From the Maranello Rosso Collection
1956 Fiat-Abarth 750GT 'Doppia Gobba' Competition Coupe
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Zagato
Registration no. Not registered with DVLA
Chassis no. 651969

The Abarth-converted Fiat 600 production car had dominated its national competition classes within Italy during 1956, in two alternative forms. He first, and the more humble of the two, retained the production mini-saloon touring car bodyshell, but the other was the infinitely more sophisticated and 'racy-looking' two-door Coupe styled by Carrozzeria Zagato for the Fiat 600-derived platform chassis and mechanical components.

Abarth & C. produced five different 750 configurations, as follows: GT750 with 41.5bhp engine – GT750 with 43bhp engine for non-standard bodies – Mille Miglia GT750 with 44bhp – Mille Miglia 750GT race-prepared, with 46bhp – and GT750 prepared for hill-climbing and short-circuit racing, with 47bhp.

Carlo Abarth struck a deal with Carrozzeria Zagato of Milan for production of an agile and spritely competition Coupe version – bodied to an entirely new design in lightweight aluminium. The new Abarth Coupe of 1956 was to combine good road manners and capability with competitive ability in 750cc class Gran Turismo racing.

The little Coupes quickly came to be regarded, not only in Italy but also most notably in the American export market, as being just 'the coolest' little GT body shape to which any enthusiast could aspire.

In the 1957 Mille Miglia, the 750 GT category was utterly dominated by the Fiat-Abarth 750 Coupes, of which no fewer than 20 were entered and 16 finished, headed by Alfonso Thiele's class-winning example, which completed the 1,000-mile round-Italy race at an average speed of 117.9km/h – 53mph, incredible when one considers the punishing public roads over which his 13½-hour drive had been accomplished, and the minuscule engine capacity.

This particular example is offered from long-term museum display within the celebrated Maranello Rosso Collection museum in San Marino, will naturally require re-commissioning, and is sold as seen.

This Lot is EU taxes paid and therefore in free circulation within the EU.