01 Aug 08
Abarth 1500 Biposto
2. Abarth 1500 Biposto
Abarth took the rather undistinguished Fiat 1400, enlarged its engine, added a pair of Weber carburettors to give 75bhp and applied pretty two-seater coupe bodywork by Franco Scaglione, of the Bertone coachbuilding studio.
The 'Biposto' was unveiled at the 1952 Turin Motor Show to huge acclaim; American show-goers were particularly impressed, and the car was subsequently bought by Packard to take back and study.
Hugely influential in its aerodynamic design - it was effectively a precursor to Bertone's famous Alfa Romeo-based BAT concept cars - this 1500 also inspired a series of special-bodied streamliners, Abarth going on to break a number of land speed records.
