The first of these Abarths had short-nose, roundtail bodies and either 1,300-cc or 2,000-cc Abarth engines, but during the next three years the body changed to the much more modern and attractive ducktail design and, eventually, from the end of 1964, the more-aerodynamic long-nose cars. It is estimated that only some 15 of the latter were built. Bodied in aluminum by Carrozzeria Sibona-Basano of Turin, the ducktail was one of the first cars to have an integral rear spoiler.
Following the end of their successful 1965 season, Abarth retained the 30 cars they still had at the factory. They remained there until 1968, when a deal was struck with the U.K. Abarth concessionaire, Radbourne Racing, and all 30 were sent to England after being stripped of their mechanicals. All were left-hand drive, and none had any provenance or evidence of racing history.
This Abarth Simca is one of those cars, only seven or eight of which had long-nose ducktail bodies, and at least three of which were quickly sold abroad. It was bought by an enthusiast and built up into a usable road car over the next few years, receiving a Simca 1200S Coupe Bertone engine and being converted to right-hand drive.
The Abarth is believed to have been first registered in 1979 in that form. The builder is believed to have kept the car until his death, when it passed to his grandson, who eventually sold it on. It was then acquired by DTR Sports Cars in Coulsdon, Surrey, one of the U.K.’s leading restorers of Italian cars.
On the vendor’s behalf, DTR undertook an incredibly extensive and meticulous restoration of the entire bodywork and mechanicals, commencing in 2019 and completing the work in August 2021. The car has covered only some 1,000 miles since then and is said to remain in very good condition.
(Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams Cars.)
