 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |
1960 Abarth Record Monza Bialbero news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
 |  |  |
Karl Abarth was born on November 15th, 1908 in Vienna, Austria. At the age of seventeen, he became an apprentice at Castagna, Italy, designing chassis for motorcycles and bicycles. In 1927, he returned to Austria to work at Motor Thun Motorcycle plant. This was also the beginning of a highly successful racing career. Carlo started racing motorcycles and he began winning. He was awarded the champion of Europe five times, among other racing accomplishments.
In 1934, Austria and Germany began to feel the pains of the great Depression and the onset of World War II. Karl decided to move to Italy and further pursue his motorcycle racing career. While in Italy, he became known as Carlo Abarth. During a race in Yugoslavia, Carlo crashed and required hospitalization for over a year. After Carlo recovered he decided to stay in Yugoslavia until the end of the war. He began working with an individual named Ignaz Vok, converting automobiles to run on kerosene.
After the war, Carlo moved back to Merano where he began working with an individual by the name of Rodolfo Hruska.
Ferdinand Porsche was the founder of the Porsche dynasty and his son, Ferry Porsche had followed in his fathers footsteps. A long time friend of the Abarth family, Ferry Porsche presented Carlo Abarth with a job opportunity to help with the organization of the Porsche motor company. Abarth and Hruska were able to establish relationships with some of Italy's most important automobile manufactures due to this job opportunity. There was a problem, however. Ferdinand Porsche was in a French prison being held as a German war criminal. Ferry and Carlo found a solution to this problem in the form of a man named Piero Dusio. Dusio was a highly competitive person and was driven by the desire to win automobile races. He had formed the Cisitalia Corporation with the goal of producing race cars. Carlo and Ferry asked Dusio to post bond for Dr. Porsche in exchange for their services in building a race car. Thus the partnership between Porsche and Cistialia began. Abarth began working for Cisitalia as the technical and racing director.
Ferdinand Porsche designed a single-seater, mid-engined, Formula 1 car. It featured four-wheel drive, an innovative quality of its time.
It was a short-lived relationship however. Piero Dusio encountered difficulties and in 1949 moved to Argentina. This ended the Cisitalia Corporation. It did, however, offer Abarth an entrance into the manufacturing business.
The company featured the zodiac sign of Carlo Abarth, a scorpion. A factory was established in Turn, Italy with 35 employees. Armando Scagliarini, a driver for the Cisitalia company and the father of Guido, provided assistance to Abarth on this new-formed business venture. They began building automobile accessories which provided the funding for their racing expeditions. Exhaust pipes, manifolds, valve springs, valves, and gearboxes were just a few of the items produced by the Abarth Company.
In the early to mid 1950s, the Abarth Company began modifying mass-produced cars, mainly Fiats. These low-priced cars coupled with performance modifications, became unbeatable forces, winning most races that they entered. So much so, that Fiat began paying Abarth for each first or second place finish the modified Fiat vehicles would achieve.
In 1955, Fiat introduced the 600. This low priced fashionable vehicle had potential that Abarth quickly exploited. The displacement was increased to 747cc, greatly improving the overal performance. Not only was the company able to increase the engine capacity and tap into greater raw horsepower, but they were able to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicles, and lighten the overall weight. This formula was the key to Abarths success in the automotive world. But it was not the only reason they were successful. Many people were not able to purchase higher-priced sporty vehicles such as Ferraris or Bugatti's, so these Fiat/Abarth creations were excellent opportunities to buy a lower priced race car but still achieve similar results on the race track.
The 600 led to the 850. Fiat supplied Abarth with incomplete vehicles and it was left up to Abarth to fit the car with brakes, exhaust pipes, carburetors, and crankshafts. This saga continued with Fiats next model named the 1000, then the 595 and 695. These Fiat-Abarth vehicles accumulated many national and international victories, making it one of the most successful race-car-prepared ventures of all time.
Abarths next endeavor was to build a complete Abarth vehicle. They began by making formula and sports cars that ranged from 1000cc and 2000cc. This was another success for the Abarth Corporation, amounting numerous victories in a wide spectrum of racing.
In 1971, the Abarth Corporation was purchased by Fiat. The company and structure remained the same, with the only change being the sports-car prototype being abandoned. Many Fiats continued to be produced with the Abarth badge, usually signifiny a sports package or high performance version.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2006
In 1934, Austria and Germany began to feel the pains of the great Depression and the onset of World War II. Karl decided to move to Italy and further pursue his motorcycle racing career. While in Italy, he became known as Carlo Abarth. During a race in Yugoslavia, Carlo crashed and required hospitalization for over a year. After Carlo recovered he decided to stay in Yugoslavia until the end of the war. He began working with an individual named Ignaz Vok, converting automobiles to run on kerosene.
After the war, Carlo moved back to Merano where he began working with an individual by the name of Rodolfo Hruska.
Ferdinand Porsche was the founder of the Porsche dynasty and his son, Ferry Porsche had followed in his fathers footsteps. A long time friend of the Abarth family, Ferry Porsche presented Carlo Abarth with a job opportunity to help with the organization of the Porsche motor company. Abarth and Hruska were able to establish relationships with some of Italy's most important automobile manufactures due to this job opportunity. There was a problem, however. Ferdinand Porsche was in a French prison being held as a German war criminal. Ferry and Carlo found a solution to this problem in the form of a man named Piero Dusio. Dusio was a highly competitive person and was driven by the desire to win automobile races. He had formed the Cisitalia Corporation with the goal of producing race cars. Carlo and Ferry asked Dusio to post bond for Dr. Porsche in exchange for their services in building a race car. Thus the partnership between Porsche and Cistialia began. Abarth began working for Cisitalia as the technical and racing director.
Ferdinand Porsche designed a single-seater, mid-engined, Formula 1 car. It featured four-wheel drive, an innovative quality of its time.
It was a short-lived relationship however. Piero Dusio encountered difficulties and in 1949 moved to Argentina. This ended the Cisitalia Corporation. It did, however, offer Abarth an entrance into the manufacturing business.
The company featured the zodiac sign of Carlo Abarth, a scorpion. A factory was established in Turn, Italy with 35 employees. Armando Scagliarini, a driver for the Cisitalia company and the father of Guido, provided assistance to Abarth on this new-formed business venture. They began building automobile accessories which provided the funding for their racing expeditions. Exhaust pipes, manifolds, valve springs, valves, and gearboxes were just a few of the items produced by the Abarth Company.
In the early to mid 1950s, the Abarth Company began modifying mass-produced cars, mainly Fiats. These low-priced cars coupled with performance modifications, became unbeatable forces, winning most races that they entered. So much so, that Fiat began paying Abarth for each first or second place finish the modified Fiat vehicles would achieve.
In 1955, Fiat introduced the 600. This low priced fashionable vehicle had potential that Abarth quickly exploited. The displacement was increased to 747cc, greatly improving the overal performance. Not only was the company able to increase the engine capacity and tap into greater raw horsepower, but they were able to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicles, and lighten the overall weight. This formula was the key to Abarths success in the automotive world. But it was not the only reason they were successful. Many people were not able to purchase higher-priced sporty vehicles such as Ferraris or Bugatti's, so these Fiat/Abarth creations were excellent opportunities to buy a lower priced race car but still achieve similar results on the race track.
The 600 led to the 850. Fiat supplied Abarth with incomplete vehicles and it was left up to Abarth to fit the car with brakes, exhaust pipes, carburetors, and crankshafts. This saga continued with Fiats next model named the 1000, then the 595 and 695. These Fiat-Abarth vehicles accumulated many national and international victories, making it one of the most successful race-car-prepared ventures of all time.
Abarths next endeavor was to build a complete Abarth vehicle. They began by making formula and sports cars that ranged from 1000cc and 2000cc. This was another success for the Abarth Corporation, amounting numerous victories in a wide spectrum of racing.
In 1971, the Abarth Corporation was purchased by Fiat. The company and structure remained the same, with the only change being the sports-car prototype being abandoned. Many Fiats continued to be produced with the Abarth badge, usually signifiny a sports package or high performance version.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2006
| Norra 'Forges The Future' This Week Via First All-Electric Off-Road Race Car To Challenge The Legendary Baja Penninsula | |
 | Since 1967, the National Off Road Racing Association's (NORRA) Mexican 1000 has been asignificant environment for creativity and innovation in off-road motorsports. Thanks to the technical and industry credibility of hot rod pioneer and NORRA executive Don Francisco, the unique Baja competition quickly rose to prominence via the participation of stars like of Parnelli Jones, James Garner and Steve McQueen. Why? From its inception desert racing's wide-open environment gave the automotive industry...[Read more...] |
| MERCEDES-AMG HELPS TO ENSURE SAFETY IN FORMULA 1 | |
 | In the new 2013 Formula 1® season, Mercedes-AMG will once again help to ensure safety at all Formula 1® races forming part of the FIA Formula One World Championship™. For the 18th year the performance brand of Mercedes-Benz is providing the Official F1® Safety Car and the Official F1® Medical Car. The SLS AMG GT with 435 kW (591 hp) and the C 63 AMG Estate with 358 kW (487 hp) will be deployed at the direction of Race Control officials usually when weather or incidents are considered to impact o...[Read more...] |
| 1961 Targa Florio: Porsche Dominance, Ferrari Victorious | |
 | The first race held on the island of Sicily that included an automobile would take place between the car, a bicycle and a horse. Although the gentleman on the bicycle would drop out rather early due to leg cramps constantly going up and down on the mountainous roads, the battle between the de Dion motor tricycle and the horse would be an intriguing one. In the end, the same principles that played out in that first race would come into play many years later when the island hosted the 1961 Targa F...[Read more...] |
| The Champion in Touring Car Racing : The BMW M3 | |
 | In August 1985, a rumour surfaced in motor magazine Auto-Deutschland which emanated from a new sports car. An A Group Car from BMW that was a thoroughbred racing car according to the rules but was also to be produced in a version licensed to drive on open roads for everyday use. Speculation about this dream car that could take to normal roads and was intended for the 'Most dynamic among BMW 3 Series drivers' was right on target. But the pundits missed the mark about the motor-sport car by a mile...[Read more...] |
| Auctions America By RM's 2012 Auburn Spring Auction | |
 | 'Variety' is the buzzword for this year's Auctions America by RM June 1-3 Auburn Spring auction, which will offer a huge range of collector vehicles and an enormous private collection of automotive memorabilia. More than 600 American muscle cars, Classics, foreign sports cars and hot rods will cross the block at the historic Auburn Auction Park, the company's national headquarters in Auburn, Indiana. 'Last year was our first spring event at the park,' said Auctions America by RM's President ...[Read more...] |
| 1960 Abarth models |
| Abarth 356 Carrera GTL |
| Abarth 850 Allemano |
 1960
Fiat
models |
| Fiat 500 |
| Similar Automakers | |
| Alfa Romeo | Citroen |
| Lancia | Morgan |
| Opel | Peugeot |
| Renault | Seat |
| Skoda | Vauxhall |
| Similarly Sized Vehicles from 1960 |
| Autobianchi Bianchina |
| Fiat 500 |
| Fiat: 1950-1960 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Fiat History |
| Other models by Fiat |
| Manufacturer Website |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| 2006 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1100 1200 124 128 131 | 1500GT 500 508 600 60HP | 850 8V Balilla Barchetta Bravo | Cinquecento Croma Dino Freemont Panda | Punto Ritmo Tipo 6 Topolino Type 56 | Ulysse Uno X 1/9 |
© 1998-2012. All rights reserved. The material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
