We're following up the Fiat 500e from last week with something that announces its internal combustion engine power like no other car on the road: the Fiat 500 Abarth. We've been working from home lately and that has us missing our old winter routine of starting up the Abarth on a cold, dark morning. First it barks to life, and after 10 seconds or so of intense growling, it settles into a more neighborly rumble. As we consider the possibility of replacing ours with a 500e, our mind keeps coming back to that wonderful sound.
The appeal of the 500 Abarth is difficult to explain to those who ask how we like ours. The handling is nothing special compared to something like a Fiesta ST or a GTI. The turbocharged engine is boosted in the old style, where there isn't a well of torque to mine for power at low engine speeds. So it doesn't really stand out on any performance merits. But to us, the sum of all of its attributes makes it one of the most fun cars to drive around town. There is something about moving our 6'2" self down the road in an Italian shark cage that is endlessly entertaining. It just works for us, and doesn't leave us wanting for a different commuter.
Ferraris can be tough to pull off. Ferrari tributes? The Fiero conversions are beyond reproach. But, how do we feel when things get closer to home? Last week, we saw an Alfa Romeo Milano Verde with a "Friends of Ferrari" plaque on the dashboard, and it just seemed excessive. Today's Abarth 695 Tribute Ferrari? It's a lot if you own a Ferrari, and it's a lot if you don't.
The Fiat Ritmo Abarth range started out with a relatively tame offering, the Fiat Ritmo Abarth 105TC. It aped the famous VW Golf GTI's performance, producing 104bhp from its 1.6L mill. As time went on, the Ritmo Abarths continued to see more powerful engine options, and by 1984, Fiat had installed a 128bhp 2.0L twin cam 4-cylinder in the Ritmo Abarth 130TC. In contrast to the fuel-injected GTI, the Ritmo Abarth sucked down fuel through twin carbs - more exciting, if not as livable in day-to-day driving. The Fiat also featured a more favorable cylinder head design, with a cross-flow twin cam architecture sure to breath better than VW's single cam reverse-flow design.
Unique trim separated the Abarth models from the standard Ritmos. Inside, optional Recaro seats were available. Exterior improvements included Abarth-specific wheel arch trim, spoilers, bumpers, as well as upgraded alloy wheels.
Our 1984 VW GTI is still unmatched among all of the cars we've owned. A German hot hatch in a sharp Giugiaro suit, ours was a US model built in Pennsylvania. We drove it clear across the country with a 90hp under the hood and a trunk full of tools.
We aim to keep on theme with the whole Italian car thing, so instead of sharing a GTI, let's take a look at this 1980 Autobianchi A112 Abarth. A supermini with more in common with the VW Polo than the Golf GTI, the A112 relies on a 70hp 1050cc four to hurl it down the road.
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Year: 1980 Model: Autobianchi A112 Abarth Engine: 1050cc 4-cylinder Transmission: 5-speed manual Mileage: 19,398 Price: $24,999 Location: San Lorenzo, CA
I'm selling my 1983 Autobianchi Abarth with only 19000km (11000 miles)! This car is still like new! These car had great success from 1971-86 in Hill Climbs and Rallies. This example is the last and most desirable series A112 produced. It has a 5-speed manual gearbox. Power was increased from 58hp stock to 70hp stock in the Abarth trim as shown. The car has a special Ferrari ANSA muffler exhaust system and special, rare Campagnolo alloy wheels made famous on Lamborghinis and other super cars of the day. This car runs exceptionally well and is very peppy and quick and a joy to drive. This car has it's original engine and is matching numbers. The black, original paint looks great and there is absolutely zero rust or corrosion anywhere. It has always been stored in an indoor collection that was inland and away from the ocean. The upholstery is all-original and in exceptional condition for being almost 40 years old. There are no rips, tears or stains and it has never been smoked in which is extremely rare for an Italian car! The car was brought in to Long Beach, CA from Italy in 2018 as a Fiat since these car were never offered in the United States. This car is sold with a clean, Montana title and is currently located in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. The glass is all-original, the rubber and plastics are in near perfect condition. The tires are new and a recent tune-up was just preformed. It has won "Best In Show" at several local car shows. This car needs nothing but a new owner. A beautiful example to add to your collection. I can assist with shipping worldwide from the Port of Oakland and it is able to re-enter Europe with no problem being that it has already been cleared through customs less than two years ago. It's only $1300 to Rotterdam and about the same on an open carrier to the East Coast. This is your chance to own and extremely rare and collectible car. One that you will probably never see again in the states. There are a lot more pictures available on request of this beautiful Italian machine! Please take a minute to click on the video links and see this car in action! This is an AS-IS sale with NO Warranty expressed or implied. Good luck and thanks for looking!
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US buyers will have their work cut out for them when it comes to servicing, even if they take it upon themselves to keep the vehicle on the road. The lack of Autobianchi parts in the US will hurt to begin with, but the Abarth-specific parts will really prove difficult to source.
We can't get on board with the price, though we haven't driven one, so what do we know? Sound and fury of the Abarth grade aren't readily available in the US, so maybe the seller is onto something. For those deterred by the large ask, nabbing a clean MK1 GTI wouldn't be the largest betrayal of classic Italian enthusiasm.
Having made its way from Australia to New York following an impressive restoration, the 1967 Fiat Abarth 1000 OTR that I wrote up back in 2012 has once again popped up for sale, now on Ebay. The picture above and link below will take you to the current auction for the car, which is advertised nearly unchanged, except for location and price. Now at $98,000, it's a serious premium over the original asking price below - but does take into account the rarity, condition, and having imported the cars to the United States.
The below post originally appeared on our site October 10, 2012:
For 63 years, Abarth has been the tuning arm of Fiat, turning out wins on the track and hot versions of ordinary Fiat passenger cars on the street. From the wicked 131 Rally to the modern day 500 Abarth, the Abarth range has been rather diverse over the years. Vintage Abarths are highly prized and often bring large sums at auction. One of my favorite vintage Abarths is the 1000 OTR, a car we featured in August. Based on the Fiat 850, these were handsome, well proportioned coupes that hid their diminutive stature well. Another OTR for sale has come to our attention via our reader Graeme, who is located in New South Wales, Australia and is selling his 1000 OTR.
1967 Fiat Abarth 1000 OTR
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A genuine Fiat Abarth OTR 1000 coupe, fully restored, with only 9,800 miles and absolutely NO rust ever. With FIVA papers and easy re-import into the US, this highly desirable Group 4 factory racing car can lay claim to being the best of the nine known survivors.
Abarth & C. was formed in 1949. The company was very successful under Carlo Abarth’s leadership, receiving extensive support from FIAT. Abarth & C. was purchased by FIAT in 1971. On 9 September 1965, Abarth launched the OTR 1000, derived from FIAT’s new 850 coupé, with a special “radiale” engine where the combustion chamber was formed by two intersecting spherical domes, one containing the inlet valve and the other the exhaust. The intention was to achieve the efficiency of the Abarth twin camshaft cylinder head without the complexity. The OTR engine was based on an Abarth modified FIAT 850 block.
Unfortunately the SCCA thought the Radiale head too clever, and the OTR too modified and powerful for its class, and exercised its right to exclude from SCCA competition cars “not considered suitable”. This probably explains why Abarth made only a few OTRs and homologated the car in Group 4, not Group 3. This car was imported into the United States in 1967 by Abarth Sales Corp. It was raced from 1967 to 1970 by the first owner before he had an accident. The car was stored, eventually coming to Australia in 1993. It sat in a shed on the Central Coast of New South Wales until purchased by the current owner in April 2005 who spent 18 months restoring it.
The car was stripped to bare metal and all panels straightened with minimal use of filler and repainted. All the missing bits and pieces were sourced from around the world. The engine had new valve springs, the head was fitted with hardened exhaust valve seats and all seals were replaced. The car has since been featured in Australian Classic Cars magazine and has won awards at a number of car shows including the FIAT Club of NSW Concorso d’Eleganza Best of Show in 2007 and 2010, and Best of Show and 1st Street Modified at the FIAT Clubs of Australia National Meeting at Bathurst in 2008. The car has travelled only 4,800 miles since restoration and the total mileage is 9,800. It comes with a detailed history and the original owners manuals.
For more photos please click on the following link:
http://www4.snapfish.com.au/snapfishau/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=5248217018/
a=80400830_80400830/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/
Enquiries to gtowers@ozemail.com.au or call +61 2 9960 7876
Graeme is asking $63,000 USD for his OTR and can be reached via the contact information above. The OTR that was for sale in California was advertised at $85,000, so even though there are little comparables to go buy, I think our reader is being realistic in his asking price. It is estimated that around 35 of these OTRs were ever produced, so that figure represents a small price to pay for exclusivity that most Ferraris and Lamborghinis can not match.
A trend began to emerge in motorsport the 1950s and 1960s. Smaller vehicles began to take hold on the circuit, taking on bigger vehicles on the field with larger engines and more horsepower. A watershed moment had to have been the Works Mini Cooper S victory at the Monte Carlo rally in 1964. Never before would people look at small cars in competition the same. Ten years after the Mini appeared in 1959, the Autobianchi A112 would arrive on the scene based on Fiat 128 mechanicals. Over one million of these cars would be produced, both as Autobianchis and the Lancia Y10 for export markets. These compact, front-engined, front-wheel drive hatchbacks would be popular in competition as well. This A112 Abarth for sale in Luxembourg was restored ten years ago for Group 2 competition.
Autobianchi A112 Abarth GR2. Rebuilt to full Groupe 2 specifications. Fantastic recreation of the famous factory Chardonnet cars raced in 1977-1980. Built in 2003 undersupervision of Charles Hoffmann who was technical director at Chardonnet. 100% correct specifications, too many to list :
- Colotti 5 speeds gearbox
- All suspension on uniball joints
- 4 disc brakes
- 4 Bilstein spring/shocks combined
- Additional front leg on the chassis
- Correct GR2 bodywork and wheels
- 90 HP engine with big Weber carburator, high lift cam, bigger valves, spaghetti exhaust etc...
Price: 25000€
For more details, contact us directly on +352 661 700 777
To be contacted by email
Entered 3 times at Monte Carlo Historic. Fantastic car to drive, extremely quick. Totally serviced in 2013-2014 after long storage after the 2005 Monte Carlo. Probably the best A112 Groupe 2 available. FIA Papers possible (extra cost 1200 €)
A little more detail such as year and mileage would have been nice to include in this advertisement, but having been professionally rebuilt as a tribute vehicle, such facts are more of a footnote as the focus here is more on the quality of the build. With its recent Monte Carlo rally history, this would be a stellar piece in which to enter the errant historic exhibition. If a Mini is just a bit too common for you, the A112 is a refreshing diversion.
One of the more memorable Abarth models are the so-called "Double Bubble" models; those "Bubbles" are the giant intake scoops that adorn the rear of the car to suck air in to feed that monster powerhouse 750cc Fiat-sourced motor. Okay, so it's not the fastest car in the world; but these little Italian coupes still were formidable race machines with good balance, lightweight and tenacity. Despite a great reputation, their polarizing looks have kept them much more affordable than equivalent Porsche models like the 356. Today, there's a nice 1960 example on Ebay:
960 Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato Sestriere
s/n 734541, engine number 100D.000 1372493
Red with Black Interior
Built using Fiat’s 600 as a basis, the Abarth 750 GT was an attractive and competitive Zagato-bodied car that helped establish Carlo Abarth’s firm as a manufacturer of sports cars and not merely tuning components, which is how the company started in the 1930s. Using the floorpan of the 600, Abarth fitted sleek and lightweight Zagato bodies and significantly revamped the motors, fitting lighted and balanced flywheels, and high performance internals including crank, high compression pistons, larger valves, upgraded valve train, and performance camshafts. The resulting displacement was 747cc instead of the 633cc of the standard engine, and nearly twice the power output.
Introduced in 1955, the cars were entered in races almost immediately and were quite successful on both sides of the Atlantic, achieving second in class at the 1956 Mille Miglia, and winning its class at the 1957 Mille Miglia. The cars also achieved class and overall victories at the 1958 and 1959 Rallye de Sestriere. Four out of five examples entered finished the 12 Hours of Sebring, one of which one its class, while another achieved second at the SCCA races at Palm Springs. As was common among Italian cars of the period, the 750 GT Zagato evolved continuously and the Sestriere variant arrived in 1959, which differed in detail and was named for the victories at the Rallye de Sestriere.
This particular example had a long term owner in Southern California for at least thirty years, and the car could be seen at the annual August festivities in Monterey for many years, having been driven up by its enthusiastic owner. Interestingly, the car is aluminum bodied, while most of this period were steel-bodied. Based on the serial number, it is likely that this car was produced in 1959, though it is titled as a 1960, likely the year in which it was first sold, which is a common practice for old cars.
Today, the car is in presentable and attractive condition, with some patina. The body is generally straight and solid, with a few minor areas of electrolysis, such as on the right C pillar and right rocker panel. There is a dent under the right headlamps and one in the right door as well. The body is straight with good fit, likely as good as if not better than when new. The paintwork is in good shape and is reasonably high quality, with some orange peel and a few signs of wear in the form of chips and small scratches. There is some checking present on the roof. The chrome is generally very good, although the hubcaps show some patina. The glass is in good shape, with minor wear to the windscreen. The car has Year of Manufacture yellow license plates.
The interior condition is consistent with the exterior, with strong overall presentation but some patina. The upholstery is in very good shape, while the carpets are good. The dashboard is nice, with lovely Jaeger Abarth instruments. The trim and controls are in good shape. The door weather seals have perished.
The engine compartment is very clean and has a vintage appearance with no untoward or inappropriate modernizations. It is fairly well-detailed and the motor appears to have been well-maintained. The engine is built on a 100D block, indicating it is a Fiat 600D motor. The front compartment is solid and has seen some restoration work in areas, but is unrestored in others. The spare and windscreen washer fluid bag are in place.
This is an extremely rare opportunity to acquire a Zagato-bodied Abarth with longtime California history. Fundamentally excellent, this example is in nice driver condition and can be driven and enjoyed as is, or sympathetically restored.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: This car is sold AS IS without warranty. A 10% deposit is due upon the successful completion of the auction. Remainder of payment is due within one week of the end of the auction, and prior to the delivery of the vehicle. Fantasy Junction reserves the right to end this auction early in the even of the sale of the car outside of eBay. Inspection is available and encouraged, and should be arranged and completed prior to the completion of bidding. A final bid (if reserve is met) is and should be considered a sale and acceptance of terms, and the vehicle is AS IS and WHERE IS. If you have NEGATIVE or ZERO feedback, please contact us prior to bidding. Please contact us for names and phone numbers of local professionals familiar with this type of car, whom you may interview and with whom you may arrange an inspection. If you are concerned with what the car may need, an inspection is an excellent way to remove surprises. Please allow for normal wear and tear items based on the age of any car and restoration if applicable. Please use your better (or even your best) judgment. We have done and will do our best to describe the car faithfully and correctly, and would like you to know and understand exactly what you are bidding on.
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I like that these cars have been driven and used - it's a nice change from the stereotypical roll the car out of a trailer for the show. As a result of that, it's not a perfect example; there's some botched paintwork and the shine on everything isn't condition one. But it certainly makes a special and unique driver in the current state. The best part is that you can get into a neat Abarth 750GT like this one for around the same price as a wreck of a 356; they share a lot of characteristics, but if you want to save a bit of money and stand apart from the crowd, the Abarth is the way to go!
While the Volkswagen GTi is generally credited with starting the "hot hatch" phenomena of the 1980s, the reality is that long before Volkswagen even started to move towards watercooled, front engined cars there were others that embodied the blueprint of the GTi; lightweight, hunkered down, bigger wheels and more power hatches. Of particular note was one small car produced by the Fiat group - the Autobianchi A112. Turned up a notch by the gurus at Abarth, the A112 Abarth was fitted with a higher output 1.0 inline-4, some neat looking alloys and if you bought a later example, you even got a 5-speed manual transmission. Today there's a nicer example that's lived a traveled life but is now available in the U.S. for sale:
This is one of the 15 A112 Abarths imported to Norway. I have had this car since 1986, has done 58,566 since new (1977). it has never seen mechanic in its life
in 1991 I changed the air intake to K&N, in 1997 I had painted the car ( Original paint from Lancia / Fiat ) in UK, in 1999 just before I brought it to US I changed the clutch and exhaust ( all Abarth parts )
since I brought it to US I have done about 800 mile with it, it is regestered in NJ, USA since 2003.
Please if you have any questions you can contact me on +1 914 450 2353
EXTERA
- Original front seats
- Original Air intakes
- Original front bumper
- 4, 14" Mini lights wheels from UK about 8 years ago
- Extra side mirror
- New Strut bar from Italia
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The naming on these cars is interesting; in some markets they were sold under the Autobianchi name, others utilized Fiat naming and finally some markets got Lancia names. This car looks to be reasonably presented, though there is some rusting that appears in areas and probably needs attention sooner rather than later. The seats also look quite out of place, though the ad states that the original seats are included. On our sister site German Cars For Sale Blog, we've watched quite recently as original examples of the U.S. spec GTi have pushed into the high teens - coincidentally, the asking price of this car, too. Taking into account the rarity of this car, the price could be in line with the top of the market; but I'd be worried longer term about what aspects of the rust need attention and a careful PPI would be in order before forking over $17,000 for this hot Italian hatch.
On our sister site, German Cars For Sale Blog, we do a weekly feature called "Motorsports Monday" in which we cover some sort of track, road race or rally prepared German vehicle. But while the Germans have a strong history in motorsports, the Italians are right there with them. Indeed, Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo was racing some of the earliest German sports cars well back before World War II, and it's the reputation of manufacturers Fiat, Lancia, Ferrari and more recently Lamborghini in racing that have helped to build their loyal customer base. But even more recent to pop back up in the market was the name Abarth; though relatively unknown in the United States, Abarth has been producing some of the hottest small Italian cars for decades; modifying everything from Fiats and Lancias right through Porsches. Today I have two race-bred, Fiat powered 1000GT Coupes to cover, both with impressive resumes and in even more impressive condition. Let's start with the 1962:
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Description: 1962 Abarth 1000GT Bi-Albero (twin cam) round tail, serial number 112798, ex Briggs Cunningham team car, 2nd in the 1962 Sebring race driven by Walt Hansgen, extremely original and extensively documented. This car and the two other Abarths I am listing are in immaculate and professionally restored condition, very correct and in perfect working order. We invite any seriously interested party to view the car in person, it is located in Nashua, NH, USA. For any further questions or my telephone number please feel free to contact me via e-mail. The reserve will not be disclosed but is realistic for this rare, beautiful and important car..
Has clear NH title. Sold as is as seen with no warranties expressed or implied.
$2000.00 deposit required within 24 hours of winning bid and balance thru bank transfer or at time of pickup as long as funds clear. Buyer responsible for shipping but we can help with logistics. Will ship world wide.
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If you didn't know or follow racing, Sebring 12 hours was this past weekend; and while there were no Abarths in the field they were a staple of late 1950s, early 1960s sports car racing. Another name that was equally famous, if not more so in the United States, was that of Briggs Cunningham - he pioneered racing not only here but in Europe as well, taking his custom made Cunninghams to Le Mans amongst other races. The connection shows in the white with blue stripe Cunningham colors, a testament to the American connection - those are the racing colors of the United States. As a professionally restored original race car, it's absolutely beautiful and carries the requisite Abarth trunk open shape; a characteristic that was uniquely solved by Bertone in 1963:
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If the 1962 above is a neat car, the 1963 is both neat and pretty. The sloping rear deckline is a much more attractive solution to getting the hot air out of the engine bay. As with the 1962, this car's condition is impressively restored and it also carries an impressive race history:
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Description: 1963 Abarth 1000GT Bi-Albero (twin cam) duck tail, serial number 129-0247, very successfully campaigned Bi-Albero (Enna, Monza, G.P. of Garda/Salo, Trento-Bondone, etc. etc.) by Gianfranco Rovetta. This Abarth is also in perfect working order and has been restored to its original 1963 factory color and specifications.This and the two other Abarths I am listing are in professionally restored condition, very original and in perfect working order. The after market wood steering wheel visible in the photo has meanwhile been replaced with a correct and original 3 spoke Abarth wheel and horn button like the one visible in the 1962 1000GT Bi-Albero. We invite any seriously interested party to view the car in person, it is located in Nashua, NH, USA. For any further questions or my telephone number please feel free to contact me via e-mail. The reserve will not be disclosed but it is realistic for this rare, beautiful and important car.
Has clear NH title. Sold as is as seen with no warranties expressed or implied.
$2000.00 deposit required within 24 hours of winning bid and balance thru bank transfer or at time of pickup as long as funds clear. Buyer responsible for shipping but we can help with logistics. Will ship world wide.
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Either of these cars would be very welcome at both shows and on the Vintage race circuit, where their unique bubble profiles stand out a bit from the traditional 1960s cars. Value on these cars, due to their top condition and histories, will likely far exceed the normal top of the market on these around $60,000 - but that's still well short of the current 356 factory racer market, for what it's worth, where correct original Porsche race cars can easily pop into the millions. As such, these Abarths offer similar experiences and a unique bit of history, along with a boatload of character for a relative bargain. Plus, they're just super cool.
Sometimes the most unlikely cars make the greatest race cars. Such is the case with the Fiat 500 and 600. What was originally devised as basic transportation for postwar Italy was turned into a track monster by famed tuner Carlo Abarth. While prices of real Abarths are approaching Ferrari money in some cases, there are plenty of enthusiasts out there who have set out and created replicas. Such is the case of this Abarth 1000TC recreation for sale in Eugene, Oregon.
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Year: 1967 Model: Abarth TC1000 recreation Engine: 1075cc inline-4 Transmission: 4-speed manual Mileage: 92,905 mi Price: $37,450 Buy It Now
I am offering my 67 Fiat Race car. I have developed the car over the last few years and had a blast with it, and now I am going to build something else, so it’s time for someone else to have some fun with it. This is NOT an original Abarth. It is originally a 67 Fiat 600 that has been built to the concepts of the era in which Abarth was racing. I have an Oregon title for the car and technically it is street legal. However, I have done nothing but develop the car for vintage racing. I bought it in Portland, Oregon, and it has a long history as a west coast race car.
When I bought it, it was painted just as you see. It is very nicely done aesthetically and presents very well. At the time it had an 850 based motor and an 850 transmission. The suspension was pretty much stock and the brakes were 850. I have, over the last few years, thoroughly changed it mechanically. I acquired a PBS 8 port head and an A112 Autobianchi short block and a close ratio 4 speed 600 based transmission.
I currently have two complete transmissions for the car. One is the close ratio 4 speed and the other a 5 speed utilizing the alquati 5th that I setup for race stress. I change the gears around back and forth to get what I want for a particular track. Both are included. The 5 speed is currently in the car. Both are equipped with Limited slip differentials. The engine was built for maximum output for racing. H-beam rods, very high compression, ported head, aluminum flywheel, engineered pistons, race clutch, two side draft DCOE Weber carburetors, etc. It is built to 1075cc and on the rolling road dyno it put out 113 hp at 7000 RPM. It has more in it than that, as my shift point on the track is 8000 and it is still pulling. I did not run it to 8000 on the dyno run as the motor was very fresh.
The rear suspension has the stock but reinforced Fiat trailing arms with Abarth bushings, and the springs are set for height and weight with adjustable shocks. It is greatly lowered at the rear. The outer hubs are engineered and setup with stronger bearings and to except Fiat 128 CV joints through the hub. The inner side of the axle is a type 3 Volkswagen CV mounted to a position fixed flange in the transaxle. This is an excellent setup which minimizes the angle of the half shaft due to the compact CVs. With the front suspension I started all over. I mimicked the Abarth concept with independent front suspension with an upper and lower A-arm and sway bar. I used coil over shocks and spring setup for sprint race cars as they are very compact and fit perfectly. Also, there is an unlimited supply of spring and shock rates available. The front body structure was reinforced as per Abarth as well as the upper A-arm. I have had some track time on this set up and have it pretty well dialed in. It is very different from running with the solid front end; very quick and very stable in the turns. If I was to take it to the next step, then the Pendolare swing arm setup for the rear would be next. It is fast as it is, but might be fun to try that setup. I then found a set of original Campagnola magnesium wheels the correct size and run Avon historic tread tires.
The brakes have been redesigned as well. The front and rear brakes are Fiat 850 calipers and rotors. Front style calipers on the rear as well, so they are the same piston size front and rear. I then setup a drop down pedal system with a true tandem front-rear brake setup which is fully bias adjustable. The braking is now incredible and very controllable. A current and completely to SCCA standard fuel cell up front set to the side to offset driver weight.
The cooling system is a front radiator as was the Abarth TC. I have the oil cooler in the back of the car since it is not integrated into the front radiator. There are two electric fans hidden in the front air dam for sitting on pre-grid on hot days. Unlike Abarth, I did not put the radiator at the end of the front air box but placed it at the back of the air plenum. I recessed it back about 8 inches to minimize any possible damage and allow room for the fans. It looks exactly like the Abarth setup but is a bit more functional.
Full aqueous foam flame safety system with electric control and exterior turn worker button. The belts are current through 2014. It has a current SCCA log book. I have the second seat which matches the drivers seat. I took it out to place the battery there to get my weight balance. It would be easy to bolt back in. The muffler on the car is not period. It was chosen as it gave the best performance on the dyno and still meet a pretty tight sound tolerance on most of the tracks we run on. If I had a choice I would run the TC exhaust out through the engine compartment, but they are blisteringly loud. The miles show over 92k, but are not relevant to anything.
I have two races on the engine and tires. These are vintage events, so total track time altogether might be 2.5 hours. So, its still very fresh. The tires are Avon full race tires with a historic pattern cut in them by Roger Kraus Racing. So, it’s very fast and will do battle with 1275 Sprites and Minis all day, as well as catch off guard a few bigger beasts.
If you have questions please feel free to call. I am West coast USA, PST, so during the day is fine. 541.510.5296 Joe Potter
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To think that this menacing little beast is technically street legal made me chuckle. Wouldn't that be a riot taking this on the commute? Bet it would be a lot more efficient than most of these SUVs hanging about, though. Regardless, this is a neat piece and a quality build with some trick engineering solutions. As with all competition cars, they aren't cheap to build and if you wanted a real competition Abarth, you would be paying thousands and thousands more over this asking price.
