Extravagant Abarth vehicles from FCA Heritage take part in the Targa Florio

Extravagant Abarth vehicles from FCA Heritage take part in the Targa…

September 27, 2018
from Jan-Christopher Sierks

Abarth presents the 102nd edition of the Targa Florio and celebrates the 110th birthday of Carlo Abarth with three historic automobiles – the Abarth 2400 Coupé, the Autobianchi A112 Abarth 58 HP and a special Fiat 500 from the 1970s.

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The Targa Florio is considered one of the oldest, if not the oldest, car race in the world. Even if the glorious event may have to share this title with other classics of motorsport, one thing is certain: in the early decades of automobile development, the "Targa" represented a particularly intense challenge for drivers and technology. The 102nd Targa Florio, the new edition of the classic, is sure to be exciting again. In any case, at the "Targa Florio Classica", which is supported by Abarth, motorsport history is within reach - for the traditional brand with the scorpion, it is "a must" to be there and to present its own history.

At the Targa Florio Classica, FCA Heritage will present three precious items from its extensive collection: a rare Abarth 2400 Coupé from 1964, an Autobianchi A112 Abarth 58 HP from 1974 and a Fiat 1974, also built in 500. The 44-year-old 500 will be refined with the new Abarth Classiche 595 Conversion Kit, demonstrating the sense of history that has always characterized the brand. The following applies to all three cars: Each is a milestone in the history of Abarth. The unique road vehicles show Abarth as an independent manufacturer of extremely high-quality GT automobiles, as a developer of tailor-made upgrade conversion packages for Fiat small cars and as a creator of particularly sporty variants of popular series vehicles. The company, founded by Viennese-born Karl "Carlo" Abarth almost 70 years ago, successfully took on the models from Turin from 1957 onwards - such as the 500, the 850 and even the original Multiplan van. This commitment was intensified again after the takeover by Fiat in 1971. To mark Carlo Abarth's birthday, which is the 15th anniversary on November 110th, his motorsport-loving widow Anneliese Abarth and the experienced racing and test driver Eris Tondelli are actively taking part in the "Targa". Tondelli helped develop the Abarth 595 - and thus created a sporty classic.

Tradition meets modernity: the latest models of the Abarth brand are on display in Piazza Verdi in Palermo, while some vehicles are available for test drives in the famous Mondello district. Abarth's inseparable link with the Targa Florio is reflected in the successes that the brand has enjoyed in both speed races and rallies. And the last two editions of the Targa Florio Rally have revived the thrill, with the new Abarth 124 Rallye taking to the starting line in Sicily. With this car, Cristopher Lucchesi won the R-GT class at the Targa Florio Rally in May 2018.

From October 4th to 7th, the equally renowned Targa Florio Classica will take place at the southern end of Italy. The classic car competition is reminiscent of what is probably the oldest car race in the world: in its original form, it was conceived, organized and even financed by the Palermo-born car pioneer Vincenzo Florio. With the event, he wanted to create a "practical and precise criterion for assessing the driving car", which he succeeded in doing with the debut event. The race, which has been held in various forms since 1906, made automotive history with its very first winner, Alessandro Cagno. Now the Targa Florio Classica, which is organized by the Palermo Automobile Club in collaboration with the Automobile Club d'Italia, is supported by Abarth - this cooperation underlines the special connection between the "Targa" and the Abarth company.

FCA Heritage, the department within the group dedicated to preserving and promoting the historical legacy of the Italian FCA brands, is presenting three particularly beautiful Abarth vehicles at the Targa Florio Classica - these automotive milestones have been selected from the extensive collection: the Abarth 2400 Coupé from 112, the Autobianchi A58 Abarth 1974 HP from 595 and the Fiat 500 of the same age, upgraded with the new Abarth Classiche 2400 Conversion Kit. The cars each represent an important stage in the development of the brand with the scorpion in its logo. The 112 Coupé with the Allemano body is an excellent example of Abarth's ability as an independent designer of particularly high-quality GT vehicles, while the powerful A1971 is reminiscent of Abarth's early days after the takeover by Fiat in 112. The A500 is part of Abarth's successful work for the Fiat Racing Department. Last but not least, there is the fast and agile Fiat 595, which has been upgraded with the new retro conversion kit XNUMX from FCA Heritage. The small super sports car is a tribute to the glory years in which Abarth developed its famous tuned versions of the Fiat small cars.

To celebrate the 110th birthday of Karl Abarth, who was born in Vienna on November 15, 1908 and died far too early in his hometown on October 23, 1979, the "Targa" will be attended by two people who are among the brand's most symbolic figures: Anneliese Abarth will take part in the star parade with the 2400 Coupé that once belonged to her husband. Eris Tondelli, who was active as a racing and test driver for Abarth in the 1960s and played a key role in the development of the 595, will take the wheel of the Fiat 500 with the new classic conversion kit. In addition, Abarth's current range will be on display in Piazza Verdi in Palermo, while some models will be available for test drives in the famous Mondello district.

As part of the Targa Florio, FCA Heritage is organizing a special authenticity certification in the Motor Village in Palermo on October 1st, 2nd and 3rd. All Sicilians who own a historic Abarth or Lancia vehicle can register there. Experts from FCA Heritage will also be available to answer questions from collectors and fans. The classic car professionals will present the special procedures and services of the classic car department. Appointments can be made directly via the email address heritage@fcagroup.com.

The Abarth 2400 Coupé Allemano (1964)

This wonderful coupé, designed by star designer Giovanni Michelotti, was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1959. It was the Gran Turismo version of a successful upper-middle-class sedan, the Fiat 2100. The vehicle was assembled from 1962 to 1964 at the renowned Carrozzeria Allemano. It was initially delivered as the 2200 Coupé, then as the 2400 Coupé in the last year of production. In this 200 km/h version, the inline engine came from the Fiat 2300 and produced a dynamic 86 kW (117 hp) instead of the 103 kW (140 hp). The vehicle presented at the "Targa" belonged to Karl Abarth himself.

The Autobianchi A112 Abarth 58 HP (1974)

The Autobianchi A112, which was presented at the Turin Motor Show in October 1969, was an attractive and luxurious speedster. Thanks to its compact size, it was not only ideal for winding country roads, but also for city traffic. The mechanical structure was innovative and quite unique: the engine, derived from the 4-cylinder valve unit of the Fiat 850, was mounted transversely at the front, while the car was equipped with front-wheel drive and independent suspension. In 1971, the A112 Abarth debuted - as a sportier version. The power increased to 43 kW (58 hp) due to the increased displacement, allowing the vehicle to accelerate to 12 km/h in just 100 seconds. Even more powerful variants with 51 kW (70 hp) and 63 kW (85 hp) were added later. The appearance of the car was also modified to make it sportier - one self-confident statement was the matt black bonnet. Inside, the instrumentation was expanded to include a tachometer, ammeter, pressure gauge and oil temperature indicator. The seats were tailored to the sporty driving style and offered good support, and the three-spoke steering wheel was manufactured. The vehicle presented at the "Targa" was only recently acquired by FCA Heritage and is from the second series.

Fiat 500 (1974) and the Abarth Classiche 595 Conversion Kit

A historic Fiat 500, which has been upgraded with the "Abarth Classiche 595 Conversion Kit", is also taking part in the Sicilian race. This 500 is a real "test object" from FCA Heritage, as it has been specially prepared for use with the conversion kit. At the Targa Florio Classica, the car will be tested by a prominent expert - racing driver Eris Tondelli, who was involved in the development of these cars for Abarth in the 73,5s. The conversion kit is a replica of the model that shaped Abarth's history. It documents how the brand established itself by modernizing and fine-tuning successful mass-market vehicles. In detail, the new kit includes cylinder liners and pistons with a diameter of 28 millimeters, a set of valve springs, the camshaft, the cylinder head gasket, an oil pan, a XNUMX Weber carburetor and a complete exhaust system with the corresponding mounting brackets. All components are presented in a special wooden box, bearing authentic markings and the Abarth Classiche seal, a stylish guarantee that the kit has been designed and built in the spirit of the brand's racing tradition.

Abarth's unbreakable connection with the Targa Florio

Abarth has a long history of success in the Targa Florio speed competition. The company has celebrated many class victories - the triumphs with the Abarth 1000 SP are particularly memorable. This vehicle also enabled private drivers to drive at the front on the winding roads of the Madonie. The successes of the Abarth 124 Rallye in the 70s are also unforgettable. Since the Targa Florio changed from a speed race to a tough rally in 1978, Abarth has recorded several overall victories - first two with the Abarth 131 Rallye, in 1979 with Adartico Vudafieri and in 1980 with Mario Pasetti. In 2003 and 2004, Paolo Andreucci won with the Fiat Punto Super 1600, and in 2006 he triumphed in the Abarth Grande Punto S2000. Luca Rossetti was the first to cross the finish line in the same model in 2009. Abarth's engineering skills also played a key role in the nine first places achieved by Lancia Rally, Lancia Delta S4 and Integrale. Last but not least, the brand celebrated a highly successful comeback in the last two editions of the Targa Florio with the Abarth 124 Rallye.