THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE
Model dossier
- Production period
- 1965
- Body style
- Coupé
- Engine
- Inline-4 petrol
- Type
- Concept
- Production
- 1
- Displacement
- 982 cc
- Seats
- 2
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAR
Coachbuilding, design & conversions
PRICE & SALES RECORD
Vehicle value
- Original price
- Not documented
- Latest recorded sale
- Not documented
01 / THE STORY
History & context
The Abarth 1000 Coupé Speciale by Pininfarina was based on the Fiat 850 fitted with the Fiat Abarth 1000 4 cylinder engine 982 cc. 54 HP-DIN (gear ratio: 9/37 2 Girling disk brakes). Aesthetícally the Abarth 1000 Coupé Speciale shows a very slender and low appearance which was anticipated by the spider version unveiled at the 1964 Turin Auto Salon: noteworthy is the relation between the very thin and aerodynamic front end and the rear part, where the mechanical groups are housed. The front part of lenticular section, is much sloping down towards the front end and it harmoniouslv blends with the fenders, of a very thin section. The iodine front lights, expressly realized by Carello Co., are protected by a transparent fairing forming a one only horizon tal front element. The whole front end is protected against shocks by means of light steel and rubber bumper guards, fitted at the end of the fenders. The very low and slim side shows a slight dihedron giving a note of particular slenderness. The side windows of the Abarth 1000 Coupé Speciale with the two vent wings and the much inclined and multi-curved windscreen form, with the pavillion, a one only element which turns over forwards by means of a special hinge system, in order to allow an easy entrance to thecar inside. The rear end of the pavillion works as a roll-bar. A very wide rear window allows a remarkable visibility. The rear part, where the mechanical group is housed, has a very wide surface and it is delimited sideways by two elements dying in the fenders. A groove above the fenders works as air outlet for the car inside and lightens the whole design”. On this car special wheels of elektron alloy are mounted, allowing a remarkable weight reduction in comparison with the traditional ones. The inside of the car is upholstered with elastic leather and padded with foam rubber for safety purposes. The instruments are housed in a very light ogival fairing instead of being located in the traditional instrument panel, not existing in this Abarth 1000 Coupé Speciale. The steering wheel can be moved aside to allow a better drive position, since the seats are very low and inclined backwards, according to the typical solution of the sports cars.
02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY
Specifications & construction
Production & construction
- Production
- 1
- Production type
- Concept
- Mechanical platform
- Fiat 850 / Abarth mechanical basis
Engine & performance
- Engine configuration
- Inline-4 petrol
- Displacement
- 982 cc
- Specification notes
- Abarth/Pininfarina 1000 Coupé Speciale: two-seat styling prototype on Fiat 850/Abarth mechanical basis, fitted with a 982 cc Abarth four-cylinder. Published power figures conflict across secondary catalogues, so power is intentionally left blank.
Dimensions & accommodation
- Seats
- 2
Design & manufacture
- Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
- Pininfarina
- Manufacturer · Documented
- Abarth
06 / EVENTS & AWARDS
Events & awards
Frankfurt General · legacy_preserved
- Date
- 1965
- Chassis
- General
Preserved CI 1.0 relation. Evidence field: _yoast_wpseo_primary_events. No award inferred.
07 / THE VEHICLE IN DETAIL
Photo gallery 4 photographs
08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE
Archive
References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.
| Reference | Source type |
|---|---|
| Automobile-Catalog — 1965 Abarth 1000 Coupé Speciale Pininfarina www.automobile-catalog.com | Specialist vehicle catalogue |











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