c.1970 Abarth-Simca

Lot details
Registration No: XOU 6J
Chassis No: 1970A161644RT
Mot Expiry: None

By collaborating with Italian tuning house Abarth, French manufacturer Simca hoped to add some much needed glamour to its range. Launched at the March 1962 Geneva Salon, the aluminium bodied Abarth Simca 1300 was underpinned by a specially shortened and reinforced Simca 1000 floorpan. Weighing in at just 630kg, the diminutive coupe was equipped with all-round independent suspension (transverse-leaf front / semi-trailing arm rear) and four-wheel disc brakes. An all-Abarth design, its 1288cc DOHC engine was rear-mounted and could be had with either four- or six-speed manual transmission. Reputedly capable of over 143mph in racing tune, the Abarth Simca 1300 notched up class wins at the Le Mans 24 hours (1962), Paris 1000km (1962, 1964), Sebring 12 hours (1963, 1964), Nurburgring 1000km (1964) and Targa Florio (1964, 1965). Progressively developed to stay ahead of its Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ and Lotus Elite rivals, the Italian-French hybrid gained a fibreglass nose and 'duck tail' before evolving into the Porsche humbling Abarth Simca 2000 (though, Works' racing activities came to an abrupt end in 1965 when Chrysler bought Simca).

Finished in red with black upholstery, this particular example appears to be one of the first series or 'round tail' cars (as opposed to the later 'duck tail' ones). Although the coupe's early history is obscure, the vendor believes it to have arrived in the UK as a whole car rather than being one of the thirty-six or so incomplete shells that were acquired from Abarth and built-up by Radbourne Racing during the late 1960s. Bodied in aluminium as proven by the small dents to its nose and tail, it is said to carry "a Simca 2 Rallye engine (1294cc), dashboard, instruments, switchgear and rack and pinion steering" as well as an electric fuel filler release. To right-hand drive specification, it sports the registration number 'XOU 6J' and is reputed to have undergone a past bodywork restoration by Williams & Pritchard. A potentially inexpensive entry into the world of historic motorsport and one that would reward further research, this rare Abarth Simca is offered for sale with sundry "hard to find spares".

PLEASE NOTE: Contrary to the information stated in the catalogue this lot does not possess a current mot certificate.

PLEASE NOTE: The green registration logbook which accompanies this lot (a) describes it as a Simca Abarth '1000' Scorpione and (b) states that the coupe was "built up from new and used parts". The logbook itself was issued on November 1st 1970.

PLEASE NOTE: The current V5C registration document for this lot lists it as a Simca whereas the green logbook records the coupe as a Simca Abarth. There is also a discrepancy between the two concerning the date of first registration.