Coys Auction - Automoto D‘Epoca
Padova Fiera
Padova, Italy
Saturday 24th October 2009
Admission by catalogue only - admits two
Registration Number: EU registered Chassis Number: 130S/0073
Most people associate Abarth with Fiat, but a very successful liaison was formed with Simca also. The French company was partly owned by Fiat, and when they wanted to appeal to a younger market with a more sporting image, they turned to the Italian giant for help. Fiat in turn went to Abarth, who received sponsorship from them. A deal was struck whereby Simca shipped floorpans of their 1000 Sabour to Abarth, who cut 4” out of the chassis and built beautiful lightweight aluminium bodies around them. The engine was an all-Abarth 1,300cc four cylinder twin-cam unit which produced up to 140bhp and was mounted in the rear, while suspension was nearly stock Simca 1000, incorporating a transverse front leaf spring with telescopic dampers and upper wishbones and rear semi trailing arms a la Porsch