- Stellantis Heritage has selected the 12th Milano AutoClassica motor show to present a one-off model with unique features, the Abarth Classiche 500 Record Monza ’58
- The prestigious car was built by the Heritage team based on a 1970 Fiat 500, using specific aesthetic and mechanical treatments. It is presented in Milan to celebrate the centenary of the Autodromo di Monza, a circuit where Abarth cars set countless international records
- This gem, offered for sale to enthusiasts and collectors, is joined by two other Scorpion-branded cars: its predecessor the 1958 Abarth “Record” version of the Fiat Nuova 500, and the latest 2022 Abarth Classiche 1000 SP
- With its comeback to Milano AutoClassica, Stellantis Heritage is reaffirming its fundamental mission: to retrieve, safeguard and leverage on the historical heritage of the Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia and Abarth brands
Stellantis Heritage takes part in the 12th Milano AutoClassica (Fiera Milano, November 18th-20th), a motor show focusing on classic and sports cars and a benchmark for enthusiasts, collectors, museums and clubs in the field.
The event is an opportunity to present the Heritage team’s latest creation, the Abarth Classiche 500 Record Monza ’58, a car created to celebrate the centenary of the Autodromo di Monza, the Italian “temple of speed” where Abarth has racked up countless successes. Among the most significant ones, the six speed and endurance records broke in one week in February 1958, aboard the first Fiat 500 developed by the House of the Scorpion, under the careful supervision of Carlo Abarth himself.
Hence the name of this unique specimen, produced based on a 1970 Fiat 500, using specific aesthetic and mechanical treatments. The “Monza ’58” external livery recalls the green of the car that set records at Monza, the same colour used by Abarth in 2019 on its modern Abarth 695 70° Anniversario. This decision is evidence of how the current link between the 500 Abarth and Monza remains.
The Fiat Nuova 500 developed by Carlo Abarth for the 1958 records serves as inspiration not only for the external liveries of the tribute car, but also for the interiors, which take up the same fabric and contrasting stitching from the first series of the 500, produced since 1957. The same colour contrast can also be seen in the panels and sides of the single racing seat (a further homage to the record-breaking 500, a single seater to reduce its weight).
The instrumentation is fully comprehensive: besides the wooden steering wheel and Jaeger dashboard characteristic of historic Abarth models, it includes a prestigious timepiece from the same brand that lasts for eight days on a single charge, to recall that busy week at Monza when incredible records were broken.
The bare floors and the aerodynamic rigid roof to replace the usual soft top are also clearly inspired by racing, as is the pair of additional headlights.
The mechanics are also special: the car is tuned up to be especially sporty and is equipped with the twin-cylinder engine from the Fiat 500, brought to a displacement of 595 cc using the Abarth Classiche 595 Tuning Kit. Reproduced with the latest technologies, the kit is inspired by the version made by the House of the Scorpion in 1963. Notably, the engine is the same one used by the Heritage team to test the components of today’s Tuning Kit.
The badges – including the ‘Record Monza’ one, an exclusive for this unique specimen – complete the veritable set of jewellery on a truly special car, a worthy tribute to an institution like the Autodromo di Monza.
This one-off Abarth forms part of the Heritage project known as “Reloaded by Creators”, by which a limited amount of classic cars with certified authenticity are returned to their original beauty thanks to the expertise and know-how of the Heritage team of technicians at the Officine Classiche. For all information on the purchase, you can write to the address: heritage@stellantis.com.
Alongside the latest creation, its predecessor the 1958 Abarth “Record” version of the New Fiat 500 is also proudly displayed on the stand. At its launch in 1957, the Fiat Nuova 500 was configured as a subcompact car with performance very unlike a racing car’s: its “little engine” with only two cylinders was too small and not nearly powerful enough to aspire to great sporting success. But Carlo Abarth was convinced of the quality and potential of the car and decided to turn it into a record-breaking car. The 500 he developed, with an engine delivering 26 hp and a top speed of 118 km/h, was driven on the Monza circuit for 168 hours running and racked up six international records. The achievement of such major results would also contribute to the success of the Nuova 500, making it one of the most famous cars ever produced.
The car on display – the same one used at Monza – was also the first ever Fiat 500 tuned up by Abarth. It has now been restored to its original configuration following a meticulous conservative restoration project. It is a car of inestimable historical value and marks a true milestone in the history of the Abarth brand and of the automobile.
Especially for this event, the display on the stand leaves behind the traditional Heritage livery for an Abarth Classiche-only “outfit”, supplemented by another contemporary gem, the 2022 Abarth Classiche 1000 SP. This car is the contemporary reinterpretation of the 1966 1000 Sport Prototipo, one of the milestones in Abarth’s competitive history. The original racecar became an icon of sportiness, as well as one of the House of the Scorpion’s most beloved models, for its style, performance, and winning track record – with victories all over Europe. It was a legendary car that inspired designers at the Centro Stile Fiat and Abarth, who designed its successor in 2009. In 2021, exactly 55 years since the launch of the historical model, the project was resumed by Abarth Classiche and was perfected to create a car that fully channels and modernises the personality of its glorious predecessor.
The Abarth Classiche 1000 SP echoes the lines and aesthetic elements that were a signature of the 1960s model. The car’s body – sinuous, with bold curvaceous mudguards that reinforce the visual impact of the wheels – echoes the layout of the centrally–engineered spider. The geometries of the Abarth Classiche 1000 SP’s rear underline the perfect harmony between lights and exhaust system. The livery is strictly red and the characteristic air intakes appear all over, from the front bonnet to the cooling slots in its rear counterpart. The lights also respect the minimalist scheme of the historic 1000 SP, with point-like headlamps on the nose and a single pair of round taillights, to emphasize the car’s impressive width when seen from behind. The car is equipped with a gritty 1742-cc engine, capable of delivering 240 hp at 6000 rpm.
Produced in limited batch of only five units, the car triggered an immediate feeding frenzy among enthusiasts and collectors when presented at the recent Padua Motor Show. Only one unit is still available for sale.