Abarth Simca 1300 GT 1962

Born in Austria, Carlo Abarth was a successful motorcycle racing rider before the Second World war and later went on to become Racing Director at Cisitalia. He established his own company in Turin in 1949. Under the logo of the black scorpion, racing cars and sports cars were produced in small series powered by small engines. They were soon to become the most successful cars in their class and went on to break lots of records and win many racing victories.

In 1961, the French Company Simca had just launched its small rear-engined Simca 1000 sedan and its boss Henri-Theodore Pigozzi was looking at means to enhance a sporting image to improve sales opportunities. At the time Amédé Gordini was connected with  Renault so that Pigozzi decided to contact Carlo Abarth a specialist for converting production cars into successful racing machines. At the 1962 Geneva Motor Show the brand new Abarth Simca 1300 or Simca Abarth 1300 was unveiled on both Abarth and Simca exhibits.

The Abarth Simca 1300 was based on a Simca 1000 chassis platform reinforced and shortened for a wheelbase of 82 inches (208 cm). The suspensions are also from the Simca 1000 with wishbones and transverse springs at the front and wishbones and coil springs at the rear. The four-speed gearbox  comes also from the Simca 1000. The four cylinder engine is entirely by Abarth with overhead cams, three main bearing crankshaft, dry sump  and two double throat sidecraft Weber carburetors. With a capacity of 1288 cc, this engine produce a maximum 125 hp at 7200 rpm. The water and oil radiators are located at the front.

The aluminium body is very similar to the Fiat Abarth 1000 but somewhat fatter. Overal length is 139 inches ( 353 cm), heigth is 44.8 inches (114 cm) while unladen weight is 1480 lbs (671 kg). Top speed was announced for 230 kph (142 mp h).

The car was produced at more than 100 units required for Gran Touring homologation by FIA. It is a strictly two-seater competition car and it was a success on the track with several under 1300cc Class in international races in Europe or even in the USA at Daytona and Sebring.

Wallpapers : Abarth Simca 1300 GT 1962 (click on image to enlarge)