Abarth

Abarth is an Italian car manufacturer founded in 1949 by Carlo Abarth. The company initially focused on producing high-performance exhaust systems for small cars, before expanding into building complete cars and tuning kits for various car brands.

Abarth gained fame in the 1950s and 1960s for its successful racing cars, particularly in rallying. The Abarth-tuned cars won many major international events, including the 1960 and 1972 European Rally Championships, and the 1977 World Rally Championship.

One of the most iconic Abarth cars is the Fiat 500 Abarth, which is a sporty version of the popular Fiat 500 city car. Introduced in 1958, the 500 Abarth was powered by a modified 479 cc engine that produced up to 26 horsepower. The car was also fitted with various upgrades, including sportier suspension and brakes, and a sportier interior. In the 1960s, Abarth introduced the Abarth 595, a high-performance version of the Fiat Nuova 500, powered by an Abarth-tuned 595cc engine that produced up to 32 horsepower.

In the 1970s, Abarth began to focus on developing tuning kits for other car manufacturers, such as Lancia and Autobianchi, as well as producing its own racing cars. The company’s success continued throughout the decade, with Abarth-tuned cars winning numerous rallies and other motorsport events.

In 1971, Abarth was acquired by Fiat, which gave the company access to greater resources and allowed it to expand its range of products. Abarth continued to produce high-performance versions of Fiat cars, such as the Abarth 124 Spider and the Abarth Grande Punto, as well as its own racing cars.

Today, Abarth is a subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), and continues to produce high-performance versions of Fiat cars, as well as its own standalone models, such as the Abarth 124 Spider and the Abarth 695 Biposto. Abarth’s cars are known for their sporty styling, powerful engines, and agile handling, and the brand remains popular with car enthusiasts around the world.