847cc OHV 4-Cylinder Engine
Single Carburetor
52bhp at 5,200 rpm
4-Speed Manual Transaxle
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
Front Disc - Rear Drum Brakes

*Great tribute to one of Fiat's most famous cars
*Fun car for vintage rallies or hillclimbs
*The Italian Mini Cooper
*Refurbished engine and cosmetics


THE FIAT 850 TC

'The performance of FIAT engines, as modified by Carlo Abarth, has for long been held to verge on the supernatural.' – John Bolster, Autosport.

After leaving Cisitalia in 1948, Austrian-born engineer Carlo Abarth set himself up as an independent in Turin, the home of the Italian auto industry. From producing induction and exhaust systems, Abarth branched out into selling performance kits for (mainly FIAT) production cars, later building a highly successful series of sports prototypes and limited-series production cars.

Possibly the best known out of all of Abarth's creations is the series of high-performance adaptations of the FIAT 600 saloon, whose giant-killing exploits were one of the most entertaining aspects of saloon car racing in the 1960s. In creating his 'TC' (Turismo Competizione) racers, Abarth stretched FIAT's 'D'-block, four-cylinder, overhead-valve engine to 750cc, 850cc and finally 1,000cc. The quoted maximum power output for the 850TC in Group 2 specification was 76bhp (DIN) at 8,000rpm, quite an exceptional output for a production-based pushrod engine of this capacity. Ed Swart, Giancarlo Baghetti, Willi Kauhsen and 'Pam' all claimed European Touring Car Championships for Abarth during the '60s, underlying the Italian manufacturer's almost total dominance of small-capacity saloon car racing. Various states of tune were available and, when the intermediate 55bhp version won the arduous Nürburgring 500km race in 1963 driven by Hans Herrmann and Teddy Pilette, the German circuit henceforth gave its name to cars of that specification.


THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This cute and impressively fast Abarth favorite is the Italian's response to the British Mini Cooper, and what a great competitor. The FIAT started out as a standard 600 model, and is believed to have been driven in Italy until it was exported from Rome to the US in 2008. Expertly restored as a tribute to the race winning 850 TC, this car has been modified in all the right ways. The displacement was increased to 847cc and thereafter the engine was tuned, so that the performance would match the aggressive look. The engine was also subject to a refurbishment with an upgraded water pump, alternator and new cooling fan in order to increase drivability. The FIAT benefits from new tires, battery, fuel tank and a clean gas tank, proving that this tribute car has indeed been well taken care. It is certainly ready for its next caretaker.