Simon Cars - Abarth 1000TC

Abarth Fiat 1000 TC

The Fiat Abarth 600 was an obvious project for Carlo Abarth after his success with the Abarth-tubed Fiat 'Topolino'. At the Turin Salon of 1956 Abarth exhibited 6 Fiat 600 cars with Abarth 747cc 51bhp engines, and was ready to sell the parts for home conversions. A more powerful 767cc engine followed in 1960, and later an 847cc Fiat Abarth 850TC was produced, homologated for 1000 produced in 1961 and successfully raced. For 1965 as well as a 75bhp Abarth 850 TC, there was an 85bhp Abarth 1000 TC with 982cc dohc engine. The front-mounted oil and water radiators were homologated as production fit, as was the propped open rear engine cover which gave aerodynamic benefits as well as extra cooling. Abarth also created a racing coupe based on the Zagato-designed 1959 Abarth Monza, but this coupe was built by Sibona & Basono for Abarth. Abarths won the TECC Division 1 in years 1965, 66 and 67.

Fiat Abarth 1000 TC - grille badge

Fiat Abarth 850 TC 1959 - badge on engine cover

Fiat Abarth 1000 TC - grille. Unlike the air-cooled Fiat 500, the Fiat 600 always had a radiator (at the rear) to cool. Abarth transformed the 850 and 1000 TC with front-mounted oil and water radiators.

Fiat Abarth 1000 Bialbero 1962. Developed from 1959 Record Monza cars, the Zagato body of that car was modified by Sibona and Basono for the Bialbero cars. Launched in 1961 it was later given a front-mounted radiator, and it had many victories in 1961. In 1962 it won Nurburgring outright and secured the Championship for up to 1000cc cars in both 1962 and 1963. However, a Simca-engined car was already in development and would soon surpass the Abarth-Fiat.

Abarth Bialbero 1962. Based on a 1959 Monza Record car by Zagato the Bialbero was altered by Sibona & Basono. Abarth had produced a 982cc engine based loosely on the Fiat 600 original.

Fiat Abarth 1000 TC. Built for the European Touring Car Championships, the Fiat Abarth 850 TC and 1000 TC were perhaps the first purpose built ETCC cars.

Fiat Abart 1000 TC 1966. Lots of body modifications for the Abarth TC, and underneath it all disc brakes on all four wheels. Enough to win Division 1 of the ETCC in 1965,66 and 67.

Fiat Abarth 1000 TC 1966. The rear engine cover could not be shut, it was propped open so that the larger engine components would fit in, and to allow cooling. This would be a problem as a road car, but not on the race track, and the open cover gave aerodynamic benefits too.

Fiat Abarth 850 TC 1959. Abarth added a nose pod to house the oil cooler on the 850 TC

Fiat-Abarth 850TC Berlina 1959. Launched in 1959 the 850 TC ('Turismo Competizione') was given an 847cc 52bhp version of the Fiat 600D engine.

Fiat Abarth 850 TC 1959, introduced in 1959 with an 847cc 52bhp engine, the 850TC Nürburgring was given 55bhp in 1962. The 4-cylinder engine came from the Fiat 600D, and would eventually be worked up to a 982cc dohc unit used in the Abarth Bialbero.

Fiat Abarth 850 TC 1963 racing with Austin A35 1275

Fiat Abarth 850 TC 1959. Abarth retained the Fiat 600 body for the Touring Car homologation, but was also racing sports coupes built by Zagato and later the Bialbero coupes.

Fiat Abarth 1000 TC 1966. Engine cover permanently proper open supposedly for cooling, but as the radiators had moved to the front, the aerodynamic benefits were probably the purpose.

Fiat Abarth 1000 TC 1966 - Campagnolo Abarth wheel

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