The Abarth's most outstanding car design of the '50s

So far, the public had thought that the Abarth is synonymous with Fiat. The opinion is actually not wrong, as we can see the most of its cars are built based on the Fiat cars, moreover, the brand has also been acquired by that Italian automotive giant to become its subsidiary in the 1971.

1953 Abarth 1100 Sport coachwork by Carrozzeria Ghia is displayed for the first time at the 1953 Turin Motor Show. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/32gWFUh)

Actually the Carlo Abarth established the auto brand in 1947 as an independent car manufacturer, and not affiliated with any other brands. As we all know, Abarth progressed to become an independent automaker is started with a couple of half-finished Cisitalia 2013 car types, then completing the cars and named the Abarth 204A.

Interior view of the 1953 Abarth 205 Sports 1100 coachwork by Carrozzeria Ghia. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3mQLzgu)

In 1950, this Turin-based company is managed to make a new chassis and body, then installed  a Fiat 1100 upgraded engine on it and launched as the Abarth 205. However, as the car is considered more expensive than the Ferrari 166, so only three examples (some parties said four units) had ever produced by the company.

1953 Abarth 1100 Sport coachwork by Carrozzeria Ghia uses a Fiat's V8 upgraded engine. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3mQLzgu)

Then one unit of the 205 was handed over to the Italian coachbuilder named Carrozzeria Ghia. And those unit then recieving coachwork by Ghia and an engine and transmission developed from the new Fiat 1100-103, but whoever commissioned the coachbuilder to create the Abarth 1100 Sport remains a mystery even to this day.

From this kind of the Abarth 205 (in picture is the 1950 Abarth 205 Vignale Berlinetta) then Ghia constructed the Abarth 205 Sports 1100. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2JBt5Ch)

The unusual car design is believed to have been done by Giovanni Michelotti and was constructed concurrently with the Ghia-bodied Chrysler of the same period. There were some of the design cues from the Ghia-bodied Chrysler also incorporated into this Abarth model include a broad oval grille opening, canopy-like roof element, and wide low posture.

1953 Abarth 205 1100 Sport sold to Bill Vaughn who later displayed it at the 1954 New York Auto Show as 'Vaughn SS Wildcat'. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3mQLzgu)

The Italian coachbuilder presented the Berlinetta version for the first time at the Turin Motor Show in 1953 called the Abarth 205 Number Four. Then the Abarth sold to the American singer named Bill Vaughn, who later displayed it at the 1954 New York Auto Show as 'Vaughn SS Wildcat' featured with 'the first overhead camshaft V8 in the USA.'

Vaughn had envisioned that would work with Ghia to produce a small series of this car by using a V8 engine. Although until the end this dream never came true and this car remains the only one that ever existed.

Abarth 1100 Ghia (VIN 205-104), built toghether with her twin based on a Simca Chassis (Simca on the left). (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3mQLzgu)

The whereabouts of the car ever had not known for several decades, before it was re-discovered in 1982 by Russ Baer in a barn in Ashton, Maryland and ultimately saved by Pat Braden, both of whom helped to preserve the car.

Likewise the next two owners, before entered the care of a collector in 2010 who spent the next five years in a thorough and correct restoration. The work involves researching the authenticity and accuracy of each component. Upon completion, the car was shown at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it won its class and was nominated for Best of Show. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DYLER.COM | CONCEPTCARZ.COM | DRIVETRIBE.COM | CARSTYLING.RU ]

Note: This blog  can be accessed via your smart phone

Kindly Bookmark and Share it: