a special kind of enthusiast to go for such a car at the time. Now, with the new Fiat 500 Abarth being reintroduced to the US market, it's a great time to look back at these machines to see where it all began in post World War II Italy.

-Paul