Cars
Abarth 595. The little pest
Abarth's genius transforms Fiat in 1958, birthing the iconic 595 in 1963. With a 595cc engine, it becomes a powerhouse on streets and circuits, rewriting automotive history.
__Who.__ Carlo Abarth, born in Austria but relocated to Italy, was already known in 1957 as a constructor of sports cars based on Fiat models with special bodies, and for his modifications on the Fiat 600. For him, the arrival of the small Fiat 500 was a golden opportunity to apply his unique touch to this promising, budget-friendly new model.
__Where.__ In post-war Italy, where owning a car was everyone’s dream, Carlo Abarth sensed a vast untapped market: modification kits for standard cars. Soon, working from the former Cisitalia headquarters in Turin, Abarth forged a relationship with Fiat, focusing on engine development and later, preparing cars for sports enthusiasts. His compact Abarth 850 and 1000 models, bodied by Zagato, became a force in amateur racing. However, his specialty remained the production of engine kits and exhaust systems.
