Abarth

Infobox_Company
company_name = Abarth & C. Spa
company_
company_type = Private
foundation = April 15 1949 in Turin
location = flagicon|Italy Turin, Italy
key_people = Karl (Carlo) Abarth - Founder
Luca di Montezemolo - President
Luca De Meo - CEO
industry = Automotive
products =
num_employees =
revenue =
net_income =
subsid =
slogan =
parent = Fiat S.p.A.
homepage = [http://www.abarth.it Abarth.it]

History

Abarth is an Italian racing car maker founded by Italian-Austrian Karl (Carlo) Abarth in Turin in 1949.Cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070924/ANE01/70924007/1078/rss02&rssfeed=rss02|title=Abarth wants 100 dealers in Europe|accessdate=2008-01-07|work=autonews.com]

In the 1960s, Abarth & C. S.r.l was quite successful in hillclimbing and sports car racing, mainly in classes from 850cc up to 2000cc, competing with Porsche 904 and Ferrari Dino. Hans Herrmann was a factory driver from 1962 until 1965, winning the 500km Nürburgring in 1963 with Teddy Pilette

Later, Johann Abt was promised by Carlo Abarth that he could drive a factory car for free if he won all the races he entered—which Abt nearly did, winning 29 of 30, the 30th being a second.

Along with its racing cars, Abarth produced high-performance exhaust pipes. Later, Abarth diversified in producing various tuning kits for road vehicles, mainly for Fiat. Abarth was also associated in producing sports or racing cars with Porsche and Simca.Cite web|url=http://www.histomobile.com/histomob/internet/1/histo02.htm|title=Abarth|accessdate=2008-01-22|work=histomobile.com]

Abarth was sold to Fiat on July 31 1971,Cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070924/ANE01/70924007/1078/rss02&rssfeed=rss02|title=Abarth wants 100 dealers in Europe|accessdate=2008-01-07|work=autonews.com] and the racing team sold to Enzo Osella. Abarth became the racing department of Fiat, managed by famed engine designer Aurelio Lampredi. Some models built by Fiat or its subsidiaries Lancia and Autobianchi were co-branded Abarth, the most famous being the Autobianchi A112 Abarth. Abarth also prepared Fiat Group's rally cars like Fiat 124 Abarth and 131 Abarth. In the 80s Abarth name was mainly used to mark performance Fiats like Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130 TC. The name was almost forgotten in 1990s and in 2000s it was used like a trim/model level on FIAT cars, like the FIAT Stilo Abarth.

In 2007 Fiat Automobiles SpA relaunched the brand with the Grande Punto Abarth and the Grande Punto Abarth S2000. The brand is to be seen as a separate division to the main Fiat brand in a similar way that the Renault Sport brand is to the mainstream Renault. It is based in the "Officine 83", part of the old Mirafiori engineering plant. [ [http://www.duemotori.com/news/auto_news/23072_Abarths_new_premises_in_Turin.php Abarth's new premises in Turin] from duemotori.it (Feb 18, 2008)] The company CEO is Luca De Meo, who is also the CEO of Alfa Romeo and Chief Marketing Officer of the Fiat Group.Cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070924/ANE01/70924007/1078/rss02&rssfeed=rss02|title=Abarth wants 100 dealers in Europe|accessdate=2008-01-07|work=autonews.com] Cite web|url=http://www.fiatgroup.com/comuni/php/file_get.php?w=119739795781JXKJUXGY|title=Press Release|accessdate=2008-01-08|work=fiatgroup.com]

Abarth cars

Cars produced by Abarth include the following models:

* Abarth 204A Berlinetta
* Alfa Romeo Abarth 2000 Coupe
* Abarth 207A Spyder
* Porsche 356B Carrera GTL Abarth
* Abarth Simca 1300GT
* Fiat Abarth 850TC Berlina
* FIAT Abarth OT2000 Coupe
* FIAT Abarth Zagato
* FIAT Abarth 1000TCR Berlina
* Autobianchi A112 Abarth
* Fiat Abarth 595SS
* Abarth OT 1300
* Abarth Monomille
* Abarth 695SS
* Fiat Stilo Abarth
* Fiat Punto Abarth
* Fiat Ritmo 125 TC Abarth
* Fiat Ritmo 130 TC Abarth
* Fiat 124 Abarth Rally
* Fiat 131 Abarth Rally
* Fiat Punto Abarth (rally version only)

New cars produced under Abarth & C. S.p.A. (2007 - )

* Abarth Grande Punto (2007)
* Abarth Grande Punto SS (2007)

And coming:
* Abarth 500
* Abarth 500 SS

See also

* List of Formula One constructors

Notes

External links

* [http://www.abarth.it/ Official Abarth site]
* http://www.abarth.be : a non commercial website about the Abarth cars of Scuderia La Fortuna
* http://www.abarth-gmr.be : Abarth works museum - Lier - Belgium
* http://www.abarth.com : Abarth 695 SS
* [http://www.dmoz.org/Recreation/Autos/Makes_and_Models/Abarth/ Abarth] at the Open Directory Project
* [http://www.registro-abarth-olanda.nl/ Dutch Abarth Club]
* [http://www.scorpioneabarthparts.nl/ Abarth Parts]
* [http://www.a112abarthclub.org/ A112 Abarth Club]
* [http://www.abarth.oxyhost.com Club Abarth]
* http://www.abarth.nl/ Abarth Racing
* http://www.puntosports.co.uk /Punto Abarth
* [http://www.thecobraferrariwars.com/1543309.html Abarth Simca 2000 - Photos and Information]