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.
07 / THE VEHICLE IN DETAIL
Photo gallery 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |











THE CONVERSATION
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