This Abarth Simca was originally sold by the UK Abarth Dealer, Radbourne Racing, on July 10th 1969. The original sales invoice is retained on file, as is the old style UK Log Book from 1970.

This Abarth Simca was one of the more than thirty cars purchased by Radbourne Racing in 1968. All the competition cars were sold off and only the 'slab sided' cars were retained and which became the basis for the Radbourme Abarth 1300, built by Radbourne under licence from Abarth & Co. These cara wre fitted with an uprated Fiat 124 pushrod engine.

Noe of the cars purchased by Radbourne Racing wwere complete, indeed, at least one brand new bodyshell was included in the lot. Many cars had been stripped for parts but tthey were all genuine Abarth Simcas.

The car featured here, chassis number 130S *0091* is a long nose, flared arch Corsa model and was of no interest for the Radbourne project.When found it retained its original suspension, brake lines, wiring loom. oil pipes, windscreen/plexi glass, external trim including door handles and some steering, brake  and cooling system parts.

The chassis number was and is, clearly stamped into the steel structure so there is no doubt that 0091 started life as a complete car. When purchased in 2015, it represented an amazing oppertunity to restore a truly iconic and beautiful car, albeit a somewhat daunting prospect.

Over the next three years, all the missing parts were located and thecar returned to its former glory. The one exception is the engine which would originally been a five main bearing, all Abarth 1300 thin cam  dry sump unit. This engine is simply unavailable and although quite a lot of the components for this engine, have been acquired, the decision was made to build a reverse rotation (as all Abarth Simcas are), based on a 1300 short stroke Fiat 1300 twin cam but re-engineered with many Abarth parts. The end result is an engine that sounds correct, looks wonderful and performs exceptionally well. The idea of looking at a pristine Abarth Simca devoid of an engine was NOT an option. Anyone who critises this decision will not have made such a decision let alone ever restored such a superb motor car.

 

See the Abarth Simca Long Nose photo gallery for multiple images

DETAILED TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

BODY/CHASSIS DETAILS

Chaais 130S*0091* is a 1965 so called 'Long Nose' version manufactured for the 1965 season. In common with all coachbuilt Abarths, each individual car has a build number that is stamped into all detachable biodywork components. In this case it is build number 69. Chassis number duplication is possible but build number duplication is not.

The 'Long Nose' represents a departure by Abarth from pure aluminium bodywork to the use of fibreglass. The 'Long Nose' tip front cars (Abarth Simca and Fiat Abarth Bialbero) are probably the first steps that Abarth took utilising fibreglass. Indeed, the 1300OT and 2000OT models that succeeded the Abarth Simca, were clothed in entirely fibreglass bodies.

0091 retains its original side and rear plexiglass windows  and a correct specification but new, laminated ftont screen.

The door nechanisms are original and correct, as are all the external trim items. New headlight covers are fitted.

INTERIOR TRIM

The original vinyl dor panes and rear quarter panels are fitted along with a correct steering wheel. period seats, instrument binacle, pedal assembly, gearchange and handbrake mechanism. Correct switches are fitted together with a period correct Lucas windscreen wiper mechanism (the majority of Abarth Simcas used the Lucas wiper system from the MGA)

STEERING

The entire steering is correct including steering damper 

BRAKES

The braking system is correct including Girling three pot calipers on each corner. The rear calipers are almost extinct and took a lot of finding.

The pedal box assembly is all original albeit a twin circuit brake master cylinder is fitted (a safety issue).

The Abarth 'lobster claw' hand brake calipers are fitted and are as  inefficient as whem supplied in 1965!!

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The car has been rewired but retains all the correct light units and switches. A lightweight dry cell battery is used instead of a wet battery, albeit secured in the original position. A superoor electric fan is fitted in place of the original Lucas unit. An external booster battery plug is fitted together with an FIA cut off switch.

SUSPENSION & WHEELS

The original suspension is fitted which includes rebuilt Koni rear supplementary coilover units, front coilovers with transverse leaf spring.Four out of six dampers are adjiable.

The car is fitted with 5.5 x 13 front Campagnolo style wheels and 7 x 13 rear  Capmpagnolo styles wheels. These wheels wre manuctured  for Middle Barton Garage as the original magnesium wheels are now long past being safe to use. The appearance is period correct. , including Abarth self locking wheel nuts.

Road legal tyres are fitted. The car has a complete set of spare Campag style wheels and tyres.

Transmission

Abarth fitted the Fiat 850 based transmission in 1965 to Abarth Simcas,  in preference to the inferior Simca transmission. In consequence, '0091' is fitted with a Fiat 850 based transaxle utilising a 10/35 Abarth & Co crown wheel and pinion. The unit is four speed with Porsche synchro.

Hardy Spiser type driceshafts are utilised driving through Abarth Simca couplings and hubs.

ENGINE

In common with all Simca and Fiat 850 transmissions, the engine is required to turn in an anticlockwise direction. In consequence, 0091 is fitted with a thoroughly reengineed Lamprdi Fiat  1300 engine.

In common with the original all Abarth 1300 engine, both engines feature iron blocks, aluminium cylinder heads and five main bearing crankshafts. The main difference is a substitution of belt drive from chain drive, to the camshafts.It is interesting to note that the relatively rare Fiat 1300 engine has a bore and stroke of 76 x 71mms which is the same as earlier Abarth Simca 1300 engines.

Abarth 'OT' gears are used to drive the auxillary shaft which in turn drives the cambelt. In this way, the engine ratates to the left but everything else rotates to the right. An aluminium front cover is utised that carries a support roller bearing for the extended auxillary shaft.

HC pistons are fied along with high lift/long duration camshafts.

A large capacity Abarth sump is fitted.

The ignition system is Marelly utilising  an Abarth distrutor housing coupled to the exhaust camshaft.

An Abarth Simca specification exhaust is used albeit with the largest silencer possible without detracting from the external appearance.

Twin Weber 40DCOE carburettors are fitted(Italian and peried correct) together with a period correct FISPA fuel filter/regulator. An traditional Facet electic fuel pup is fitted.

The cooling system utilises the refurbished original radiator, an Abarth waterpump and Abarth Simca cylinder head watrer rail and header tank.

The engine is susped by OE  Abarth Simca mounting arms and OE  aluminium brackets.

So we have a thyoroughly re-engineered engine that has the spirit of the original chain driven unit and prerforms to the same standard. Wonderful sound!

Although quite highly tuned, the engine is road friendly and behaves well.