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THE ITALIAN COACHBUILDER SITE

Abarth 1600 Spider

1959Coachwork by Allemano

THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE

Model dossier

Production period
1959
Body style
Spider
Type
Limited
Displacement
1,587 cc
Power
95 CV
Top speed
180 km/h
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 1600 Spider Allemano is a rare jewel of 1960s automotive artistry, a fusion of high-performance engineering and handcrafted elegance. Designed by the legendary Giovanni Michelotti and unveiled at the 1959 Turin Motor Show, this striking machine embodied the golden age of Italian coachbuilding, where passion and precision went hand in hand. Built on the foundations of the Fiat 1500 Spider, the Abarth 1600 Spider Allemano elevated itself beyond the ordinary with an OSCA-derived 1500cc four-cylinder engine, expertly bored out to 1600cc. This mechanical heart was a masterpiece in itself, a high-revving, race-bred powerplant that delivered both performance and charisma. Abarth’s signature tuning ensured that every press of the throttle was met with an eager response, making this car not just a stylish cruiser but a true driver’s machine. The bodywork, designed and handbuilt by Allemano, was offered in both coupé and spider configurations. Its design was quintessentially Italian—elegant yet purposeful, with flowing lines that hinted at the car’s agility and speed. Unlike mass-produced sports cars of the era, the Abarth 1600 Spider Allemano was a limited-run, coachbuilt special, catering to discerning enthusiasts who sought exclusivity alongside performance. Every detail of the Abarth 1600 Spider Allemano spoke of a time when cars were sculpted rather than manufactured, when artisans shaped aluminum by hand and every stitch in the interior was placed with care. It was more than just a car—it was a statement, a celebration of 1960s Italian automotive craftsmanship, and a reminder of Abarth’s relentless pursuit of performance wrapped in beauty.

02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY

Specifications & construction

Production & construction

Production type
Limited

Engine & performance

Displacement
1,587 cc
Power (hp)
94 hp
Power (CV)
95 CV
Power (kW)
70 kW
Torque
137 Nm
Transmission
4-speed manual
Drive
Rear-wheel drive
Top speed
180 km/h
Specification notes
1959 identity and Turin presentation are supported by Classic Driver; detailed specifications are taken from Automobile-Catalog’s 1960–62 Abarth Spider 1600 Allemano specification. Because the technical source describes the production specification rather than a chassis-specific survivor, values are treated as model-level technical data. The often-repeated production count of three remains unconfirmed and is not canonicalized.

Dimensions & accommodation

Wheelbase
2,340 mm
Length
4,230 mm
Width
1,540 mm
Height
1,250 mm
Weight
1,000 kg
Doors
2
Seats
2

Design & manufacture

Designer · Documented
Giovanni Michelotti
Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
Allemano
Manufacturer · Documented
Abarth

06 / EVENTS & AWARDS

Events & awards

No events or documented awards are currently recorded for this vehicle.

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
Classic Driver — 1959 Abarth 1600 Spider Allemano www.classicdriver.com Market listing with vehicle history
Automobile-Catalog — Abarth Spider 1600 Allemano www.automobile-catalog.com Secondary technical database

THE CONVERSATION

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