The Great Abarth Classiche Project

Introducing Abarth Classiche, a long-term project which involves the entire universe of the Scorpion brand. Indeed, the initiative will be composed of several elements, starting with the restoration centre being opened today, 18th November, at the Mirafiori Abarth Workshop in Turin.

In the beating heart of the business designed to develop serial and racing models, an area spanning approximately 900 square metres has been set up as a workshop dedicated to restoring customers' historic Abarths. The restoration activities will be carried out with a high level of accuracy and will aim to ensure that any changes faithfully recreate the original conditions of the vehicle. To ensure compliance with the original designs and mechanics, Abarth will rely on a full range of documentation, including technical drawings, which has recently been catalogued and digitalised. This will also prove useful for the purpose of certifying the authenticity of the mechanical parts (engine, gearbox, exhaust and suspension), and when defining the certification procedures, Abarth has called upon on the advice and experience of the ASI (Historical Italian Automotoclub) and FIVA.

The launch of the Officine Abarth Classiche is only the beginning of a larger project that envisages the creation of the Abarth Register, designed to bring all the enthusiasts of the brand together with a series of activities ranging from the participations in meetings to vintage car races, managed by the Automobile Club d'Italia, through Aci Storico. The Abarth Classiche project is also online at www.abarthclassiche.com.
The face of the initiative is Anneliese Abarth, Carlo's wife, who enthusiastically accepted this role to publicise the long story of the company founded by her husband on 15 November 1949. An important story, marked from its very beginning by a string of successes and a wealth of inventive spirit. Starting with the victory in the 1100 Sport Italian Championships, with the 204A and in the Formula 2 field, then progressing to the great commercial success of the kits for transforming the Fiat 500 and 600 economy vehicles, which allowed many young and not so young enthusiasts to successfully try their hand at racing using everyday vehicles.

Tens of vehicles were developed and built by Abarth between 1949 and 1971, the year in which the company was bought by Fiat, which continued developing its success stories, both in the racing field and commercially, with enhanced utility models such as the Abarth Autobianchi A112.
These are all vehicles with a wide fan base in Italy and abroad, owned by an army of enthusiasts who conserve them with extreme dedication. From now on, these models can rediscover their original personality thanks to the Officine Abarth Classiche, where customers will be issued with a file containing all the information relative to the vehicles, lovingly restored to their former glory.

The story of the Abarth brand is also told in a work composed of three volumes written by Sergio Seccatore and entitled "Abarth: the Scorpion's tale", created by the Italian Fiat Register.
Abarth also tells its story through references to its current models, such as the 695 Biposto Record, manufactured in a limited series of only 133 cars: the same number as that of the records held by the Scorpion's vehicles. Instead, the anniversary of the quarter-mile acceleration record broken on 20 October 1965 was celebrated with the launch of the Abarth 695 Assetto Corse Record on the Mugello racetrack during the Italian Endurance Touring Championships.

The full press release is available at "Text" link. 

Turin, 18 November 2015