CCotW: Abarth/Bertone 1500 Biposto Coupé (1952)
By Karl Smith2018-10-05T08:50:00
Is this car B.A.T. number 1?
Carlo Abarth needs no introduction to the readers of Car Design News. The Austrian-Italian engineer, racer, tuner, and creator of incredible concept cars had a legendary life and career. This week’s concept car belongs to a chapter in Abarth’s life just after he had left Cisitalia and established his own company.
His departure from the troubled Cisitalia was not a pleasant one, and his severance was a few partially-built Cisitalia cars and a bin of parts. After the cars were completed and the parts inventory exhausted, Abarth went looking for a new opportunity.
He managed to obtain a FIAT 1400 engine and set about improving the basic little FIAT powerplant. The engine was bored out, the stroke tweaked and a pair of Weber carburettors were installed…