1961 Abarth 1000 GT GT Competition Coupe

The Fiat-Barth 1000 Bialbero GT Coupe was a competition coupe based on the rear-engine Fiat 600. Power was from a much-modified engine expanded to 982cc with an Abarth-designed twin-cam (Bialbero) cylinder head, dual Weber twin-choke carburetors, plus several other tweaks. The total output was 99 bhp, and for the lightweight vehicle, the car provided stunning performance with acceleration from zero-to-sixty in just 7.4 seconds and a 131 mph top speed.

Just a few examples of the Fiat-Abarth 1000 Bialbero GT Coupes were produced. This example is Race-number 8 which was driven by rising star Bruce McLaren. It was one of a three-car Abarth attack mounted by the Briggs Cunningham racing team at the March 23rd, 1962, Sebring 3-Hour Race, the opening round of the 1962 World Championship season. All three Cunningham-entered cars were prepared by Alfred Momo. Walt Hansgen drove the number 9 car and Roger Penske drive the number 7. McLaren drove 1128948 to the checkered flag with Hansgen finishing second for a stellar 1-2 Abarth finish. Both works and privateer 1000 Bialbero GTs were very successful during the 1962-racing season, scoring FIA victories at venues, including Lago di Garda, the berlin Grand Prix, Nurburgring, and Enna in Sicily.

The final race of the 1962 season was the Bridgehampton 400 km on September 15th of 1962. Cunningham entered 1128948 with Hansgen driving it to 2nd in Class and 4th overall. Abarth went on to win the World manufacturers' Championship (Division 1), the first of eight. Abarth was 2nd in overall point standings for 1962, behind only Ferrari.

Cunningham sold the car following the 1962 season to Bob Ennis. The car would pass through several other owners until coming into the care of Greg Paris in 1987, who re-united the car with its original engine. In 1999 and 2000, Mark Gessler acquired the Paris collection, which included this Sebring-winning car. The car was then treated to a restoration and in 2002, it won Best in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. In August 2010, it was acquired by the current owner.

The car is finished in period blue on white Cunningham team livery. Power is from a 982cc Abarth dual overhead cam inline four-cylinder engine fitted with Dual Weber 40 DCOE Twin-Choke carburetors. It produces 99 horsepower which is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. There are hydraulic disc brakes in the front and drums at the rear.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2013