Alfa Romeo-Abarth 1000 GT

Vehicle Overview

The Alfa Romeo-Abarth 1000 GT were built by Bertone (design by Franco Scaglione) in 1958, and was fitted with Alfa Romeo’s 1.0-litre straight engine with double overhead camshafts with a power output of 88 PS (65 kW; 87 hp). The engine was a short-stroke version of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta’s 1.3 litre engine, developed so as to enable it to compete in racing categories restricted to engines of less than one litre. The stroke was reduced to 58.0 mm (2.28 in) while the bore remained 74.0 mm (2.91 in). The tubular chassis reportedly only weighed 50 kg (110 lb), and the car was fitted with a fully synchronized five-speed “System Porsche” transmission. The modest engine was offset by the kerb weight of just 640 kg (1,411 lb). Only three were built, and after at least two of them were crashed while testing at AVUS in Germany the project was abandoned.