• A well-known example
• Extensively refurbished in current ownership
• Potentially eligible for Le Mans Classic

Until the early 1960s, Abarth-bodied cars had always been based on the FIAT 600, but when a new competition car was needed Abarth sought a rear-engined chassis more capable of handling the higher power of their new engines. Coincidentally, Simca were looking for a partner for a racing programme it was hoped would generate valuable publicity. The two companies were natural partners: Simca had their 1000 saloon, one of few suitable rear-engined cars in production, and the Abarth Simca series was born. The first product of this collaboration was displayed at the Geneva Salon in March 1962.

The Simca-powered Abarths continued the domination established by their FIAT-engined forbears. Sadly, and despite numerous international successes, the works racing programme would be wound up by Simca's new owners Chrysler, although Carlo Abarth continued independently for the next few years.

Following the end of their successful racing careers at the end of the 1965 season, Abarth parked the c.30 cars they still had behind the factory. They remained there until 1968 when they were spotted by the UK Abarth concessionaire, Radbourne Racing. A deal was struck and all 30 were sent to England after having been stripped of their mechanicals. All were left-hand drive, but none had any provenance or evidence of racing history.

According to a previous owner and marque expert, Simon Lynes, this car is a genuine 1962 Series 1 Abarth-Simca Roundtail. It was not a Radbourne built car, rather bought from a surplus of genuine factory bodyshells that would have been stripped of its racing identity by the factory when it came over to the UK. The original engine mounts for the car are evident which is often a sign of an original body. We also understand that it is an ex-Racecar rather than a Stradale, and is currently fitted with a Simca Rally Series 2 engine and a 4-speed Simca gearbox. The car was built up from this bodyshell in 1970 and registered as a Simca Abarth 1000 Scorpione on the green logbook. It was then used around South London as an everyday car. Reputedly, it had undergone a bodywork restoration by Williams & Pritchard. In 1996, it was acquired by Mr Lynes who carried out a restoration and continued to enjoy it, including a trip to Monza in 1997 for the International Abarth Meeting and a further trip to Belgium in 2002 (pictures on file).

The Abarth was purchased for the collection at a UK auction in June 2007 (invoice available). Bodied in aluminium, the car was said to feature a Simca 2 Rallye engine (1,294cc), dashboard, instruments, switchgear and rack and pinion steering together with an electric fuel filler release. Since acquisition, the car was extensively refurbished from 2007-2008, when the incorrect rear arch extensions were removed and converted back to left-hand drive. (invoices and a list on file and worthy of inspection).

Ahead of sale, the collection staff have carried out light recommissioning ahead of sale. This included refurbishment to the fuel system (carburettors, fuel pumps, fuel lines and a fuel filter) and the installation of a new battery.

Please note that this vehicle is from outside the UK. Our customs agents, CARS UK, will manage all post sale customs administration. A fee of £350+VAT will be charged on the buyer's invoice to administer both import or export customs movements. If the buyer also chooses to ship with CARS UK, this will be quoted separately. If this vehicle is to remain in the UK, it will be subject to Import VAT at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance formalities. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Motorcar Department.