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Carlo Abarth – 12 cylinders

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Carlo Abarth

I protagonisti:

Lui, Carlo Abarth

la Fiat

i record mondiali

la 1100 Fiat

un motore dodici cilindri

In 1949, in Turin, a gentleman, an Italo-Austrian, founded a new car company.

After a long apprenticeship in the racing world

trying his hand at driving both cars and motorbikes, he was also the representative for Porsche in Italy.

But I think the most important experience for him was with Cisitalia, who, when he closed his doors, urged him to set up his own business.

A curiosity:

in Cisitalia, where he ran the racing department, commissioned by the same founder Piero Dusio, he worked together with a family friend, a certain Ferry Porsche, and together with Rudolf Hruska we will know for having designed the Alfa Romeo Alfasud.

A first analogy, the one with the one I consider my car myth, its symbol is a scorpion, its zodiacal sign, like the great Ferruccio Lamborghini and the bull.

With the Cisitalia 1100 Spider

began his great adventure in the world of cars, and despite the glorious brand had just closed its doors.

It seems almost to see another story (second analogy)

with someone who starts from a car produced by another manufacturer and then establishes his own, I believe that, with the due proportions, there are many affinities with the Drake, Enzo Ferrari.

With “his” Cisitalia, and the first year as Abarth

conquered 18 victories, which gave a strong stimulus to the birth of the Berlinetta Abarth 204, presents at the 1950 Turin Motor Show.

He left from a Fiat 1100

modifying it, with overhead valves, magnet ignition, two carburettors and dedicated manifolds, making them reach “easily” the 190 km / h, which for the era and the type of car, it was not a trivial matter.

Fiat did not miss the opportunity

starting to collaborate with him, a mutual support that lasted the whole life of Carl Abarth, and despite some experiences and collaborations also had with Alfa Romeo and Simca.

The Abarth-Alfa Romeo 1000 GT Coupé, a prototype born in 1958, born from the will of Alfa Romeo to be able to return to the market with a sports sedan.

On Simca 2000, I hope, you have already seen another post,;) I still put the link you want to remember other cars made by Abarth with the Simca brand.

For many, and also for me, was the first Italian preparer with a certain and indisputable visibility, deserved, without any doubt.

To make it even more visible, so legendary, was the spectacular 205 Abarth, whose body was the work of the great Carrozzeria Vignale.

Carlo Abarth – 1951 Abarth 205 A – Carrozzeria Vignale.

The car that made it known also in the USA

but with a difference, it was always a 205, but waggled by Bertone, who had as its first owner the then director of Packard Motors.

At the same time a new activity also began

growing a specific branch of his business, starting with producing a good number, and types, of special car mufflers, which were then mounted on different cars, from the utilitarian to the most “sporty”.

The Fiat 1100 had remained in his heart

very likely, so much to reuse the engine again, suitably re-modified, and thus giving rise to the 207A, a car in spider version “wagged” by Boano.

With a power of 66 horses at 6000 rpm, with a maximum speed that varied depending on the final reduction ratio, reaching 165 km / h or even almost 190 km / h.

A coupé version was also prepared, of which I found practically nothing, sorry.

Carlo Abarth – 207A – Carrozzeria Boano.

But he had guessed something, understanding that certain results could give him even more prestige and visibility, so much so that he won 113 international, and 5 world, were ………………

Carlo Abarth – le monoposto da record – Fiat-Abarth 500/750/1000 Record (Pininfarina), 1958-1960

Speed ​​records

the same ones that made it almost legendary, started with a car equipped with a motor on a Fiat 600 base, with the engine capacity increased to 750 cc.

Pulverizing many of the records hitherto reached.

To name one of the most important

the one on the G class (cars from 751 to 1100 cc), where his car reached the record speed of 16,722 km / h, when the previous one was 136.502 km / h.

But for many of us, proudly

that record, in 1955, “gave life” to a legendary car, the one that many drivers and non-riders wanted, and which today has reached extremely high prices and esteem.

The Fiat 600 Abarth, with that initially engine of 750 cc, subsequently brought up to 1000 cc, becoming the car to beat on many circuits.

It is certainly known to everyone that even with the “smallest” of the Fiat cars, the 500, first with the 595 cc.

The numerous, and indisputable, successes led Carlo Abarth to take the big step

in 1967, he built a twelve, DODICI, cylinders, of 6000 cc, with 600 horsepower at 6800 rpm.

Carlo Abarth – il suo dodici cilindri.

He wanted to compete in the Marche World Championship, against cars like the Ferraris and the Porsche, to name the most famous and victorious, but his desire, ambition, was sedated in the bud.

A big disappointment for Carlo Abarth

Then, the CSI (International Sports Commission), decided to bring the displacement limit to 3000 cc for the prototypes, forcing it to abandon the project.

After having spent a lot of time and money, and having a car ready to run.

Carlo Abarth – il prototipo sul quale doveva essere montato il dodici cilindri.

And we get to 1971, when Carlo Abarth thought it was time to retire, giving up his company to Fiat.

A few years later, in 1979, he decided to return to Vienna, where he died on October 24, leaving his wife Annaliese to represent him.

Which he did even when Carlo Abarth was still alive, being his favorite “model” when he wanted to present his cars.

He had three wives, with Annaliese the most enduring relationship, with you, even workingly, he knew how to share a lot.

Today, in addition to promoting the brand, she is the president of the Abarth Foundation.

similarities with the Drake