1968 Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR

Variations on a theme – that’s the one-liner which always comes to mind when encountering an Abarth creation, especially one of the many, many machines which encompassed humble Fiat origins with Abarth genius. But the theme was more a concerto or an opera, so many stories were told and tunes played. If Carlo Abarth had been a composer, he would have been a Verdi or Puccini, or perhaps Mozart, as he did indeed come from Austrian heritage. Even that may be unfair as Abarth’s international connections were farther reaching. In addition to the many Italian companies with whom he worked – manufacturers like Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Lancia as well as coach builders such as Ghia, Vignale, Zagato, Viotti, Sibona and Basano, Allemano, Bertone, Boano, Ellena and Pininfarina – he also had significant enterprises with the German Porsche and the French Simca and Renault companies.

Carlo Abarth’s influence and market penetration were as impressive as his cars. His entry onto the American scene in the 1950s ensured a lasting home for many of the various Abarths which he produced, especially his superb 750 Fiat Abarth Zagato “double-bubble” coupe. The American “blessing” had been bestowed upon Abarth products as early as 1953, when the somewhat unlikely September issue of Hot Rod Magazine reported in effusive terms about the futuristic 1500 Biposto Abarth, which featured a Bertone body and a tuned 1400 cc Fiat engine. This car had been bought by Packard after doing the rounds of the European shows in 1952 and was being studied by the American company’s engineers. Packard did go on to design some pretty zany looking machines, though they always remained about four times the size of anything from Abarth!