Abarth 1500 Biposto - a unique car with three headlights (9 photos)

If you really love cars, the name Abarth is for you. be known. It used to be an independent brand with a unique design cars. Now he represents Fiat sports cars.







Carlo Abarth was born in Austria as Karl Albert Abarth, but later became an Italian citizen and changed his name. He was a talented engineer racing car developer. In 1947 he became manager team of Cisitalia, but the following year this organization broke up, and its founder Piero Ducio flew to Argentina.





The remnants of the Cisitalia team were very tempting Carlo Abarth - he wanted to continue the work begun and continue to strive for victories in motorsport. Once funded, he bought the rest of the Cisitalia team and in 1949 he founded his own automobile factory in Bologna. Sign Karl Abarth's zodiac - scorpio - became his logo.



Although the Cisitalia name disappeared, Abarth inherited several cars from its predecessor. The racing Cisitalia 204 was quickly renamed Abarth 204 A. Later the same components led to creating the successful Abarth 205 Vignale Berlinetta. But build cars on aging and very rare Cisitalia bases were impractical, so after moving to Turin in 1951, Abarth began look at Fiat parts.



The young company Abarth wanted to make itself known at the Turin auto show in 1952. It was decided that Abarth should shine on event with a new unique car with an extravagant, attractive style. This project was entrusted to Franco Scaglione from design house Bertone. The modest Fiat 1400 became the basis one of a kind car.



Scaglione worked with the team on his own. Working volume engine increased from 1.4 to 1.5 liters, power - from 45 to 76 hp. The car received a sports chassis, improved brakes. Impressive The Abarth 1500 Biposto weighed 870 kg, 300 kg less than the Fiat 1400. However, in 1952 it was not the technical characteristics of this one-of-a-kind car, and its design.



Abarth 1500 Biposto - very stylish and beautiful sporty automobile. It has three round headlights with grilles in the front, something reminiscent of the previous American Tucker Torpedo. expressive wheel arches create the illusion of a moving car, and at the same time give the Abarth 1500 Biposto a soft silhouette. With a length of 4.5 meters and 1.65 meters wide Abarth 1500 Biposto very low, with roof height only 1.38 meters. Of course, the cabin can accommodate only two person.



As planned, the Abarth 1500 Biposto attracted a large attention at the 1952 Turin Motor Show. Bill Graves and Edward Macauley representatives of the American car manufacturer Packard, long looked at it and finally bought it. It was a strange move single cars are not usually sold at shows.



Packard installed the Abarth 1500 Biposto in their factory as source of inspiration for designers. True, soon this car changed ownership - in 1953, Packard donated a unique Italian beautiful journalist Dick Smith as a prize for creating a new slogan. Smith drove it for a while and then a few decades kept in the garage. In 2003, Abarth 1500 Biposto went to the famous collector Chris Drake at auction for nearly $300,000.

Abarth 1500 Biposto was not only an impressive performance company, but also a link to its future with Fiat. Starting from this car, almost all Abarth creations used Fiat parts. Abarth created successful racing cars and even helped them companies like Porsche and Simca. In 1971 Carlo Abarth sold his Fiat company, which is still the owner of this stamps.