In the late 1950s the SIMCA company in France was still partly owned by Fiat, and Simca had made Fiat cars under licence for many years. Simca turned to Fiat to get a sportier image for the French cars and Abarth were suggested for this task. The first Abarth Simca cars were built in 1962 on the shortened chassis of a rear-engine Simca 1000, but the engine was replaced by Abarth's own 1300cc unit, and a handsome lightweight coupe body replaced the staid 'bathtub' design from France. This new coupe body was also used on the Fiat-engined Bialberos and was created by Sibona and Basono. The recipe was good enough to win the World Championship for makes in 1962, and there was a 1600 version in 1963 which used the Simca 1500 engine block. When in 1964 this Simca-derived engine was enlarged for the '2mila' (2000cc) version, it gave up to 200bhp and outrun the Porsche 904 on track.
Abarth Simca 2000 - badge
Abarth Simca 2000. The '2Mila' Abarth Simca
Abarth Simca 2000 - grille
Abarth Simca 2000. The '2Mila' Abarth Simca began life as an Simca 1000 and threw most of it away to be replaced by Abarth body.
Abarth Simca 2000. The exhaust can be seen hanging from brackets attached to rubber straps - a design feature !
Abarth Simca 2000. The '2Mila' Abarth Simca was given a 1946cc Abarth engine of 200bhp. The car was a Porsche 904 beater.
Abarth Simca 2000 - windows, with fuel filler inset into rear glass
Abarth Simca 2000. The '2Mila' Abarth Simca began life as an Simca 1000 and threw most of it away to be replaced by Abarth body, a 1946cc Abarth engine of 200bhp, and a Simca Sabour chassis shortened by 4inches. The car was a Porsche 904 beater.
Abarth Simca 2000. The '2Mila' Abarth Simca was given a 1946cc dohc engine with massive Weber 58 carburretors to give 195/202bhp. The exhaust pipe was held by rubber straps!
