01 Aug 08
Speed-record-setting special-bodied Abarth 750
3. Abarth 750
Fiat's 600 made its debut in 1955, and Abarth found it a fine basis for his 750, the car which really took his work mass-market.
The 750 was relatively affordable, given its Fiat underpinnings, but its larger 52bhp engine, lighter-weight chassis and tauter handling made for a fine sports saloon. Abarth made a handful in-house, but his real success was with aftermarket conversion kits, fitted by many a spanner-wielding Italian to their pride and joy.
The kits included radiator and brake upgrades, stronger front leaf springs, and styling details such as unique wheel hubs and an Abarth-branded three-spoke sports steering wheel. In the late '50s, this was a revolutionary way of doing business. The final touch were the hinges for the (rear) bonnet lid, propping it open: not only did this help keep the engine cool when racing, it aided aerodynamics.
Abarth himself drove a 750 with special bodywork by Bertone to set speed records at the Monza track, breaking endurance records for 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, 5,000km, 10,000km and 5,000-mile average speed runs and establishing his engines' reliability in the process. Special-bodied 750s were also built by Zagato, and 20 750s took part in the 1957 Mille Miglia, 16 finishing.
