Small Abarths (modified Leo models)

[1959scudetto]

Carlo Abarth established his own company in 1949 in Torino ( Italy),  producing exhaust systems and tuning cars – mainly Fiat, Simca and even a few Porsche models. His Fiat derivates are the best-known, their souped-up small engines delivered sometimes 2 or 3 times the power of its origin.

Here are 2 early to mid-60’s little street racers – the base were two 1/24 Leo model die-casts from the Italian newsstand series (made by Ixo) – with a few modifications, steel exhaust pipes, wheel swapping and a few decals these cute small cars (the Fiat 600 and its successor, the 850) were capable to leave some bigger family sedans in the dust –

BEFORE:

 

and AFTER:

Edited October 29, 2022 by 1959scudetto

[Ace-Garageguy]

Love 'em, especially the upgraded mods.  

I wrenched for a company that raced a few Abarth cars decades ago, including a double-bubble 750 Zagato and a 1300 OT we bought from Cosentino (FAZA) who was all but unbeatable in his classes in SCCA.

Abarth on left below, Cosentino on the right.

[keyser]

Wicked cars. Where’d wheels come from?

I’ve got Gunze TCR1000, 695, and these 2. Need to convert them. 124 and 131 Abarths really nice too. 
Faza. Wow. Haven’t heard that in a bit. 

[Gramps46]

Super nice conversions.

[1959scudetto]

14 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Love 'em, especially the upgraded mods.  

I wrenched for a company that raced a few Abarth cars decades ago, including a double-bubble 750 Zagato and a 1300 OT we bought from Cosentino (FAZA) who was all but unbeatable in his classes in SCCA.

Abarth on left below, Cosentino on the right.

 

13 hours ago, Gramps46 said:

Super nice conversions.

Thanks, Bill and Gary - as you may have noticed, I have a soft spot for almost everything Italian (especially sporty cars of the past).

[1959scudetto]

13 hours ago, keyser said:

Wicked cars. Where’d wheels come from?

I’ve got Gunze TCR1000, 695, and these 2. Need to convert them. 124 and 131 Abarths really nice too. 
Faza. Wow. Haven’t heard that in a bit. 

Keyser, the mags are from Tamiya Honda S800 racing version, the others com from Ixo's Seat 850 Coupé, which was nothing else than the rebadged Spain-built Fiat 850 Coupé (by the way, these 2 wil also be turned into Abarths):

 

Edited October 28, 2022 by 1959scudetto

[1959scudetto]

24 minutes ago, 1959scudetto said:

Keyser, the mags are from Tamiya Honda S800 racing version, the others com from Ixo's Seat 850 Coupé, which was nothing else than the rebadged Spain-built Fiat 850 Coupé:

 

 

I do have the Gunze 1000 TCR also - very disappointing (interior bone-stock, wider door-sills missing, wrong wheels: it doesn't even come close to the awesome box-art!)

Edited October 28, 2022 by 1959scudetto

[keyser]

Yeah. Very. Box art killer. Wicked little cars. The coupes will be fun. Wish we’d see some of those diecasts

[Hoffman]

Very nice, Helmut. Clean work, great photography. Thanks for sharing!

[1959scudetto]

On 11/1/2022 at 11:46 AM, Hoffman said:

Very nice, Helmut. Clean work, great photography. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you, Tim.