Vehicle Description
Before any Fiat-powered car ever bore the famousScorpionebadge,
Austrian-born Karl Abarth designed and raced motorcycles around
Europe. As a teenager, he worked in Italy designing motorbike
frames and began racing on the side. He eventually wonfiveEuropean
motorcycle racing titles, undoubtedly helped by his innate
understanding of chassis design and engineering. A severe racing
accident ended his on-track career in 1939, so in 1940, he left
Austria for his ancestral home of Merano, Italy, adopting the name
Carlo in the process. Once established in Italy, Abarth teamed up
with successful industrialist Piero Dusio and fellow engineer Dante
Giacosa to formCompagnia Industriale Sportiva Italia- best known as
Cisitalia. Their first car, the D46, was enormously successful in
open-wheelVoituretteracing. The ultra-slick 202 Nuvolari Spyder and
road-going 202 Gran Sport followed - the latter a highly
significant and influential road-goingGran Turismo. Ultimately the
ambitious and costly Cisitalia-Porsche Grand Prix project nearly
bankrupted Dusio, who moved to Argentina after its failure. Carlo
Abarth struck out on his own, and Piero's son Carlo Dusio took over
operations at Cisitalia. In the 1950s, Carlo Abarth established one
of the most successful car racing teams of all time, contesting the
complex and highly competitive world of small-bore sports racing
and GT classes through the ensuing three decades. Fiat's ubiquitous
and humble production cars formed the basis of numerous iconic
Abarth competition cars, and like Enzo Ferrari, Carlo Abarth also
saw the importance of selling road cars to supplement his racing
operations. A range of thinly disguised road-going racers was
offered to privateers, as well as countless off-the-shelf tuning
parts, wheels, and go-fast bits. Meanwhile, Cisitalia Argentina
offered their own high-performance Fiat-based specials for the
Italian and Argentine markets. Around 1961, the lovely Fiat-Abarth
850 Allemano was updated as the Cisitalia-Abarth 850 Scorpione,
reviving the successful relationship between Dusio and Abarth. The
cars were built in Italy and finished in Buenos Aires thanks to
Dusio's clever working of Argentina's strict import laws. It is not
known precisely how many were produced, though the handful of known
survivors rarely become available on the open market today. This
delectable 1961 Cisitalia-Abarth Scorpione is one of the incredibly
rare Argentine-market 850 variants. Finished in an understated
shade ofBronzo Metallizatoover a fresh and beautifully finished
olive green interior, it is exceptionally well-presented and
authentically restored. The Allemano-designed steel coachwork is
crisp and well-defined, with beautifully balanced proportions that
mask the diminutive size. Reflective of its quality, this charming
car is a veteran of several significant concours events, including
Villa d'Este, Concorso Italiano, and most recently, the 2021 Quail
Motorsports Gathering. Cosmetic differences from an 850 Allemano
include the Cisitalia hood script and front crest, Cisitalia crests
on the body sides, and unique rear badging. The delicate chrome
bumpers are in excellent condition, and the remaining bright trim
is a mix of well-preserved original and restored pieces. Intricate
Campagnolo alloy wheels and the originalAutomotora Del Platadealer
badge provide the perfect finishing touches. The interior is
remarkably luxurious and surprisingly practical, with room for two
adults and a reasonable amount of soft luggage behind the seats.
The interior has been restored to a very high standard in its most
recent owner's care, using lovely, rich olive green leather and
high-quality wool carpet. Despite the Scorpione's tiny size, this
was an expensive GT car in its day and was appropriately
well-equipped with a full array of Jaeger dials, leather luggage
straps, quality fittings. This car also features a fabulous,
period-correct Franco Conti three-spoke steering wheel and one of
our favorite period accessories in recent memory - a rare and
ultra-cool Voxson Vanguard 736 combination radio/rearview mirror.
The Abarth-tuned inline-four is tidy, authentically detailed, and
the block number matches the riveted chassis tag. A full complement
of proper Abarth parts includes the finned alloy sump, polished
alloy valve cover, Abarth generator pulley, and Solex carburetor.
The jewel-like 847 c.c. unit gives the littleScorpioneits sting,
lending a surprising turn of speed from such a small capacity.
Precise production records from Abarth or Cisitalia are virtually
non-existent, though experts estimate that perhaps Cisitalia
produced 100 of these lovely little machines, and survival rates
are low. This beautiful and eminently charming example is a proven
concours veteran that can be equally enjoyed on your favorite
tight, twisting back roads where the delicate controls and
captivating character are best appreciated. The 850 Scorpione is an
intriguing and beautiful sports car representing one of the last
collaborations between two giants in the world of tiny cars -
Abarth and Cisitalia. Offers welcome and trades considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7109-1961-cisitalia-abarth-850-scorpione-coupe/
