Abarth Doppia Bolla - I dettagli. Part 2

 

While a good part of the 750GT’s alure/enigmatic character is the tendency for body/trim variations to come and go – often on a far from systematic basis – ‘loose’ record keeping at Corso Marche has left us with real difficulty in their charting/dating.  So the survey of key external body areas/trim that follows is offered only on an indicative basis and cannot be considered definitive. 

I have frequently referred to the Image Archive within the Fiat Abarth 750GT Zagato Forum.  Many of the illustration captions (and thus the abbreviations)  below are as recorded in the Image Archive. Please let me know if you identify any possible image copyright issues.

Roof:  The following points stem from John de Boer’s Fiat-Abarth "double bubble" study (January 2018):

  • Cars built by Zagato before the formal agreement for the creation of the 750GT as an Abarth model, designated Zagato Serie 1, have a ‘smooth’ roof.  This includes the very first car, #001766, which was built by Zagato for Ovidio Capelli, a Milan dealer.  John also cites the following as thought to be smooth roof/Zagato Serie 1 examples: #091978 and #118619.
  • The first 'Double Bubble' designated as such in John's database is #145806, with date attribution of April '56
  • Reversion to a 'smooth' roof occurred in February '58 with the introduction of the Record Monza Model.  However, the cars not powered by the bialbero engine continued to feature the twin-hump roof line, but see note on the Sestrière model below
  • The Sestrière  model introduced in April '59 for the U.S. market featured a smooth roof line

The Abarth Buyer’s Guide by Pete Vack refers to a 3rd series of the 750GT, noting: ‘By late 1957, Abarth and Zagato had reached consensus on the definitive 750GT.  The Series III was built with variations for European and American market cars.  The classic 750GT Series III for the United States had much higher twin domes.’

#118619 (Courtesy John de Boer)

#163327 (Courtesy John de Boer/Renald E)

#757464 Sestrière  (Courtesy Petrolicious/Collector Car Network)


Engine Cover:  The twin bulge form engine cover, ‘extending’ the lines of the roof bubbles, is evident from earliest production. In addition to these two air intakes, there is another, horizontal, aperture just over half-way down the panel and located above the model script badge and vertical cover handle.  Along with the smooth roof, the Record Monza’s engine cover on the model’s introduction differed from that of the Double Bubble, a single large duct replacing the twin intakes.  Because of the bialbero engine, the Record Monza’s cover also incorporated a hump to accommodate the power unit’s higher profile.  As seen in the photograph of #757464, above, the Sestrière’s engine cover, though retaining the Double Bubble’s twin intake format, rendered these with a more boxy, less curvaceous profile.

#651662 (Courtesy Kidston)


#773518 Record Monza (Courtesy Bonhams)


#741833  Alternative script mounting. (Courtesy Switch Cars)

As mentioned above, a feature of ‘Corsa’ specification cars was said to be a ‘Mille Miglia Motore’ badge affixed to the dashboard.  Though this may well be a matter of personal customisation by the owners, examples have been seen of this badge being mounted on the engine cover of Double Bubbles and Record Monzas.

Mille Miglia Motore badge. (Courtesy WorthPoint)

#585940 MM badge on engine cover. (Courtesy John C. / Gooding & Co)

Windows, Glass, Plexiglass:  Double Bubble models featured 6 ‘glass’ areas: front windscreen, rear screen, door glass, rear quarter glass, between B and C posts.  Plexiglass was substituted for cars destined for competition use from the outset.  The substantial variation was confined to the Record Monza model, wherein a small triangular window was let into the area between the B and C posts, and under the outer edges of the rear screen.

#418163 (Courtesy Bonhams) 

#860214 Record Monza (Courtesy RM Sotheby's)


Front:  From the earliest chassis numbers, the front panel featured a grille and a horizontal bar, tapering to a point, either side, (sometimes referred to as ‘whiskers’), mounted a little above the leading edge, and slightly lower than the level of the headlamp fairing apertures.  Because of the curvature of/bulge in the front panel, the central grille is convex.  Contemporary replacements are available from Fiatplus.com. and supplied in either ‘thick or ‘thin’ form.  The grille is two part – outer ‘shield, ’ chrome meshed, with a smaller central rendition of the traditional Abarth marque, Scorpion badge.

#260452 (Courtesy Bring a Trailer)

‘Whiskers’ currently available from Fiatplus

However, again from early production, some cars wore only the central grille, with no whiskers, e.g. #162696.  Another instance, #239600, shows a further variation – no whiskers, but a pair of vertical bumper bars.  #417338 is illustrated while undergoing bodywork restoration – the 14 factory-drilled mounting holes are clearly evident, per side: accommodating the lower lamp surround trim, two, one above the other for the vertical bumper bars, two, horizontally aligned, to carry the whiskers, central hole for a number plate (?) and one for the upper quadrant of the central grille.

#162696 (Source Unknown)



#239600 (Courtesy Ame. G.)


#417338 (Courtesy John C.)

The latest chassis number I have found which carries the central grille and whiskers is #720384.  Later cars, e.g. #756808, fitted with the full width/wrap around bumper bar do not carry the whiskers.

#720384 (Courtesy T.M.)

#756808 Sestrière (Courtesy John de Boer/Aguttes)

#594111 (Courtesy Bring a Trailer)

Late cars have an additional ‘Fiat’ script badge mounted above the central shield-grille/Abarth crest.  According to the Abarth Buyer’s Guide by Pete Vack, this script was introduced in late ’57 on the ‘Series III’ American market cars.

#523733 (Courtesy Tim Scott/RM Auctions)

Below the headlamps, a small, aluminium cased circular/cone-profile indicator (usually with a clear lens) is mounted.  On the late versions the location is seen to be above the wraparound bumper.  Underneath this lamp, a small rectangular, sometimes chrome framed aperture provides for the intake of air to help cool the front brakes.  The earliest clear photograph I have found of this modification is of #462534.  Absence of this feature has been said to be an indication of the car being a Corsa version.

#462534 (Courtesy Artcurial) 

Headlamps: Circular, and mounted at the rear of a faired-in aperture, the 5.5” units were usually provided with a Plexiglass front cover from early production.  This remained the common configuration until late in the production run – last photographed - #720384.  Then, along with the full width/wrap around bumper, the lamps were located further forward on the leading face of the front wing, upright and chrome-rimmed, (#734541).  Cars built for immediate export to the U.S. featured 7” covered headlamps.

#720384 (Courtesy T.M.)

#734541 Sestrière (Courtesy John de Boer)

Side Badges: A constant feature from the beginning of production was the placement of a black Zagato Milano ‘Z’ badge on the front wings between the rear of the front wheelarch and the leading edge of the door.

The rear quarter panel badges – upper depicting a triangular checkered flag with ‘Gran Turismo 750’ script/block arrow with script referring to Italian national championships; lower is the Abarth crest - are not seen on cars as late as #441784 (July-‘58);  they are evident on #446004 (August-‘58).  The Record Monza lacked badging on the rear quarter panel, but had model and Abarth crest badges applied to the B post area between the door and rear side windows, as seen on #441205 mid-‘58).

Zagato Z badge (front wings) (Courtesy Bonhams)

#504396  Rear 1/4 badges locations (Courtesy Bring a Trailer) 

#441205 (Courtesy RM Sotheby's)

The Double Bubble rear 1/4 badges vary according to year of manufacture.  For ’58-made cars, the upper badge commemorates the Italian Championships of ’56 and ’57.  For ’59 and ‘60, the badge was amended to add the ’58 Championship victory.

’58 production upper badge (Source Unknown)

'59 production upper badge (Source Unknown)


Positioning of the upper and lower badges (Courtesy Simoncars)


Record Monza badge (Source Unknown)

Positioning of the upper and lower Record Monza badges (Source Unknown)


Rear: The profile of the rear face of the rear wings is ‘blunt’ (radiused) on early cars, e.g. #248883, below.  Note the simple, small taillight units.  The wing profile over its trailing edge was modified, (creating what was referred to by Greggio as ‘little tails’), and a larger, deeper (proud-standing) taillight unit introduced subsequently, e.g. #602924, below.  However, the Record Monza incorporated the ‘blunt’ rear profile, e.g. #577535.

#248883 (Courtesy Bonhams)

#602924 (Courtesy T.M.)

#577535 Record Monza (Courtesy Bonhams)

Rear light cluster: The earliest (mid-’56) chassis number I have for reference, #163327, features a three section lens, top to bottom, orange, red, red – still in use on #358847.  A narrow horizontal chrome bar separates the upper (orange) lens from the middle (red) one.  The top and bottom are (vertical) ellipse shaped, broader at the top, sharper at the bottom.  On #248883, (early-’57), a variation of this type has the lower red lens projected outwards and with a chrome ‘casing.’  Also evident on other ‘early’ cars, #244318, (early-mid-’57), for example, is an elongated oval with a central circular, darker section.  All these variants have a chrome surround.  #443582, (mid-’57), features an all red lens with central, horizontal chrome bar divider and this is commonly seen, as late as #757464, (Sestrière, ’60), for instance.  First seen on #558321, (’59), is a type which is then common as far as example chassis #830648, (’60-’61).  The chrome surround of this has a sharp ellipse top and bottom.  A square red stop light lens projects from the centre and this is held by a chrome casing.  On #617839, (‘60-‘61), it is seen that the top ellipse is much blunter than the lower one.
Images courtesy of (left to right): Classic Driver; Ame/Renald E; Bonhams; Unknown; Beverley Hills Car Club; Dave G.


Rear Bumperettes/Bumper Bars.  The first basic distinction would be that a car delivered to a customer whose primary intention was to race it, would have no bumperettes at all.  On the early (mid-’56), chassis number, #163327, a pair of vertical bumper bars is fitted on the joint between the lower rear valance and the rear wing.  As with many other examples of rear ‘body furniture,’ it’s impossible to judge with certainty, but I’d suspect these are a later addition.  However, this configuration is also evident on the early chassis, #244318, (early-mid-‘57).  The earlier cars were sometimes fitted with a number plate surround in chrome which provided, in effect, two vertical bumperettes of smaller proportions.  This arrangement is seen on #222623, #239600 and #248883 (all early-’57) and #244318 (early-mid-’57).  It seems to have been a short-lived solution, being superseded in late ’57 by the installation of a pair of horizontal bumperettes, doubling as registration plate lamp bulb holders either side of the number plate mounting, to #418163 (’57).  This style/level of rear bumper provision then became a norm until the eventual cessation of production.  A late example is #749634, (mid-’60).  However, also often seen was a combination of the vertical bumper bars along with the horizonal pair.  An early example of this is #358847 (late-’57). 

Images courtesy of (left to right): John de Boer/Renald E; Artcurial; T.M.; Classic Driver


Rear bumpers.  Chrome-finish quarter bumpers, effectively protecting all four ‘corners’ of the car, appeared on Sestrière models manufactured in ’61 – example, #734541.  Note: Elsewhere it was documented: 02-’58 ES 01, Tipo221 750 Coupe Record Monza Zagato 57 bhp; Greggio says smooth roof, 3 pane rear window, horizontal wraparound bumpers.

#734541 (Courtesy John de Boer)

Chrome rear model script.  This is usually found mounted at a 30° angle across the centre of the engine cover, between the cover’s lock and the upper horizontal aperture.  The script itself commonly comprises the words, Fiat ABARTH 750.  An example is seen on #418043, (mid-’58).  Variations: Fiat/deriva ABARTH 750 (#651969); fiat derivazione /ABARTH 750 (#558327, and #446004, (mid-’58)).  The deriva/derivazione is a reference to the programme by which Abarth developed the 750GT as a derivation of the Fiat 600 model.  The 30° angle-mounted script continued until late ’59, e.g. #693930 (Sestrière).  However, a further variation, from late ’59 onwards - is the fiat ABARTH 750 script mounted centrally and horizontally – not at the 30° angle previously noted, e.g. #706590, also #694916 and #696265, (both late-’59) and #719212, (mid-’60).

Images courtesy of (left to right): Marks-Nagoya; Bonhams; RM Sotheby's/Hyman Ltd; W Dons/John de Boer


Images courtesy of (left to right): Sports Car Shop/Mike S; Bonhams

I suspect that this will forever be an ongoing work-in-progress.  By virtue of the type of vehicle this is, and the sort of enthusiasts that typically own examples, cars seen/photographed today may well display features which have been added/modified over the years, long after they left the factory – such customisation is especially commonly seen in regard to badging, trims and wheels.  And, as regards the details of any 750GT as it left Corso Marche, such is the accuracy/completeness/availability of the contemporaneously-recorded data concerning production of the cars, that there will be many aspects of their specifications which will remain uncertain/disputed.  I do not pretend to have access to any magic bullet processes or data sources which would resolve such issues.  All I have done here is to collect together and systematically organise existing information with what I hope is an appropriate level of discretion.  But, even so, I’m sure there will be readers with far greater first hand knowledge of the cars than I have who will perceive misunderstandings/anomalies in what I’ve written.  That being the case, I’m very keen to receive appropriate feedback so that the document can be refined and improved – so please don’t hold back!

Reference sources: 

(Greggio)          The Man, the Machines by Luciano Greggio 

(Secc)               Abarth, The Scorpion’s Tale 1949-1972 by Sergio Seccatore 

(JdB)                 John de Boer 

(AB)                  Tony Berni, Berni Motore 

(GM)                 Guy Moerenhout 

(DegRiz)            Abarth. All The Cars by Elvio Degamello and Arturo Rizzoli 

(GastSecc)         Abarth. Memories by Luca Gastaldi and Sergio Seccatore 

(Cos)                Abarth Guide by Alfred Cosentino 

(BoSt)               Abarth Racing Cars Collection, 1949-1974 by Stefan Bogner and                          Franz Steinbacher 

(Forum)             Fiat Abarth 750GT Zagato Forum 

(MBG)               Middle Barton Garage, Tony Castle-Miller 

(PV)                  Abarth Buyer’s Guide by Pete Vack

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