Six decades of performance by Fiat’s Abarth models
The Abarth legacy began in 1963 with the 595 model and is still going strong today.
In September 1963, Carlo Abarth introduced the world to the Fiat Abarth 595, marking the beginning of a legendary journey.
Built on the foundation of the Fiat 500D, a model gaining popularity since 1961, the Fiat Abarth 595 earned its name from its increased engine displacement, achieved through meticulous enhancements to its cylinders and pistons, along with innovative materials.
Externally, it stood apart from the Fiat 500D with distinctive features: an eye-catching 850TC-type perforated front grille, gleaming “Fiat Abarth 595” lettering adorning the rear and hood, and a proud “World Champion” inscription on the right side, celebrating the records set by Officine di Corso Marche creations. The racing spirit was accentuated by an oversized aluminum oil pan peeking beneath the rear fascia and the thunderous “Record Monza”-style dual-exit sports muffler.
The result is a compact yet fiercely aggressive, and delightfully noisy car, delivering 30% more power than its original version, 20kW at 5 000r/min and a top speed of 120km.
Essentially, Abarth’s formula was simple but effective – taking an already successful city car like the 500D and transforming it into a high-performance powerhouse. This same recipe has been applied recently to create the new Abarth 500e, born from the successful new Fiat 500 Electric, the best-selling electric city car in Europe.
One month later, on October 31, 1963, the Fiat Abarth 595 made its public debut at the Turin Motor Show. Abarth, a business and motoring visionary, offered show attendees coupons for test drives of this ground-breaking release. The response was overwhelming, leading Abarth to announce the production of the first 1 000 Fiat Abarth 595 cars intended for racing homologation.
As a natural evolution of the 595, Abarth unveiled the Fiat Abarth 695 at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1964, pioneering the concept of technical upgrades that would become a hallmark of Abarth tradition. Subsequently, transformation kits allowed Abarth’s key enhancements to be applied to Fiat production cars, enhancing both their mechanical performance and aesthetics.
Today, the values of performance and style championed by these trailblazers are deeply ingrained in the Abarth heritage. The line-up, which includes the new Abarth 500e, the 123kW Abarth 595, and the even more potent 134kW Abarth 695, continues to deliver exhilarating performance, a distinctive exhaust note and a playful yet bold design.
The enduring success of these models confirm that, even after six decades, Carlo Abarth’s values continue to resonate with Scorpion brand enthusiasts.
Source: QuickPic
