Description
This example is the last Abarth car to be produced during the long and productive life of company founder and long-time principal, Carlo Abarth. Carlo Abarth informed Avidano that he (Abarth) had been diagnosed with stomach cancer and that he wished to visit the Turin factory one final time. Avidano had worked faithfully with the Austrian-born engineer/entrepreneur for some 25 years. He met his former superior and took him to the works factory, where the old man studied the brand-new Formula Fiat-Abarth single-seater then under construction. He was critical of the way the car looked and, supported by another of his former colleagues, chief designer Mario Colucci he sat down with some cardboard and a pair of scissors and reworked the car’s body shape – in the words of Abarth biographer Luciano Greggio: “…a touch here, a cut there” , he worked for an hour in the role that he loved so much because he wanted to leave his mark one last time on a car which, deep down, he still felt was his… That was Carlo Abarth’s last, almost mute contribution as a car designer and technician. He died in Vienna on 23 October, 1979…”.
The cars were built using the 2000 cc DOHC engine from Lancia, fed by two carburettors , even the 5-speed gearbox was derived from production vehicles. Among the many drivers who have started their career on the Formula Abarth were the likes of Emanuele Pirro and Alessandro Nannini, respectively winners of the 1980 and 1981 championships.
The car on offer today has for several years been part of the Giudici’s collection. The brakes (Brembo) have just been revised by replacing all pistons and seals and this Formula Abarth is being sold with a Certificate of Origina Abarth and the CSAI.
