Abarth & C. S.p.A.
TypeSubsidiary (S.p.A.)
IndustryAutomotive
Founded31 March 1949 (1949-03-31)
FounderCarlo Abarth
Headquarters
Turin
,
Italy[1]: 304 
45°03′39″N 7°35′28″E / 45.0608762°N 7.591101°E / 45.0608762; 7.591101
Area served
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Oceania
Key people
OwnerStellantis
ParentStellantis Italy
Websiteabarth.com

Abarth & C. S.p.A. (pronounced [ˈaːbart]) is an Italian racing- and road-car maker and performance division founded by Italo-Austrian Carlo Abarth in 1949.[3] Abarth & C. S.p.A. is owned by Stellantis through its Italian subsidiary. Its logo is a shield with a stylized scorpion on a yellow and red background.[4]

History

1949: Abarth & C.

A 1950 205A, one of the first Abarth cars

Carlo Abarth was sporting director of the Cisitalia racing team starting in 1947.[5] The following year, the manufacturer folded, and founder Piero Dusio flew to Argentina.

Abarth, funded by Armando Scagliarini,[lower-alpha 1] took over Cisitalia's assets and on 31 March 1949, Abarth & C. was founded in Bologna.[6][7] Carlo's astrological sign, Scorpio, was chosen as the company logo.

From the Cisitalia liquidation, Abarth obtained five 204 sports cars (two complete Spiders and three unfinished), a D46 single-seater, and various spares.[5] The Cisitalia 204s were immediately rechristened Abarth Cisitalia 204A.[5] Abarth proceeded to build and race a series of sports cars developed from these last Cisitalia cars. In addition to Guido Scagliarini, the "Squadra Abarth" racing team lined up celebrated drivers, including Tazio Nuvolari, Franco Cortese, and Piero Taruffi. Notably, Tazio Nuvolari made his last appearance in racing at the wheel of an Abarth 204A, winning its class in the Palermo–Monte Pellegrino hillclimb on 10 April 1950.[8] Alongside racing, the company's main activity was producing and selling accessories and performance parts for Fiat, Lancia, Cisitalia, and Simca cars, like inlet manifolds and silencers.[9]

On 9 April 1951, the company's headquarters were moved to Turin;[7] Abarth began his well-known association with Fiat in 1952, when the company built the Abarth 1500 Biposto on Fiat mechanicals.[10]

In 1957, Abarth entered a deal with Fiat whereby they were paid direct fees for successful competition finishes.[11] Abarth accordingly went on to enter their cars in countless hillclimbing and sports-car racing events across the world, mainly in classes from 850 to 2000 cc, competing with Porsche 904 and Ferrari Dino in the higher echelons. Since they were paid based on the number of results, Abarth entered their cars in every conceivable class and in countries across the entire world.[11] Hans Herrmann was a factory driver from 1962 until 1965, winning the 500 km Nürburgring in 1963 with Teddy Pilette.[12]

Abarth promised Johann Abt that he could race a factory car for free if he won all the races he entered. Abt almost succeeded; of the 30 races he entered, Abt won 29 and finished second once.[12] Abt later founded Abt Sportsline.

Abarth 595, derived from the Fiat 500

Abarth produced high-performance exhaust pipes, diversifying into tuning kits for road vehicles, mainly for Fiat. A racing exhaust was produced for the 1950s Lambretta models "D" and "LD". Original Abarth LD exhausts are now valuable collectors' items. Reproductions are available, which carry the Abarth name; how Fiat feels about this is not known. Lambretta even held several 125 cc motorcycle land speed records during the 1950s due partly to the exhaust that Abarth developed for them.[13][14]

In 1958, Abarth developed the Abarth Alfa Romeo 1000 in collaboration with the Milanese manufacturer. They sent an engineer, Mario Colucci, to oversee the process. Abarth was impressed with his skill, and while the car remained a one-off, Colucci was given the position of Abarth's Technical Director in 1960.[15] Colucci's first design was a mid-engined, tubular framed roadster using the 750 engine called the Abarth Spider Sport. This car had an unfortunate gestation period and never attained much success in competition, while Abarth himself favored the rear-engine layout and kept offering both types.[16] The Spider Sport series was also built with 700 and 1000 cc displacements, while a few late examples were fitted with 1300 cc engines of Simca origins. Colucci's next design, the Group 4 1000 SP, was much more successful and spawned a range of mid-engined, tubular-framed, fibreglass-bodied sports prototypes.[17]

Abarth also helped build sports or racing cars with Porsche[18] and Simca.

1971: Fiat takeover

Carlo sold Abarth to Fiat on 31 July 1971.[12][19] The acquisition was not made public until 15 October.[20] As Fiat was not interested in the Reparto Corse racing operations, these were taken over by Enzo Osella.[12] Osella obtained cars, spares, technicians, and drivers (amongst them Arturo Merzario), and continued the racing activity, founding the Osella racing team.[21] Thus ended for Abarth the days of sport prototype and hillclimb racing.

Under Fiat ownership, Abarth became the Fiat Group's racing department, managed by engine designer Aurelio Lampredi.[12] Abarth prepared Fiat's rally cars, including the Fiat 124 Abarth Rally and 131 Abarth.[12] In December 1977, in advance of the 1978 racing season, the beforehand competing Abarth and Squadra Corse Lancia factory racing operations were merged by Fiat into a single entity named EASA (Ente per l'Attività Sportiva Automobilistica, Organization for Car Sports Racing Activities).[22] Cesare Fiorio (previously in charge of the Lancia rally team) was appointed director, while Daniele Audetto was sporting director; the EASA headquarters were set up in Abarth's Corso Marche (Turin) offices.[22] The combined racing department developed the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Group 5 racing car which won the 1980 World Championship for Makes and the 1981 World Endurance Championship of Makes. It also created the Lancia Rally 037 Group B rally car, which won for Lancia the 1983 World Manufacturers' Championship).

On 1 October 1981, Abarth & C. ceased to exist, and was replaced by Fiat Auto Gestione Sportiva, a division of the parent company specialised in the management of racing programmes that would remain in operation through to the end of 1999, when it changed to Fiat Auto Corse S.p.A.

Some commercial models built by Fiat or its subsidiaries Lancia and Autobianchi were co-branded Abarth, including the Autobianchi A112 Abarth, a lightweight and inexpensive "boy racer". The A112 Abarth was introduced with a 58 hp engine, soon followed by a 70 hp one, and a specific "A112 Abarth trophy" was run from 1977 to 1984.[23]

In the 1980s, Abarth name was mainly used to mark performance cars, such as the Fiat Ritmo Abarth 125/130 TC.

In 2000s, Fiat used the Abarth brand to designate a trim/model level, as in the Fiat Stilo Abarth.

2007: Rebirth of Abarth & C. S.p.A.

On 1 February 2007, Abarth was re-established as an independent unit with the launch of the current company, Abarth & C. S.p.A.,[24] controlled 100% by Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., the subsidiary of Fiat S.p.A. dealing with the production and selling of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

The first models launched were the Abarth Grande Punto and the Abarth Grande Punto S2000. The brand is based in the Officine 83, part of the old Mirafiori engineering plant.[25] The CEO as of 2022 is Olivier François.

In 2015, Abarth's parent company was renamed FCA Italy S.p.A., reflecting the incorporation of Fiat S.p.A. into Fiat Chrysler Automobiles that took place in the previous months.

Yamaha XSR900 Abarth

In 2017, Abarth collaborated with Yamaha to produce a limited-edition motorcycle, the "Sport Heritage café racer special". Named the XSR900 Abarth it was based on the 847 cc inline-triple standard neo-retro Yamaha XSR900.[26]

Production

Current models

500 500C Pulse Fastback
Class: City car (A)
Body style: 3-door hatchback
Production: 2008–present		 Class: City car (A)
Body style: 3-door cabriolet
Production: 2010–present		 Class: Subcompact crossover (J)
Body style: 5-door hatchback
Production: 2022–present		 Class: Subcompact crossover SUV (B)
Body style: 5-door coupe SUV
Production: 2023–present
Fiat Abarth 750
Abarth 209A Boano Coupe
Abarth race cars (Osella 2000 Sport PA1 del 1973)
Fiat Abarth 1000
1961 Abarth Monomille, rebodied Fiat 600 chassis[27]

Cars produced by Abarth

Fiat 131 Abarth driven by Markku Alén at the 1978 1000 Lakes Rally

Cars not produced by Abarth but with Abarth badges

Cars produced under Abarth & C. S.p.A. (2007–)

Cars produced with Abarth tuning

Cars produced by other manufacturers with involvement from Abarth

Cars produced under Fiat Corse – N Technology named Abarth

Motorsport

Rally

Year Car Driver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DC Points MC Points
2007 Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000 Italy Andrea Navarra KEN
1		 TUR
2		 BEL
3		 RUS
4		 POR
Ret		 CZE
7		 ITA
10		 SWI
Ret		 CHI 3rd 32 2nd 90
Italy Umberto Scandola KEN
Ret		 TUR BEL
5		 RUS POR CZE ITA
4		 SWI
3		 CHI 6th 15
Finland Anton Alén KEN TUR
4		 BEL RUS
1		 POR CZE
Ret		 ITA SWI CHI 7th 15
Italy Giandomenico Basso KEN TUR BEL RUS POR
1		 CZE ITA
2		 SWI CHI 5th 18
2008 Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000 Italy Giandomenico Basso TUR
Ret		 POR
4		 BEL
6		 RUS
3		 POR
2		 CZE
Ret		 ESP
1		 ITA
1		 SWI
5		 CHI 3rd 32 2nd 74
Finland Anton Alén TUR
3		 POR
Ret		 BEL
11		 RUS
2		 POR CZE
Ret		 ESP
6		 ITA
8		 SWI
6		 CHI 5th 21
Italy Umberto Scandola TUR POR BEL RUS POR
7		 CZE ESP ITA
Ret		 SWI
Ret		 CHI 28th 2
Italy Renato Travaglia TUR POR BEL RUS POR CZE ESP ITA
4		 SWI CHI 6th* 19*
Italy Alessio Pissi TUR POR BEL RUS POR CZE ESP ITA
13		 SWI CHI - 0
Italy Andrea Navarra TUR POR BEL RUS POR CZE ESP ITA
Ret		 SWI CHI - 0
2009 Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000 Italy Giandomenico Basso MON
5		 BRA
3		 KEN POR
Ret		 BEL
8		 RUS
3		 POR
1		 CZE
Ret		 ESP
8		 ITA SCO 5th 28 4th 43
Finland Anton Alén MON
Ret		 BRA
Ret		 KEN POR
14		 BEL RUS
7		 POR CZE ESP ITA SCO 34th 3
Italy Luca Rossetti MON
Ret		 BRA KEN POR BEL RUS POR
Ret		 CZE
10		 ESP ITA
2		 SCO 10th 8
Belgium Bernd Casier MON BRA KEN POR BEL
14		 RUS POR CZE ESP ITA SCO - 0
Spain Miguel Fuster MON BRA KEN POR BEL RUS POR CZE ESP
Ret		 ITA SCO - 0
Italy Umberto Scandola MON BRA KEN POR BEL RUS POR CZE ESP ITA
11		 SCO - 0
Belgium François Duval MON BRA KEN POR BEL RUS POR CZE ESP ITA
Ret		 SCO - 0
2010 Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000 Italy Luca Rossetti MON BRA ARG CAN ITA BEL AZO MAD CZE ITA
5		 SCO CYP 22nd 4 6th 6
Italy Giandomenico Basso MON BRA ARG CAN ITA BEL AZO MAD CZE ITA
7		 SCO CYP 36th 2

FIA R-GT Cup

See also

Explanatory notes

  1. ↑ Father of Cisitalia racing driver Guido Scagliarini.

References

  1. ↑ 2014 Annual Report (PDF), Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, retrieved 13 March 2015
  2. ↑ "Alfredo Altavilla - FCA Group". www.fcagroup.com. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "Abarth wants 100 dealers in Europe". autonews.com. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
  4. ↑ "Abarth Logo: Design and History". Famouslogos.net. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 Boscarelli, Lorenzo. Abarth: le corse. Abarth: l'uomo e le sue auto; Fiorenzuola d'Arda, 9 May 2010. Monografie AISA (in Italian). Vol. 90. Associazione Italiana per la Storia dell'Automobile. pp. 3–25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Avidano, Renzo. Carlo Abarth - Il compendio di una vita per le auto e le corse. Abarth: l'uomo e le sue auto; Fiorenzuola d'Arda, 9 May 2010. Monografie AISA (in Italian). Vol. 90. Associazione Italiana per la Storia dell'Automobile. pp. 29–32. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Karl Abarth, the man and his history". bernimotori.com. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Quando venne a Torino per la sua ultima gara". Stampa Sera. 13 August 1953. p. 5. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "Le attrattive del Salone". Stampa Sera. 12 April 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "1952 Abarth 1500 Biposto Coupé". rickcarey.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  11. 1 2 Mallett, Delwyn (December 2004). "Hot Abarths". Octane. Vol. 2, no. 18. p. 94.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The history of Abarth". abarthcarsuk.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "125 Model D Racer". racinglambrettas.com. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  14. ↑ "Lambretta World Land Speed Record Scooter". lambrettista.net. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  15. ↑ "Alfa Romeo Abarth 1000". FCA Heritage. FCA Italy S.p.A. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022.
  16. ↑ Mallett (2004), p. 95.
  17. ↑ "Fiat Abarth 1000 SP". FCA Heritage. FCA Italy S.p.A. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022.
  18. ↑ "Porsche 356B Carrera GTL Abarth". porschearchive.com. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  19. ↑ Greggio, Luciano. (2002). Abarth : the man, the machines. G. Nada. ISBN 88-7911-263-5. OCLC 62269051.
  20. ↑ "L'Abarth entra nel gruppo Fiat". La Stampa. 16 October 1971. p. 17. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  21. ↑ Avidano, Renzo. I rapporti con la Fiat. Abarth: l'uomo e le sue auto; Fiorenzuola d'Arda, 9 May 2010. Monografie AISA (in Italian). Vol. 90. Associazione Italiana per la Storia dell'Automobile. pp. 33–35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2015.
  22. 1 2 Fenu, Michele (6 December 1977). "Rally, Fiat e Lancia si uniscono in un nuovo "super-squadrone"". La Stampa. p. 17. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  23. ↑ "Autobianchi A112 Abarth 58 HP". FCA Heritage. FCA. 14 January 2020.
  24. ↑ Borgomeo, Vincenzo (23 January 2007). "Svolta Fiat: torna l'Abarth e diventa marchio indipendente". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  25. ↑ Abarth's new premises in Turin Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine from duemotori.it (18 Feb 2008)
  26. ↑ "XSR900 Abarth". Yamaha. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  27. ↑ "The Abarth Monomille". scuderialafortuna.blogspot.com. 24 March 2007. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
  28. ↑ Authentic USA-Spec Abarth: 1958 Fiat 750 Retrieved on 2 April 2011
  29. ↑ Abarth 209A Boano Coupe, www.ultimatecarpage.com Retrieved on 15 July 2014
  30. ↑ The Observer's Book of Automobiles, Thirteenth Edition, 1967, page 27
  31. 1 2 "1956 Abarth 750 (Bertone)". carstyling.ru. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
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