Manufacturer Abarth Designer Bertone Engine 998 cc Alfa Romeo I4 | Production 1958 Body style Two door coupé Wheelbase 2,160 mm (85 in) | |
 | ||
Abarth 1000 GT Coupé or Alfa Romeo 1000 Abarth GT Bertone Coupé is a car model made by the Italian car producer Abarth in collaboration with Alfa Romeo, and designed by Franco Scaglione for Bertone. The model was launched in 1958, and was fitted with a 1.0-litre straight engine with double overhead camshafts from Alfa Romeo, it had maximun power of 88 PS (65 kW; 87 hp). Despite the modest motor, the car was still very fast, thanks to the weight of just 640 kilograms. The engine was a short-stroke version of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta's 1.3 liter engine, developed so as to enable it to compete in racing categories restricted to engines of less than one litre. The stroke was down to 58.0 mm (2.28 in) while the bore remained 74.0 mm (2.91 in). The tubular chassis reportedly only weighed 50 kg (110 lb), and the car was fitted with a fully synchronized five-speed "System Porsche" transmission.
Only three were built, and after two (or maybe all) were crashed while testing in Germany the project was abandoned.
Rebodied by Colani
Two cars (there were only three built) were crashed while testing at AVUS. Young designer Luigi Colani bought the leftover bits and pieced together a fibreglass-bodied design of his own, which still exists although it is currently powered by a 1.3 litre Giulietta Veloce engine.