To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The
Elkhart Collection event, 23 - 24 October 2020.
Estimate:
$80,000 - $100,000
- Formerly of the Tom Mittler Collection
- Attractive color scheme and presentation
- A very well-maintained and highly presentable example
- Eligible and eminently suitable for numerous vintage
rallies
Carlo Abarth took over the famous early post-war Italian
manufacturer Cisitalia in 1949, renaming cars in inventory Abarths.
He set off racing with a who's-who roster of drivers that included
Tazio Nuvolari, Franco Cortese, and Piero Taruffi. He expanded his
roster to introduce highly tuned and modified Fiats, including the
750, a Fiat 600 with its engine bored and stroked to 747 cc, a
modified camshaft and flywheel, and a larger carburetor, good for
nearly 40 bhp and a top speed of more than 80 mph.
Soon the highly respected coachbuilder Zagato took on production of
Abarth's coupe bodies, turning out a rounded, streamlined design
that in its initial sketches had a roof so low that there was scant
headroom for a person of normal stature. A solution was found in
adding twin bulges to the roof contour, the famous "double bubbles"
that have since become synonymous with sporting Zagato coupes and
continue to influence the firm's designs to this day.
The Zagato-bodied 750 GT offered here was acquired for the current
collection from the famous stable of the late, beloved enthusiast
Tom Mittler, known for the fine preparation and enthusiastic use of
his vintage racing cars. A long-term resident of the Mittler
collection, it had been cosmetically restored and sorted following
acquisition from Dennis Veideman in 1989 and has a charming,
lightly patinated black interior. Attractive features include
Talbot-style racing mirrors and beautiful Campagnolo cast wheels.
The bodywork is well preserved, and the paint still has good, deep
shine. At the time of cataloguing, the car had recorded 31,089
miles. It is a fabulous competitor!To view this car and others
currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/el20.