11 replies to this topic

[duby]

hello

a small question about ABARTH .
was there any formula-1 involvment by abarth ? any car or chassis ?

thanks
duby

[RStock]

hello

a small question about ABARTH .
was there any formula-1 involvment by abarth ? any car or chassis ?

thanks
duby

Carlo Abarth was involved with the Cisitalia Type 360 , but I think that was as far as any involvment in F1 went .

[D-Type]

There was a projected V8 Formula 1 car in the late sixties, but I don't think anything reached the metal stage. There was Formula 2 car in 1964-65 with a Fiat-based engine.

[Formula Once]

There was a projected V8 Formula 1 car in the late sixties, but I don't think anything reached the metal stage. There was Formula 2 car in 1964-65 with a Fiat-based engine.

Jonathan Williams was involved in this project, but it never happened.

[arttidesco]

This Abarth 232 F2, with a Ford Indy V8 4.7 litre engine run by René Barone who was running in French Hillclimbs was probably as close as Abarth got to F1 is there any truth that Abarth canned his F1 project because he was overwhelmed by the performance of the Cosworth V8 enigine in 1968 ?

More on Abarth Single Seaters.

Meantime I have asked this else where but drawn a blank does anyone recognise the make of this spyder shown racing a BMW 2002 in the late 60's early 70's at Bennetts Speedway Zambia ?



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Thanking you in anticipation of your responses :-)

[David McKinney]

Meantime I have asked this else where but drawn a blank does anyone recognise the make of this spyder shown racing a BMW 2002 in the late 60's early 70's at Bennetts Speedway Zambia ?

I don't recognise it as an established make. Might it not be a Zambian-built one-off?

[Roger Clark]

In 1976, Holbay Engines announced a Straight 6 Formula 2 engine, originally developed by Abarth. It resembled one bank of a contemporary Ferrari Grand Prix engine and was designed by Iacoponi. Apparently a change of policy within the Fiat group caused its abandonment as an Abarth project. It was known as the Holbay Abarth 260. I don't know wheher it was ever fitted to a chassis.

[arttidesco]

I don't recognise it as an established make. Might it not be a Zambian-built one-off?

That may yet prove to be the case David, if it is I'd be pretty amazed it looks a tad more sophisticated than the only other special I know of, made in then Northern Rhodesia, namely Eric Evans Triumph Special, but I have certainly not discounted the special possibility.

[proviz]

"Meantime I have asked this else where but drawn a blank does anyone recognise the make of this spyder shown racing a BMW 2002 in the late 60's early 70's at Bennetts Speedway Zambia ?"

Judging by the width of the air intakes on top of the bodywork I'd guess it's a single-seater locally converted into a sportscar. The cockpit also looks quite narrow. Maybe from South-Africa?

[MCS]

In 1976, Holbay Engines announced a Straight 6 Formula 2 engine, originally developed by Abarth. It resembled one bank of a contemporary Ferrari Grand Prix engine and was designed by Iacoponi. Apparently a change of policy within the Fiat group caused its abandonment as an Abarth project. It was known as the Holbay Abarth 260. I don't know wheher it was ever fitted to a chassis.

Well that would have been the engine used in Roberto Marazzi's F2 Lola T550 then. It appeared at Silverstone for practice at the F2 season opener and, as I remember, made an absolutely deafening noise! It didn't start and I'm not sure that it was seen again.

[Roger Clark]

Well that would have been the engine used in Roberto Marazzi's F2 Lola T550 then. It appeared at Silverstone for practice at the F2 season opener and, as I remember, made an absolutely deafening noise! It didn't start and I'm not sure that it was seen again.

That was 1977. Brian Henton tried one in a Wheatcroft in 1976, practicing but not starting at Thruxton and not arriving at a lot of other races.

[bartchops]

That was 1977. Brian Henton tried one in a Wheatcroft in 1976, practicing but not starting at Thruxton and not arriving at a lot of other races.

I called in at Snetterton one day in July 1976 and saw Tom Wheatcroft,Brian Henton and Holbays Roger Dunnell testing this car.