Description
1962 - Abarth Simca 1300 GT Bialbiero Chassis n° 130S/ 0047 Vehicle sold without registration papers; previously registered in Italy: CT122837 A legendary Abarth, still equipped with its legendary twin-shaft engine, and boasting an impressive list of achievements, including the 1962 Targa Florio... It was in 1961 that the legendary collaboration between Abarth and the French firm Simca, managed by the Italian Enrico Teodoro Pigozzi, was born. Founded a few years earlier in 1949 by Carlo Abarth, the Italian brand specialised in the preparation and construction of racing cars, in order to dominate the small-capacity categories. It was under the impetus of technical consultant Rudi Hruska - a loyal ally of Carlo Abarth - that the idea of a performance-oriented partnership between the two took shape, with the aim of helping the French firm to shine in the world's greatest events. Thanks to constant technical innovation and a strong focus on performance and lightness, Abarth won renown on Europe's greatest circuits. At the start of the 1963 season, Carlo Abarth's team designed an entirely new engine based on the proven architecture of the double overhead camshaft engine of the 1000 Bialbero model. While the underbody, transmission, steering and suspension were taken from the production Simca 1000, the bodywork was based on a more streamlined design inspired by the latest small GTs designed in-house by Mario Colucci at the Abarth factory and built by Odoardo Beccari's specialist body shop a stone's throw from the factory. Weighing just 630 kg, the new model could reach a top speed of 230 km/ h. These cars soon proved capable of outperforming their rivals, including the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. By 1963, Abarth's list of victories included an impressive 535, 90 of which were won by Abarth Simca 1300s alone, like the car we are presenting today.
This Abarth Simca 1300 GT Bialbiero is none other than a resident of the former Maranello Rosso Museum created by Italian collector Fabrizio Violati in 1989 in the Principality of San Marino. With one of the finest Ferrari collections in the world, by the early 2000s the Roman entrepreneur had enriched his museum with some forty Abarths, including chassis 130S/ 00047, which we present to you today. When the museum closed in 2014, the entire collection was put up for auction, creating a bombshell for collectors around the world. Purchased at the time by its current owner, the car had not been driven for many years. An intelligent restoration was then launched, taking care to preserve its authenticity.
With a rich racing record, including the 1962 Targa Florio, the Palermo Monte Pellegrin in 1963 and 1964 and the Monza Coppa Intereuropa in 1965, our car is being sold along with a significant number of parts, including two other fully restored engines, one of which is original. Considerable costs have been invested to enable this car to race at the highest level, notably at the 2016, 2018, 2022 and 2023 Le Mans Classic, where its performance, thanks to its dry sump engine with double overhead camshafts, was noticed.
Our Abarth Simca 1300 GT Bialbiero, of which 82 were produced according to the records, is an incredibly advanced car for its time. Its powerful engine, four-wheel disc brakes and aluminium body made it a serious contender for victory in its class. Sold with a PTH valid until December 2027 and extensive documentation, this car is a sure-fire ticket to the most prestigious events on the historic calendar.
Est. 175 000 - 225 000 € This vehicle will be sold at auction during the sale of classic cars organised by the AGUTTES firm on Monday 7 April 2025 in Paris at the start of the Tour Auto. The digital catalogue is available on our website. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further information.
