If you think bigger is always better, you might want to reconsider after seeing the Abarth 1000, a tiny but mighty car with a rich history of racing and winning. This little gem was one of the show's stars at two recent events in Italy that celebrated the elegance and sportiness of historic motoring: FuoriConcorso and Villa d'Este.
What is FuoriConcorso?
FuoriConcorso, which means "out of competition" in Italian, is a unique event that brings together a select group of classic cars and their owners in an exclusive location. The theme of this year's edition, held from May 19 to 23, was "The Rebels," honoring the cars that broke the rules and challenged the conventions of their time.
One of these rebels was the Abarth 1000, a modified version of the Fiat 600 introduced in 1956 by Carlo Abarth, the founder of the Abarth brand. Abarth was a visionary engineer and tuner who transformed ordinary cars into extraordinary machines with his innovative solutions and passion for performance.
The Abarth 1000 was powered by a 982 cc engine that produced up to 105 horsepower, an impressive figure for such a small car. It weighed only 600 kg (1,323 lb) and had a top speed of over 200 km/h (124 mph). It also featured a distinctive rear-mounted radiator that improved cooling and aerodynamics.
The Abarth 1000 dominated its category in various competitions, winning more than 900 races between 1960 and 1965. It also set several world records, such as the fastest average speed over 72 hours (165 km/h or 103 mph) and the longest distance covered in one hour (172 km or 107 miles).
The Abarth 1000 that participated in FuoriConcorso was a rare Bialbero model with a twin-cam engine that increased its power to 115 horsepower. It belonged to Fabrizio Violati, a famous collector and racer who also owned the most expensive Ferrari ever sold at auction, a 250 GTO that fetched $38 million in 2014.
The Bialbero was accompanied by another iconic Abarth car, the 124 Rally, which was based on the Fiat 124 Spider and competed in the World Rally Championship in the 1970s. It had a 1.8-liter engine that delivered 128 horsepower and a lightweight body made of fiberglass and steel. It won several rallies, including the prestigious Monte Carlo Rally in 1972.