1963 ABARTH 850 TC

This 1963 Fiat Abarth 850 TC is a genuine factory model, which has been used competitively over the course of its life, and which has been subject to cosmetic and mechanical upgrades to become an exciting historic racing car. It is powered by a Weber DCD carburettor-fed 848cc inline-four AB214 type engine, producing just over 48hp, and driven through the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential. The odometer shows 57,225 km (35,557 miles).

Delivered new in its home market of Italy, this Fiat Abarth 850 ‘Turismo Competizione’ was initially delivered to gentleman in Umbria, where it is understood to have spent the first decade of its life. The Italian registration document in the history file shows that it was first registered for road use in 1967. It then moved west when it was acquired by a resident of Tuscany in December 1970. A few years later, it was bought by a gentleman in Florence, and it is during this owner’s tenure with the car that the bulk of the modifications are believed to have taken place.

Certainly, by 1989, this 850 TC had been cosmetically upgraded to have the appearance of a car built to FIA Group 2 regulations. There are old FIA papers from this period that show the car with the same bodywork it wears today. In 1991, it was sold on again, to a gentleman who kept the car for the next 27 years. Two years ago, it was acquired by the current owner, and imported to the UK. Having previously competed in numerous historic racing events, the car comes with an old FIVA identity card and FIA Historic Technical Passport, which has since expired. Its most recent competitive outing was at the Vernasca Silver Flag hill climb revival in June 2018.

The body of this Abarth 850 TC is straight and solid, with good floor pans and sills, as the photos of the underside show. The car also features the correct rear-hinged doors. Evidently, it is not all as it left the factory, with the most notable changes being the flared wheel arches, and ‘Corsa’ front bumper that houses the front-mounted radiator and oil cooler. It also features a ‘Stinger’ open exhaust with an oval tailpipe.

Its two-tone white and light blue paintwork is very presentable, with only a few small blemishes present, including spots of paint bubbling on the bottom of the passenger-side door. The seller believes the car was likely last painted in the 1990s, and the respray included the addition of a chequered detail for the roof.

The exterior details include Abarth bonnet latches and engine lid prop brackets, as well as colour-coded Vitaloni Californian wing mirrors. It is finished with a set of 13-inch Campagnolo magnesium alloy wheels, which are all in fair order. There is a pronounced negative camber noticeable at the rear, for increased traction under hard cornering.

While many replicas of the famous Abarth racing models exist, the authenticity of this particular car is evidenced by the numbers stamped on the panel in the engine bay: ‘214’ being the model number for the 850 TC, and ‘3801’ being the internal Abarth chassis identification. Its original Fiat number - ‘1519661’ - is also stamped into the Abarth chassis plate.

In the cabin, the original front and rear seats have been swapped out for a far more focused layout. There is half of a Sassa bolt-in roll cage, with the other half included in the sale, a classic-style OMP bucket seat, and a four-point OMP racing harness.

Superb original interior details include the Jaeger gauges, with the large central rev counter with markings up to 10,000rpm, flanked by the speedometer on the right and the oil, water, and fuel readouts on the left. There is also a period three-spoke leather-trimmed Abarth steering wheel with original horn push, as well as auxiliary gauges, and a battery isolator switch.

The Abarth-tuned 848cc engine is not the original factory-fitted unit, but it is a genuine motor of the correct type and specification. It features the magnesium sump and magnesium inlet manifold, as well as a remote Carello oil filter. An electric fuel pump, Malpassi Filter King fuel pressure regulator, and a Deto-Stop fuel safety system are also installed. There is a dynamometer report from January 2019 in the file that records the engine output as 48.4 hp and 40.3 lb ft of torque at 6,975 rpm and 5,730 rpm respectively.

At the front, there are Girling disc brakes, while original drums are fitted at the rear. The alloy wheels are fitted with a set of Yokohama Advan A048 tyres in size 175/50 R13. They are all in nearly-new condition with most of the tread remaining.

Accompanying the car is an extensive history file, including a substantial amount of information pertaining to this Abarth’s early life in Italy in the 1960s and 1970s. A copy of all pages of the original Italian ‘libretto’ log book is also present. There are two sets of keys, the expired FIVA identity card and FIA Historic Technical Passport, and the UK V5C registration document.

This Fiat Abarth 850 TC is a rare genuine factory car, rather than a later conversion or replica, which has been used as intended and upgraded to a ‘Corsa’ appearance. In the future, the car could of course always be returned to the initial specification, with the original style of interior and bodywork. While perhaps not a car for purists, it is certainly a car for drivers. The compact footprint and high-revving engine make this little Abarth a thrilling car for sunny weekend mornings, track days, or even classic sprints and hill climbs if the next owner is so inclined.