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THE ITALIAN COACHBUILDER SITE

Abarth 1600 Coupé Ellena

1962Coachwork by Ellena

THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE

Model dossier

Production period
1962
Body style
Coupé
Engine
Inline-4
Type
Limited
Displacement
1,588 cc
Power
95 hp
Top speed
180 km/h

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 1600 Coupé (1962) was coachbuilt by Ellena. Developed during a period of increasing interest in performance-oriented vehicles, the Abarth 1600 Coupé was showcased at the 1962 Turin Auto Show, reflecting the era’s enthusiasm for compact, sporty designs. The coachbuilding process involved meticulous attention to proportions and construction methods, emphasizing lightweight materials and aerodynamic shapes, which were significant in the stylistic context of the early 1960s. Mechanically, the Abarth 1600 Coupé featured a robust configuration that aligned with its performance aspirations. Powered by a 1.6L inline-four engine, the vehicle was designed to deliver an engaging driving experience, suitable for both road and track use. The chassis was constructed to facilitate a balanced handling characteristic, integrating performance with the aesthetic values of the time. Documentation indicates that the production of the Abarth 1600 Coupé was limited, contributing to its allure among collectors and automotive historians. Surviving examples are recorded, showcasing the craftsmanship of Ellena and the design philosophy of Abarth during this period.

02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY

Specifications & construction

Production & construction

Production type
Limited
Production notes
CI dual-brand identity remains under review; retain the 1962 Ellena twin-cam two-seat project as a family-level identity without asserting a single definitive marque/model nomenclature.

Engine & performance

Engine configuration
Inline-4
Displacement
1,588 cc
Power (hp)
95 hp
Power (kW)
70.8 kW
Engine speed
6,000 rpm
Transmission
4-speed manual
Drive
Rear-wheel drive
Top speed
180 km/h
Specification notes
Confidence detail moved from confidence: high family identity / medium alias relationship / low chassis | SOURCE/TECH 2026-09-23 — project-specific Abarth 1600 Coupé Ellena specification materialized from two specialist databases. Seating remains deliberately blank because both technical sources describe a 2+2 while the canonical variant currently says two-seat; that conflict is preserved for separate identity review.

Dimensions & accommodation

Wheelbase
2,340 mm
Length
4,220 mm
Width
1,590 mm
Height
1,220 mm
Weight
960 kg
Doors
2

Design & manufacture

Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
Ellena
Manufacturer · Documented
Abarth

06 / EVENTS & AWARDS

Events & awards

44° Salone Internazionale dell'Automobile – Torino General · legacy_preserved
Date
1962
Chassis
General

Preserved CI 1.0 relation. Evidence field: _al_listing_engine_location. No award inferred.

08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Archive

References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.

ReferenceSource type
Fiat Fuoriserie — Abarth 1600 Coupé Ellena www.fiatfuoriserie.it Specialist periodical archive
Motorsporlari — 1962 Abarth 1600 Coupe Ellena www.motorsporlari.net Specialist vehicle specification database
Autodrome Cannes — Abarth 1600 Coupé Ellena database autodrome-cannes.com Specialist classic vehicle database

10 / CONNECTED HISTORY

Timeline

Chronological history1 dated records

THE CONVERSATION

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