motor cars

MOTOR CARS | 107

But as specialist Abarth historian Luciano Greggio has written:
“Abarth’s predilection for cars with outboard engines paid off
many times during hill-climbs, in which that layout – unloved by
his technicians, starting with Colucci – limited rear wheel spin in
acceleration coming out of a corner, due to the greater load placed on
the back end by the engine and, consequently, the car’s better pick-up
and more speed when exiting hairpins. This engine disposition also
accentuated the Sport Spider’s oversteer, which could be exploited by
drivers on twisting ascents that were not so fast...”.

The opening round of the 1970 European Mountain Championship
was run on May 24, 1970, at Montseny, Spain, where Mario Casoni
won for Abarth in a 2000 Sport Spider followed home by Carlo
Benelli (driving under his pseudonym of ‘Riccardone’) and the veteran
Luigi Taramazzo in sister cars. Johannes Ortner then dominated the
Mont Ventoux round in France in a works 3000 Sport. At Cesana-
Sestriere in July, Arturo Merzario won in his preferred outboard-
engined 2000 Sport, followed on the timing chart by Johannes
Ortner, Franco Pilone, ‘Pogo’ and Luigi Taramazzo – all in sister
Abarth 2000 Sport cars. With accumulative points scored in the
final rounds at Freiburg-Schauinsland, Mont Dore and Dobratsch,
works driver Johannes Ortner eventually claimed the 1970 European
Mountain Championship title with 64 points against fellow 2000
Sport-mounted specialist, Franco Pilone.

We at BONHAMS unfortunately have very little information from
the Collezione Maranello Rosso concerning this particular car now
offered here, chassis ‘SE014/001’. It is accompanied by an original
Abarth & C. Torino Certificato d’Origine (No 783) confirming it as a
Tipo Fiat-Abarth 2000, but there is no other documentation in the file.

We hope to discover more in time for viewing at Goodwood and

will post any additional information as it is received on the internet

website and at the Sale venue. Upon inspection we can report that

this car’s water pump which is belt-driven at the exposed tail of the

engine is seized. Unmounting the drive belt allowed the engine to

be test-turned by hand, and it proved to be free. Unfortunately it

was not possible to insert an borescope to examine the No 2, 3

and 4 cylinder bores since the relevant spark plugs are seized in

the cylinder head. The cylinder bore in No 1 appears to be in good

condition, however. The clutch proved to be seized and non-

operational but it is possible to select all gears. Work will be needed

to recommission the car’s electrics, fuel and ancillary systems. The

brake master cylinder is also seized and the brakes will require a full

strip and rebuild prior to the car being used. All of which is of course

perfectly predictable for any motor car which has been standing on

static museum display for so many years.

Amongst all the Abarths exhibited in Fabrizio Violati’s Collezione

Maranello Rosso museum at Falciano, this 2000 Sport ‘Europeo

Montagna’ offers the highest-specification racing engine, with its

2-litre twin overhead camshaft unit featuring 16-valves and single

plug per cylinder ignition. It is a car of considerable stature and

immense performance potential. It has the indelible cachet of having

been the Maranello Rosso Collection long-term exhibit amongst

so many illustrious sisters, and we recommend that it receives the

closest consideration.

Please note this vehicle is subject to import tax should it remain in

the EU.

£110,000 - 160,000

€140,000 - 200,000