1957 Fiat Abarth 500 Coupé Zagato
Building on the success of their 750 Zagato Coupé, Abarth worked on a 500cc version of the car for the 1957 Turin Motor Show. The car was put into limited production for both road and racing clients.
Abarth worked extensively on the two cylinder engine by fitting twin Weber 26IMBs and a new 8.7:1 cylinder head which raised peak power to 23 bhp at 5000 rpm.
Zagato’s body was similar to the 750 GT without the famed double-bubble roof. The smaller engine didn’t require the large scoops on engine lid, however it did retain the unique rear-quarter windows.
The 500 had less impact than 750 GT, but Ovidio Cappelli did become the 500cc Italian Grand Touring champion in one of these diminutive racers.
In Detail
| type | Racing Car |
| built at | Turin, Italy |
| engine | Inline-2 |
| position | Rear Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| valvetrain | Pushrod, OHV |
| fuel feed | 1 Weber 26IMB Carburettor |
| displacement | 479 cc / 29.2 in³ |
| compression | 8.7:1 |
| power | 19.4 kw / 23 bhp @ 5000 rpm |
| specific output | 48.02 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 52.27 bhp per tonne |
| body / frame | Unit Steel |
| driven wheels | RWD |
| front tires | 125X12 |
| rear tires | 125X12 |
| front brakes | Drums |
| rear brakes | Drums |
| steering | Worm & Sector |
| f suspension | Independant w/Upper Trailing Arms, Transverse Leaf Springs, Hydraulic Dampers |
| r suspension | Independant w/Upper Trailing Arms, Coil Springs, Hydraulic Dampers |
| curb weight | 440 kg / 970 lbs |
| wheelbase | 1840 mm / 72.4 in |
| front track | 1121 mm / 44.1 in |
| rear track | 1135 mm / 44.7 in |
| length | 2970 mm / 116.9 in |
| width | 33528 mm / 1320 in |
| height | 33020 mm / 1300 in |
| top speed | ~118 kph / 73.3 mph |
