Small sports racing cars were incredibly popular in 1950s Italy. Many of these started life as modest production cars and were turned into circuit and/or rally car by specialist companies. Many of the most successful machines went through the hands of engine tuner Abarth or Carrozzeria Zagato, who specialized in lightweight and very slippery bodies.
In 1956 the two companies worked together to create one of the finest competition cars of the decade.
Carlo Abarth first approached Elio Zagato during the 1955 Turin Motor Show. He suggested to construct a Fiat 600 based machine with his mechanical modifications and a Zagato two-seater coupe coachwork.
Fiat 600
The kindred spirits quickly came to an agreement and during the Geneva Motor Show in March of 1956 the world was introduced to the 'Fiat 600 Derivazione Abarth 750 GT Carrozzeria Zagato,' or Fiat Abarth 750 Zagato Coupe for short.
As shown at Geneva, the 750 Zagato Coupe featured a very elegant coupe coachwork. The bulbous shape was typical of Zagato's designs and resulted in impressive drag figures. Not only did Zagato's work decrease drag, it also lowered the weight compared to the standard body. During the season the shape was fine-tuned and by the end of the year the car gained the trademark 'double-bubble' roof design. The humps on the roof provided an aesthetically very pleasing contrast with the twin air-intakes on the rear deck.
Shortly after the 750 Zagato's launch the first victories were scored in the 750 cc class in hillclimbs in Belgium and Italy. It was the start of a seemingly never ending string of successes. Among the dozens of wins were class victories in the 1957 Mille Miglia and the 1958 and 1959 Sebring 12 Hours.
Abarth did not limit the use of the 750 engine to sports cars only. Together with other famous coachbuilders, Bertone and PininFarina, he developed some very potent record breakers. Abarth held numerous successful runs at the high speed Monza track setting many world records.
Some of these runs lasted for up to 72 hours, showcasing just what a marvelous engine the original Fiat 600 unit was.
Thanks to Abarth's engine tweaks and the slippery bodies, the Abarth 750 Records reached speeds in excess of 200 km/h.
Celebrating the successes at Monza, Abarth launched the Fiat Abarth 750 Record Monza Zagato Coupe in 1959.
With hundreds of class victories the Fiat Abarth 750 Zagato Coupe has gone into history as one of the most successful racing cars of its era. This in combination with the fantastic Zagato styling makes it one of the most desirable of all of Abarth's products.
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Comments (1)
Excellent thank you