Model Guides (Chassis Histories)

1959 Abarth 850 Allemano Coupe (Chassis #850/217 639956)

Mark Brinker

1959 Abarth 850 Allemano Coupe

Austrian born Karl Alberto Abarth did so many things so very well. He was a motorcycle racing champion, multiple land speed record holder, competitive auto racer and one of the most prolific automotive designers of the 20th Century. When he moved to Italy in the 1930s to become a naturalized citizen he did much more than change his first name (to Carlo); he forever changed the world of small-displacement racecars.

Turin-based Abarth & C. Spa opened its doors in 1949 and began building and tuning mostly Fiat-based racing cars adorned with their scorpion logo (Abarth’s astrological sign). A quick perusal of http://zodiac-signs-astrology.com reveals the following: “Scorpios are fiercely independent. They are able to accomplish anything they put their mind to and they won’t give up.” Hey, maybe there’s something in them stars.

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