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
