LOT 109
1971 FIAT-ABARTH 595 SS Competizione Chassis no. 110F 2604606
Sold for CHF58,650 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 109
Full ownership history from new
1971 FIAT-ABARTH 595 SS Competizione
1971 FIAT-ABARTH 595 SS Competizione
1971 FIAT-ABARTH 595 SS Competizione
Chassis no. 110F 2604606
Chassis no. 110F 2604606
• Iconic Abarth-modified FIAT
• Rare Competizione model
• Swiss ownership from new
• Offered with cancelled Swiss registration document
"The performance of FIAT engines, as modified by Carlo Abarth, has for long been held to verge on the supernatural." – John Bolster, Autosport magazine.
After leaving Cisitalia in 1948, Austrian-born engineer Carlo Abarth set up as an independent in Turin, the home of the Italian auto industry. From producing induction and exhaust systems, Abarth branched out into selling performance kits for - mainly FIAT - production cars, later building a highly successful series of aerodynamically-stylish sports prototypes and limited-series production cars. An innovative concern with a sporting pedigree second-to-none, Abarth was taken over by FIAT in 1971, becoming the Italian giant's competitions department.
Abarth first turned its attention to FIAT's Nuova 500 in 1957, upping power from 13 to 21.5bhp, while increasing the engine capacity in 1963 for the '595' model raised the figure to 27 horsepower. Abarth had adopted the most cost-effective method of coaxing greater power from a small engine, a new big-bore cylinder block boosting the previously 499cc air-cooled twin to 593cc. Introduced the following year, the 595 SS (Sprint Speciale) incorporated further performance enhancements, resulting in a maximum output of 32bhp. When FIAT launched the 500F in 1965, it adopted front-hinged doors on a revised and heavier bodyshell, a move that forced Abarth to respond by boosting the 595 SS's output by an additional two horsepower.
Testing a FIAT-Abarth 595 for Autosport magazine in 1966, John Bolster declared: "This is, of course, a much more costly process than the simpler tune-up of the 500, retaining the standard bore size, but the benefits are very great. An extra 5bhp or so is developed, but much more important is the far greater torque in the middle ranges." Higher-compression pistons, re-worked inlet ports, a special camshaft and exhaust system, and a larger carburettor helped raise power to a claimed 30bhp, though as Bolster observed, the biggest gain was in mid-range torque.
Abarth's conversion halved the standard car's acceleration times, and endowed the 595 with a top speed of more than 75mph (120km/h). Lowered suspension and wider wheels and tyres helped the baby FIAT utilise the increased performance. Those still not satisfied could opt for the aforementioned 595 SS with 34bhp on tap and an 80mph (128km/h) top speed. It is estimated that only 20 FIAT-Abarth 595 SS models were built by the factory.
Presented in very nice condition, this rare 595 SS Competizione model comes with documentation listing seven owners (all in Switzerland), commencing in 1971 and recording the last change of ownership as 2nd May 2011. Applied stickers show that this car has competed in several events, including the Klausenrennen Memorial, and on 27th August 2005 was signed by German former Formula 1 driver and World Sportscar Champion, Jochen Mass. Accompanying documentation includes copies of the factory technical specification sheet for the 595 SS; a cancelled Swiss Carte Grise; a quantity of photocopied literature concerning Abarth cars; and the aforementioned ownership history.
• Rare Competizione model
• Swiss ownership from new
• Offered with cancelled Swiss registration document
"The performance of FIAT engines, as modified by Carlo Abarth, has for long been held to verge on the supernatural." – John Bolster, Autosport magazine.
After leaving Cisitalia in 1948, Austrian-born engineer Carlo Abarth set up as an independent in Turin, the home of the Italian auto industry. From producing induction and exhaust systems, Abarth branched out into selling performance kits for - mainly FIAT - production cars, later building a highly successful series of aerodynamically-stylish sports prototypes and limited-series production cars. An innovative concern with a sporting pedigree second-to-none, Abarth was taken over by FIAT in 1971, becoming the Italian giant's competitions department.
Abarth first turned its attention to FIAT's Nuova 500 in 1957, upping power from 13 to 21.5bhp, while increasing the engine capacity in 1963 for the '595' model raised the figure to 27 horsepower. Abarth had adopted the most cost-effective method of coaxing greater power from a small engine, a new big-bore cylinder block boosting the previously 499cc air-cooled twin to 593cc. Introduced the following year, the 595 SS (Sprint Speciale) incorporated further performance enhancements, resulting in a maximum output of 32bhp. When FIAT launched the 500F in 1965, it adopted front-hinged doors on a revised and heavier bodyshell, a move that forced Abarth to respond by boosting the 595 SS's output by an additional two horsepower.
Testing a FIAT-Abarth 595 for Autosport magazine in 1966, John Bolster declared: "This is, of course, a much more costly process than the simpler tune-up of the 500, retaining the standard bore size, but the benefits are very great. An extra 5bhp or so is developed, but much more important is the far greater torque in the middle ranges." Higher-compression pistons, re-worked inlet ports, a special camshaft and exhaust system, and a larger carburettor helped raise power to a claimed 30bhp, though as Bolster observed, the biggest gain was in mid-range torque.
Abarth's conversion halved the standard car's acceleration times, and endowed the 595 with a top speed of more than 75mph (120km/h). Lowered suspension and wider wheels and tyres helped the baby FIAT utilise the increased performance. Those still not satisfied could opt for the aforementioned 595 SS with 34bhp on tap and an 80mph (128km/h) top speed. It is estimated that only 20 FIAT-Abarth 595 SS models were built by the factory.
Presented in very nice condition, this rare 595 SS Competizione model comes with documentation listing seven owners (all in Switzerland), commencing in 1971 and recording the last change of ownership as 2nd May 2011. Applied stickers show that this car has competed in several events, including the Klausenrennen Memorial, and on 27th August 2005 was signed by German former Formula 1 driver and World Sportscar Champion, Jochen Mass. Accompanying documentation includes copies of the factory technical specification sheet for the 595 SS; a cancelled Swiss Carte Grise; a quantity of photocopied literature concerning Abarth cars; and the aforementioned ownership history.
Footnotes
Historique connu depuis l'origine
FIAT-ABARTH 595 SS Competizione 1971
Châssis n° 110F 2604606
• Une emblématique FIAT préparée par Abarth
• Rare version Competizione
• En Suisse depuis l'origine
• Proposée avec ses documents d'immatriculation suisses annulés
"On considère depuis longtemps que les performances des moteurs FIAT modifiés par Carlo Abarth sont presque surnaturelles." - John Bolster, Autosport.
Après avoir quitté Cisitalia en 1948, l'ingénieur d'origine autrichienne Carlo Abarth s'établit à son compte à Turin, berceau de l'industrie automobile italienne. Il fabriqua dans un premier temps des systèmes d'admission et d'échappement, puis il se tourna vers la vente de kits d'amélioration des performances pour voitures de série, essentiellement des FIAT, et enfin il construisit avec un vif succès des prototypes sportifs et des voitures en petites séries, tous d'allure aérodynamique. Abarth, porté sur l'innovation et nanti d'un pedigree sportif inégalé, fut repris par FIAT en 1971 et devint le département compétition du géant italien.
Abarth commença en 1957 par s'intéresser à la Nuova 500 de FIAT, dont il porta la puissance de 13 à 21,5 ch, puis en 1963 il augmenta la cylindrée de son moteur, pour en faire le 595 de 27 ch. Il avait utilisé la méthode la plus rentable pour tirer davantage de puissance d'un moteur, un nouveau bloc cylindres à alésage majoré qui portait à 593 cm3 les 499 cm3 du bicylindres refroidi par air. Lancée l'année suivante, la 595 SS (Sprint Speciale) bénéficiait d'autres évolutions qui lui assuraient une puissance de 32 ch. Lorsque FIAT lança en 1965 la 500F à portes s'ouvrant vers l'avant et caisse renforcée et alourdie, Abarth dut tirer de sa 595 SS deux chevaux supplémentaires.
A l'occasion d'un essai de la FIAT-Abarth 595 effectué en 1966 pour le magazine Autosport, John Bolster écrivit : "C'est bien sûr beaucoup plus coûteux que de simplement refaire le réglage de la 500 en conservant son alésage, mais le bénéfice est bien là. On récupère environ 5 chevaux de plus et, surtout, bien plus de couple aux régimes intermédiaires." Des pistons assurant un plus fort taux de compression, des conduits d'admission revus, un arbre à cames et un échappement spécifiques et un plus gros carburateur avaient contribué à élever la puissance aux 30 chevaux annoncés, ce qui n'empêchait pas, comme Bolster le disait, que le plus fort gain était celui du couple aux régimes intermédiaires.
Les modifications apportées par Abarth divisaient par deux les temps d'accélération et assuraient à la 595 une vitesse de pointe de plus de 120 km/h. Une suspension abaissée et des pneus et roues élargis aidaient par ailleurs la petite FIAT à tirer parti de son supplément de puissance. Ceux qui en voulaient encore plus pouvaient choisir la version évoquée plus haut, la 595 SS aux 34 ch et aux 128 km/h. On estime que seules vingt 20 FIAT-Abarth 595 SS furent construites par l'usine.
Cette rare 595 SS Competizione est en très bon état. Elle est proposée avec une documentation initiée en 1971 qui fait état de sept propriétaires, tous en Suisse, et d'un dernier changement de mains datant du 2 mai 2011. Des autocollants montrent qu'elle a couru dans différentes manifestations, dont le Klausenrennen Memorial. Le 27 août 2005, elle a reçu la signature de Jochen Mass, l'Allemand ancien pilote de Formule 1 et champion du monde des voitures de sport. On trouve parmi ses documents des copies du dossier technique d'usine des 595 SS, une carte grise suisse annulée, de nombreuses photocopies d'articles relatifs aux voitures Abarth et l'historique de propriété déjà cité.
40 000 à 50 000 CHF
Sans prix de réserve
Additional information
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