1959 Abarth 850 Allemano Coupe (Chassis #850/217 639956)

Austrian born Karl Alberto Abarth did so many things so very well. He was a motorcycle racing champion, multiple land speed record holder, competitive auto racer and one of the most prolific automotive designers of the 20th Century. When he moved to Italy in the 1930s to become a naturalized citizen he did much more than change his first name (to Carlo); he forever changed the world of small-displacement racecars.
Turin-based Abarth & C. Spa opened its doors in 1949 and began building and tuning mostly Fiat-based racing cars adorned with their scorpion logo (Abarth’s astrological sign). A quick perusal of http://zodiac-signs-astrology.com reveals the following: “Scorpios are fiercely independent. They are able to accomplish anything they put their mind to and they won’t give up.” Hey, maybe there’s something in them stars.
The sheer volume of Abarth’s automotive creations in the 1950s and ’60s is awe inspiring. From the gorgeous ultra-low production Vignale 205 Coupe, to the 750 Zagato Double Bubble, to the Abarth Simcas, to the Porsche Abarth Carrera, Carlo knew how to build automobiles that were both visually stunning and potent performers. They were attention grabbers at auto salons and frequent winners at the racetrack. And, the more one learns about the vast array of Abarth cars produced, the more one realizes that they’ve only begun to scratch the surface.
Presently, the collectability and value appreciation of Abarth cars is on a steep rise. Yesterday’s $25,000 pushrod Double Bubble is now a six-figure acquisition and Abarth Simcas are approaching half a mil. This, of course, means only one thing. The time has come for us mere mortal collectors to step up now or forever be Abarthless.
But which one to snatch up? My vote goes to the Abarth Allemano 850 Coupe.
The Abarth 850 Coupe was built around Fiat 600 mechanicals. This included the chassis/frame, front and rear suspension, brakes and gearbox. The engine started as a 600-cc Fiat unit which was bored and stroked to 833-cc. With 9.0 to 1 compression this little Italian power-box produced an impressive 52 BHP (DIN) at 6000 revs. Not a ground-thumper by American standards, but weighing in at just 1370 lbs. there was plenty enough oomph to provide ample get-up-and-go. Sports Cars Illustrated road tested the car in 1960 (report in the April issue) and noted that the car was “fresh,” “saucy,” and a “sheer pleasure” (to drive).
And then there is the coachwork. Executed by Carrozzeria Allemano of Turin, it’s really a stylish little thing. Automotive designer Raffi Minasian said, “Small cars are extremely difficult to manage proportionally. Wheels often appear too small, front and rear overhangs become heavy, and the daylight openings can be fussy. With the Abarth Allemano Coupe we see a brilliantly proportioned upper with delicate pillar structure and a nicely upturned quarter window echoing the rear fender tip. Further astonishing, the design includes a large door and ample roof height, which both offer functional advantages without compromising design excellence.”
My good friend from north-of-the-border, Grant Kinzel, has been collecting Italian wizardry for more than 25 years.  His current stash includes a 1968 Moretti Sportiva, a 1952 Siata Grand Sport, a 1961 Abarth 1000GT, a 1953 Abarth 205 Ghia Coupe, and most recently a 1959 Abarth Allemano Coupe. Kinzel acquired the Allemano from Abarth fanatic Gordon Emslie in September of 2011.

Kinzel is quite a talented Canuck. He not only does all of his own mechanical and cosmetic restoration work, he has the resources and ability to fabricate just about anything from scratch. Since acquiring the Allemano Kinzel has spent numerous hours disassembling and inspecting this latest find. According to Kinzel, “The car is largely original with 23,000 miles and one poor repaint approximately 40 years ago. There is original paint in the door jambs and other interior areas. All of the body panels are original with good fit and without rust or meaningful damage. The original interior shows some wear, but is usable. The original engine (#ABA 217/12) is apart, but looks to be 99 percent complete.” According to Kinzel’s research, his car is a very early example with a unique dashboard configuration and hood treatment.
Best yet, the car has early racing history that was recently revealed to me by its third owner, Marion Dec. Dec said, “The story that goes with my car is that the first owner purchased it off the floor of the Turin Auto Show and shipped it to Overland Park, Kansas. I think it may also be the very car shown in the (April 1960) Sports Cars Illustrated article. Most of the Allemano Coupes I’ve seen have a hood with a rib that runs down the center. My old car and the one in the article have no rib on the hood.”
Dec believes that James Steele, who was a scientist at General Motors, bought the car from the first owner in the early ’60s and began racing it. “I’m not sure how much racing he did, but I’m pretty sure he drove it at Cumberland in ’62,” Dec said. “I bought the car in pieces, totally disassembled, in May of 1965 with the idea of racing it.”
Dec said his interest in racing began in the early ’60s when he watched a Wide World of Sports special program on the 12 Hours of Sebring. Dec said, “The TV show didn’t concentrate on the 12-hour race, it concentrated on the shorter Appendix J Race for small-displacement GT cars. The focus of the show was a racing team owned by President Roosevelt’s son. I was intrigued that this little known manufacturer, Abarth, was dominating the under 1-liter class. The whole race the Abarths ran one-two-three. I said to myself as a teenager, ‘I got to have one of those cars.’ So when I got the chance to buy Steele’s car I really had no choice.”
Dec said he and a machinist performed a great deal of engine development on the 850-cc noisemaker: “We decked and O-ringed the top of the block and adapted Ford Flathead rod bearings for the mains. We bought the highest compression pistons we could find and then machined them on top of that to get to a final compression of 13 to 1. We also re-bored and re-notched the block and redirected the oil passages. And we swapped the Abarth camshaft for one of Iskenderian’s. We ran the car with a 32 mm Solex carburetor and dynoed the engine at 85 HP. I put a lot of bucks into that engine.”
Then it was off to the races. Dec reckons he raced his Abarth five times between 1966 and 1968 at private race events (and one SCCA event) at Waterford Hills in Clarkston, Michigan. He also drove the Allemano on the street. Dec said, “I used to torment people with larger-engine cars.” When Dec fell in love with an all-mahogany 25-foot Chris-Craft Continental speedboat with a Cadillac Crusader Marine Ocean-Racer engine in the late ’60s, the Abarth was put away in the garage. There it sat until 2007 when Dec sold it to Emslie of Vancouver. Emslie maintained the car’s hibernation status until he sold it to Kinzel of Calgary in September of 2011.
Since then Kinzel has been busy cleaning and getting his little blue Abarth back in order. He’s unsure at this time if he is going to keep it in its patina state or restore it to concours beauty. Either way, it is sure to see the light of day in all its Abarth and Allemano splendor.
Do you know of a Hidden Treasure? If so, send your photos and stories to Mark at [email protected]