1963 Fiat 850TC Abarth (Replica) Race Car

Introduced in 1955 and produced until 1969, the Fiat 600 was the marque's first rear-engine car.It was built along with the 600 two-door sedan and the innovative Multipla, which predated the minivan by some 30 years. Whilst outwardly small and riding on a wheelbase just shy of 80 inches, the 600 provided remarkable passenger and luggage space thanks to its rear-mounted inline four-cylinder engine. The updated 600D debuted in the autumn of 1960 with an enlarged 767cc engine, swivelling vent windows and additional louvres on the engine compartment lid. At the end of 1960, the Fiat-Abarth 850 TC (Turismo Competizione in Italian) was introduced using the Fiat 600 bodyshell and incorporating high-performance upgrades supplied by Abarth. The most obvious of these was the larger front bumper to house the oil cooler matrix, wider wheels & tyres and a larger capacity 847cc engine mounted in the car's tail.

This particular example was delivered in 1963 to the USA as a road going, left-hand drive, 'suicide-door' Fiat 600. During its life in the States, it was converted to an Abarth replica with body modifications & an engine upgrade and was raced in the 1970s and 80s around Southern California by the then owner Randy Edwards. The car then crossed the Atlantic and was imported to the UK in 1990, being registered with the DVLA on the 2nd February of that year and granted the registration 'APB 362A'.

Invoices during the 1990s from respected specialists Middle Barton Garage show the car was maintained well, before eventually being purchased by our vendor, a husband & wife race team, in February 2010. The car was then recommissioned ready for a full season's racing and has been successfully campaigned in the HRDC 'Touring Greats' Championship in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Numerous class wins and podiums have been achieved with our seasoned racers / vendors.

Specification includes:

A one-race old Middle Barton Garage prepared A112 1050cc full race engine with further improvements by Throbnozzle Engineering.

40DCNF Weber Carburettors and a 4 into 1 exhaust manifold.

Scuderia Topolino close ratio 4-speed gearbox, refreshed by GearTech in 2015.

Scuderia Topolino 9/39 ring and pinion and a limited slip differential.

Lightened & balanced 600D flywheel modified to take diaphragm clutch pressure plate.

Scuderia Topolino Abarth style universal joint drive shafts.

Middle Barton Garage 850 front brake disc and master cylinder conversion with Mintex competition pads.

Bilstein shock absorbers.

Cromodora 13 x 5J wheels shod with Dunlop 450L13 tyres.

The cockpit houses a substantial US-style roll cage, correct Fiat 600 rubber mats, period Corbeau seat and a leather steering wheel. Fastidious in their approach, our vendors have completely rewired the car to include an Abarth triple instrument binnacle, modern gauges and SunPro rev counter. Potential buyers should satisfy themselves as to the legality and currency of all the safety equipment in this car.

Supplied with an MoT until 20th April, a UK V5c and bundles of paperwork in the history file, this car is eligible for HRDC, HSCC and numerous European race and hill climb series. With other race commitments now taking up the vendor's time, this faithful Abarth replica, nicknamed 'Freddy', is a pocket rocket that can be driven to the circuit & home again and never fails to put a smile on the face of the driver or onlookers alike!