Fiat 500 Abarth : a “small mito” story

Next to the Fiat 500 series  production in the 70’s was developed a parallel line production to the Fiat 500, strengthened and elaborated. In particular we had  the Fiat 500 Abarth and the Fiat 500 Giannini .

Today we will discuss the Abarth production, that has made this small compact car very “bad”

In July 1957  was presented the “New 500 ” , the car was designed by Dante Giacosa and powered by a twin-cylinder (479 cc ) whith 13 Hp of maximum power and allowed to reach 85 km / h maximum speed .

Carlo Abarth saw in this little car, the ability to create a very competitive car .

Initially was left unchanged the original displacement of the engine, while the compression ratio was increased  from 6,55:1 to 8.7:1 . It was also adopted a Weber 26 IMB carburetor and a specific Abarth exhaust . In this way the Fiat 500 Abarth  reached the 20 Hp from the original 13 Hp .

On October 15, 1957 some Fiat 500 Abarth  were put on the track at Monza and subjected to a test of speed and endurance.

The following year, Carlo Abarth  proposed a new version of the Abarth further enhanced : 10.5:1 ratio compression , improved intake and exhaust , 26 Hb and 118 km / h speed maximum .

To confirm the reliability of these calculations and to beat the competition , he organized a “marathon” of seven days and seven nights, succeeding in making these runs Fiat 500 Abarth distance of 18,186 km at an average speed of 108 km / h and managed to beat less than 6 international records with these results :

• in 4 days, 10,457 kilometers at an average of 108.9 km / h ;

• in 5 days, 12,933 kilometers at an average of 108.2 km / h ;

• 15,000 km in 139 hours 16 ‘ 33 ” to the average of 107 , 6 km / h ;

• 6 days, 15,530 kilometers at an average of 107.8 km / h ;

• 10,000 Miles in 149 hours 09 ‘ 29 ” to the average of 107.8 km / h ;

• 18,186 km in 7 days to the average of 108.2 km / h .

 

This success was reported on all newspapers

In 1963, Carlo Abarth , decided to further strengthen the New “500” by increasing the displacement of 499.5 cc to 595 cc , replacing the carburetor with a Weber Solex C28 PBJ Fiat 500 Abarth came to exceed 120 km / h .

Abarth sold the “conversion kit ” with everything inside to make a Fiat 500 transformed in a Abarth 595 version , both in the mechanical and aesthetic. In this kit were sold  pistons , tree in cams , engine cylinder head gasket , exhaust, oil pan , chrome Calandrina side with friezes , enamelled badge and chrome scriptures .

In 1964 was presented the Fiat Abarth ” SS 595 ” , an enhanced version of the ” 595 ” . with 32 Hp and a top speed of over 130 km /h.

The differences with the previous models were: the hooks – hood rubber stops on the engine compartment lid , the letters ” SS” on the front and rear lids and the word ” esse esse ” on the dashboard.

At the same time was also presented the conversion kit to turn a Fiat 500 in a ” 595 ” SS .

The latest model of the ” 595 ” was the version ” 595 SS Competition ” wider track , wheel base enlarged wheel arches with ” shanks ” red more prominent , with a power of 34 Hp and 130 km / h maximum speed .

Abarth separate versions were a success and even today , the old Fiat 500 Abarth on the market have a higher value of regular versions . Blessed are the owners of this model !