Believed to be the only example built with this "Zagato style" covered headlight configuration. A unique, coachbuilt Abarth bodied by Allemano
Extensively restored and finished in period-correct Giallo Fly
Documented chain of ownership from new, sold by Abarth & C. Torino in 1960
Italian road-registered
The Appeal
Carlo Abarth's collaboration with the Turinese coachbuilder Allemano produced some of the most striking and purposeful small-capacity sports cars of the late 1950s and early 1960s. The 850 Scorpione sits firmly among the most coveted of these creations: a diminutive, fiercely characterful machine that punches well above its weight in both performance and visual drama. To find one at all would be remarkable; to find one believed to be as the sole example in its specification built elevates this car into truly rarefied territory.
The car spent its early decades in southern Italy, passing through owners in Bari, Bitonto, and Naples, before moving to G. Nebbia in Piedmont in 2002. Nebbia embarked on an extensive restoration, stripping the car entirely and sandblasting the body back to bare metal. Sadly, he passed away during the Covid pandemic before the work could be completed. The vendor acquired the project in July 2023 and has since brought the restoration to fruition, with the body finished in Giallo Fly using the period-correct full immersion technique.
Extensively restored, with the body sandblasted to bare metal prior to repainting
Finished in Giallo Fly, one of the four period-correct colour options (red, yellow, blue, white)
Painted using the period-correct immersion technique, including the underside and engine compartment
Components overhauled and restored prior to reassembly
Side screens are not present, as replacement parts were unavailable
Distinctive "Zagato style" covered front lights, unique to this example
Photographic documentation of the bare-metal preparation is included in the accompanying file
To extract the most from their modest Fiat-derived powerplants, these cars were built to be as lightweight as possible. That means diminutive size, lightweight construction, and minimal trim. As the photographs attest, this car has been prepared to a good standard, finished in Giallo Fly, reportedly one of the four period-correct colour options. The vendor notes that this car has been refinished using the period-correct immersion technique, including the underside and engine compartment. This reportedly creates a period-correct aesthetic, allowing the new owner to enjoy this car just how it would have been during its heyday.
Engine was overhauled prior to the current vendor's ownership and has been inspected
850cc doesn't sound like much, but don't be fooled by this Abarth's lack of displacement. Few weighed more than a whisker over 600 kilos, so that modest engine was put to good use. Having undergone a mechanical overhaul and inspection, we're informed that the Abarth runs and drives well.
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