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Davide puts the spot on Fiat 500 Custom Models - Part 1: 500 Abarth (1957)

500 Abarth (1957)
  • Year of manufacture: 1957
  • Displacement: 479 cc
  • Body type: Sedan
  • Derived from: Fiat 500
  • Manufacturer: Fiat Abarth Tuning
  • Number of cars built: 1

500 Abarth (1957)
When the Fiat 500 was launched in 1957, some journalists doubted the reliability of the small 479 cc two-cylinder air-cooled engine. This affected the sales figures of the model in the first months. At the same time, Carlo Abarth, a highly respected tinkerer who got top speeds out of the engines he dealt with, was – strangely enough – criticised for the reliability of his conversions.

500 Abarth (1957)
In February 1958, Fiat organised a week-long endurance test at the Monza circuit and, of all people, turned to Abarth to give the Fiat 500 a bit more oomph while retaining the original engine capacity. For seven days, six drivers took turns at the wheel of a single 500 Abarth, covering 18,886 km with an average speed of 108 km/h and a top speed of 118 km/h.

500 Abarth (1957)
These were some intense days for Carlo Abarth who alternated between standing in the pits and on the elevated track to record lap times and listen to the sound of the engine. The record-breaking success appeased the critics and this extraordinary demonstration of power and reliability became the slogan for the success we all know.

500 Abarth (1957)
In 2018, a Fiat 500 N, which had served as an advertising vehicle for the Fiat Cinquecento in the 1990s, was discovered on the FCA premises. A closer inspection revealed the words “500 Abarth” behind the rear number plate. This aroused curiosity to investigate the origin of this car more closely and after careful examination of the documents and the car body, it turned out that it was indeed the Fiat 500 that had achieved those records!
The little 500 was restored to its original condition by the FCA Heritage Team and presented at the Automotoretró in 2019.
One of the many curiosities is that this was the first Fiat 500 with windscreen washer nozzles mounted on the front bonnet and not on the windscreen panel, as with the later models. Carlo Abarth was simply ahead of his time!!

More guides by Davide about the Fiat 500 custom models, one-offs and curiosities can be found here on our website!

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