1961 Abarth 1000 GT Bialbero

Coupe
Chassis number: 1040293
Engine number: 1699533

Fiat's rear-engine 600 chassis provided the platform for the vehicle that would become Abarth's 1000 Bialbero GT model. The name 'Bialbero' was used in reference to the dual-cam Bialbero cylinder head. The design originated with the 1957 Abarth 750 Bialbero Record Monza with coachwork by Zagato. The engine was enlarged to 982 cubic centimeters, thus accounting for the '1000' designation. By this point in history, the car was bodied by Carrozzeria Abarth, and helped the company earn its first World Sportscar Championship in 1962. Five more consecutive titles would follow in the years to come.

This particular example is rather special, as it is believed to have been the first 1000 Bialbero GT built. It was prepared as a factory team car in August of 1961 and entered wearing number 111 at the Nurburgring 500 KM on September 3rd of 1961. Eberhard Mahle and Teodoro Zeccoli qualified the car in the pole-position. During the race, the car was very quick and very competitive, until a faulty fuel pump forced them to retire during the final lap, earning them a 5th-place finish. On September 10th, Abarth entered the car in the Monza Coppa Inter-Europa where it is believed to have been driven by Herbert Demetz.

The car was sold in November of 1961 to John Norwood. It was sent to Nassau for the Bahamas Speed Weeks where it wore number 91. Paul Richards finished 20th Overall and 4th in Class at the Governor's Trophy on December 8th, and 17th overall with a 1st in class at the Nassau Trophy Race two days later.

The Bialbero GT raced on March 1962 at the Sebring 3 Hours, where Briggs Cunningham's team of Abarth Bialberos took 1st and 2nd, with Bruce McLaren and Walt Hansgen leading the way. This car, wearing race number 23, placed 10th under the guidance of Paul Layman, George Schrafft, and Ray Cuomo.

A new owner vintage raced the car at the Monterey Historics during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003, it was purchased by Rob Phillips of Portland, Oregon who treated it to a comprehensive two-year restoration. The completed car was shown at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and the 2006 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

The current owner acquired the car in 2006.

by Dan Vaughan

Most of the projects Abarth undertook were with Fiat vehicles and mechanical components. The results of his work were highly tuned engines, lightweight vehicles, and nimble handling. The cars dominated the smaller classes and often were quicker than the larger, more powerful competition in other classes.

The 750 Zagato Record Monza Coupe was based on the Fiat 600. It was introduced in 1958. Power came from a Giochino Colombo-designed twin-cam 750cc engine which was capable of producing 57 horsepower at 7000 RPM. The top speed was in the neighborhood of 180 km/h.

During 1957, 1958, and 1959 Mille Miglia, the 750 Monza Coupe emerged victorious in their class. Class wins at the 1961 LeMans, Sebring, and Daytona Beach races were also among their accomplishments. They racked up many impressive victories in many types of racing, including hill climbs.

The engine from Abarth 1000 Bialbero was from a Fiat 600. The same basic engine design from the Abarth 700 Bialbero was used. It shared many similarities with the Abarth 700 including the chassis. The main difference between the 700 and the 1000 was engine size. The 1000 also had disc brakes whereas the 700 did not.

The engine in the 1000 Bialbero was fitted with DOHC cylinder heads with hemispherical combustion chambers and enlarged intake and exhaust valves. The twin-cam engine produced just over 90 horsepower and offered an impressive power-to-weight ratio.

Abarth introduced the 1000 Bialbero at the 1961 Turin Motor Show. It competed during the 1961 season and had much success in the 1000cc class. As the season progressed, minor improvements were made to increase its performance and reliability. Near the close of the season, a radiator was installed in the front.

Abarth won the 1962 Manufacturers Championship title for the 'up to 1000cc' Division I class. For 1963, updates and modifications to the car continued, including the overall shape. The engine hood was lengthened which added greater stability at speed. A new five-speed gearbox was fitted which helped improve the top speed. Abarth would end the 1963 season with a repeat victory in Division 1 racing.

For the 1964 season, the Division 1 category allowed cars up to 1300cc's. Abarth shifted their attention to their Simca-powered 1300 GT model which had been introduced in 1962.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

This was an Abarth Factory Team Car at the 1963 Targa Florio. It was raced in both England and Scotland.

Before it was shipped to the United States, the car raced at the Bahama Grand Prix. The car set (and still holds) the World Land Speed Record of the One Liter Gran Touring Cars at Bonneville in 1992. It is an original matching numbers example with only 5,200 original miles.

Coupe
Chassis number: 1128948
Engine number: 229/235

This Fiat-Abarth Bialbero 'Twin Camshaft' was driven by the legendary New Zealand racing driver, Bruce McLaren, to a victory at the 1961 Sebring 3-Hours race for up-to-1-liter Grand Touring cars. The car had been prepared and entered for the race by Briggs Cunningham's iconic American racing team. It is one of three sister Fiat-Abarth Bialberos delivered to the Cunningham Team in early 1962. The other cars were entrusted to Alfred Momo's Momo Corporation workshops for preparation prior to entry in the Sebring 3-Hours race on March 23, 1962. The three cars were driven by Bruce McLaren, Walt Hansgen, and Roger Penske. Bruce won in this car bearing race number '8'. Hansgen's Cunningham team Bialbero race number '7' finished second, while Penske's number '9' retired from the race around half distance.

After Sebring, this car was entered for the Bridgehampton 400 km race on Long Island, NY, in September of that year. Hansgen drove it to a fourth-place finish and second in class behind class winner Bob Grossman in an ex-works Fiat-Abarth 1000. The race-winning car was a Porsche-Abarth 356B Carrera GTL driven by Bob Holbert.

This car has been given a restoration by specialist Nino Epifani and won its class at Pebble Beach in 2002. It remains in concours condition today.

In 2010, this Fiat-Abarth was offered for sale at the Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia auction presented by Bonhams. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $337,000 inclusive of the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan