When Mario Colucci arrived at Abarth & C in 1960 he was fresh from the experience of design involvement with the Alfa Romeo TZ.

From that basis what the Italian press described as "a new constructional philosophy for racing cars" was launched, introducing multi-tubular spaceframe or 'trellis' chassis structures and with the power unit centrally-mounted within the wheelbase.

This permitted the installation of the Abarth twin-cam 4-cylinder engines of varying capacity, dependent upon the demands of differing regulation categories, race circuits, against-the-clock mountain climbs, etc.

Under Colucci's direction the first Fiat Abarth Spider Tubolare was first raced in 1961 as the minimum sports-prototype racing car for the most committed of factory and private owner/drivers alike.

Simplicity was Colucci's signature in the little Spider Tubolare's configuration, with hand-beaten aluminium body panels comprising the hinged nose and tail 'clamshell' sections, separate sills and cockpit do...