Sorry—not for sale

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33033, 28 September 1972, Page 15

Sorry—not for sale

Visitors to the Christchurch International Motor Show will see a special imported dream car from Italy. This is the fabulous Abarth 2000 and it is the only one ever built. The Motor Show will feature many special features but the one likely to stay in people’s minds longest will be the sleek red Abarth. Styled by the world’s leading designer, Pininfarina, the Abarth 2000 was created in 1969 as a prototype of sports cars to come. It stands a mere 32in high and had a ground clearance of less than two inches! Not the sort of car for our roads. The Abarth cost just on $75,000 to make and is a fully readable car, not just a show mock-up. It is still valued at over $40,000 as it cannot be replaced. The futuristic design of the car houses many safety ideas as well as being an example of advanced styling. There is a

collapsible steering column, a special headlight system and an automatic fire extinguisher in the engine compartment. Access to the superbly comfortable interior is by raising the entire roof and windscreen after touching a hidden catch. The seats are fixed and are almost fully reclining and give excellent support to driver and passenger. There is a minimum of dials and instruments and the interior has been safety designed to eliminate protrusions which could cause injury in an accident. The engine is a small 2-litre Fiat based unit of four cylinders and just about the same size as a small sedan’s. This is where the similarity ceases, however, as the Abarth is a full racing motor and develops a staggering 250 brake horsepower at 8000 revolutions a minute. This power output is the same as a Ford Falcon VB. The Abarth has a five speed gearbox and is capable of speeds up to almost 180 miles an hour. One of the strange features of the car is that the engine cover is made of glass. The glass used is

called Glaverbel and is the most expensive unbreakable glass in the world. The sweeping windscreen is also made of unbreakable glass, but the side windows are of heavy duty plastic. There is a large articulated single windscreen wiper. The headlight system stows away in the front of the car and comes into operation electrically. There are six high-powered quartz iodide lamps made by the Italian firm of Carello especially for this car. But don’t dream of investing your life savings as the Abarth is definitely not for sale. You will just have to be content with one of the cars available from the local dealers who are displaying their latest models. Technical data. —• Engine type: Fiat 2368. Number of cylinders: 4. Engine position: rear mounted behind axle. Displacement: 1946 c.c. Horsepower/revolutions per minute: 250/8000. Valve disposition: 4 valves per cylinder. Camchaft: 2 camshafts overhead. Carburettor: 2 Weber 58 DCO 3. Number of gears: 5 forward and reverse. Clutch: dry multi-disc.