1959 Abarth 750 GT Allemano Spider

Description

Prolific entrepreneur and successful motorcycle racer Carlo Abarth took over Italian automaker Cisitalia in 1949, bringing Abarth & C. into being. With the remaining Abarth-modified Cisitalia 204s and a driver lineup that included Tazio Nuvolari, Franco Cortese, and Piero Taruffi, he established Squadra Carlo Abarth, soon adding highly modified Fiats to the team’s roster. Fiat’s new small family car – the 600 introduced in 1955 – formed the basis for Abarth’s successful series of race cars with its 633 cc engine modified and enlarged to 747 cc for an output of 44 horsepower. Paired with ultra-lightweight and beautiful bodies from coachbuilders such as Zagato and Allemano, Abarths from this period are some of the most successful and coveted examples of Italian etceterini ever built. This particular 1959 Abarth Allemano Spyder is said to have been delivered new to the United States where it competed in H Production racing for several decades in the Southeast. Passing to the current owner in 1998, the Spider has since participated in numerous CVAR, SVRA, RMVR, and HMSA vintage racing events as well as the Coronado Island Speed Festival and the Monterey Historics. The engine, an upgraded 1,050 cc unit rebuilt under current ownership, provides the power to blast around the track at its next vintage racing event.

Highlights 

• Hand-formed aluminum coachwork by Carrozzeria Allemano, refinished in red in 2015 by Zig Eible of Autowerks 

• Roundel graphics by Shade Tree Enginetrics 

• 1,050 cc inline-four engine equipped with an eight-port aluminum head and dual 40mm Weber carburetors, refreshed in 2018 by Robert Rogers of Shade Tree Enginetrics  

• Four-speed manual transaxle, rebuilt in 2022 by Robert Rogers of Shade Tree Enginetrics 

• 13-inch Fiat-Cromodora wheels 

• Front trunk-mounted Fuel Safe fuel cell, bladder replaced in 2015 

• Held in current ownership since 1998 

• Accompanied by a logbook of competition history dating back to 1990 

• Regular entrant in CVAR, SVRA, RMVR, and HMSA vintage racing events since 1991 

• Most recently participated in the 2021 SVRA races at Circuit of the Americas  

• This 1959 Abarth 750 GT Allemano Spider is offered with the five-digit odometer currently showing 8 miles at the time of listing; however, the true mileage is unknown 

• Please note that this vehicle is intended for track use only and is not road-legal 

Features 

• Four-wheel independent suspension 

• Four-wheel disc brakes 

• Dual aluminum racing mirrors 

• Roll hoop 

• Driver’s bucket seat with Simpson harness 

• Reclining passenger seat 

• Low-cut windscreen 

• Wood-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel 

• Wood shift knob 

• Under-dash panel with oil pressure, coolant temperature, and charging gauges 

Known Imperfections 

• Modified for racing – headlights are for show and are not operational 

• Paint cracks around lower engine lid corners

Included 

• Additional 850 cc inline-four engine – will need to be rebuilt prior to use 

Ownership History

Initially campaigned in H Production racing in the Southeastern United States, this Spider is said to have spent its early years in Alabama before being acquired by Dale Genious of Alexandria, Louisiana, in 1967. The car passed to one subsequent owner in Dallas before entering the care of its current owner in 1998. Since then, it has competed in numerous vintage racing events at prestigious venues such as Laguna Seca and the Circuit of the Americas.