• A well-known example • Extensively refurbished in current ownership • Potentially eligible for Le Mans Classic Until the early 1960s, Abarth-bodied cars had always been based on the FIAT 600, but when a new competition car was needed Abarth sought a rear-engined chassis more capable of handling the higher power of their new engines.

Coincidentally, Simca were looking for a partner for a racing programme it was hoped would generate valuable publicity.

The two companies were natural partners: Simca had their 1000 saloon, one of few suitable rear-engined cars in production, and the Abarth Simca series was born.

The first product of this collaboration was displayed at the Geneva Salon in March 1962.

The Simca-powered Abarths continued the domination established by their FIAT-engined forbears.

Sadly, and despite numerous international successes, the works racing programme would be wound up by Simca's new owners Chrysler, although Carlo Abarth continued independently for the next few ...