Six Decades of Abarth, delivering performance and style
Six decades ago, in September 1963, Carlo Abarth introduced the Fiat-Abarth 595. It was derived from the Fiat 500 D, a model steadily gaining popularity since 1961. The Fiat-Abarth 595 earned its name from its increased engine displacement, which was achieved through modified cylinders, pistons, and new materials.
Externally, it stood out with its distinctive 850TC-style perforated front grille, shiny metal "Fiat Abarth 595" emblems on the rear and hood, and a proud "World Champion" inscription on the right side, acknowledging the numerous records held by Officine di Corso Marche's creations. An oversized aluminium oil pan protruding from the rear fascia and a "Record Monza"-style dual-exit sports muffler further emphasised the car's racing spirit. These enhancements resulted in a small yet notably aggressive and noisy car, packing 30% more power than the original version, producing 27hp at 5,000 rpm and reaching a top speed of 120 km/h.
Abarth transformed a successful city car, the Fiat 500D, into a high-performance success story. This same formula was recently applied to create the New Abarth 500e, born from the successful Fiat New 500 electric—Europe's best-selling electric city car.
A month later, on October 31st, 1963, the 595 was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show. Carlo Abarth, a savvy businessperson and automotive expert, distinguished himself by offering show attendees coupons for test drives of the new model. The initiative proved so successful that Carlo Abarth announced the production of the first 1,000 Fiat-Abarth 595 cars intended for racing homologation.
As a natural evolution of the 595, Carlo Abarth introduced the Fiat-Abarth 695 at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1964, following the concept of technical upgrades that would become a hallmark of Abarth tradition. Subsequently, transformation kits allowed the key Abarth improvements to be applied to Fiat production cars, enhancing their mechanical performance and aesthetics.
The brand's values of performance and style, established by these pioneering models, remain an integral part of the Abarth range today. This range includes the New Abarth 500e, the 165-hp Abarth 595, and the even more potent 180-hp Abarth 695. Both models offer exhilarating performance, a distinctive exhaust note, and a playful yet bold style.
Today, the continued success of these models underscores that Carlo Abarth's enduring values continue to resonate with fans of the Scorpion brand, even after six decades.
