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| Courtesy Bring a Trailer |
Carlo Abarth had good reason to have a particular affection for the two words, ‘record’ and ‘Monza.’ As related in the Do Look Back post, Abarth 850 TC and 1000 Berlina - Sixties Supremacy, in ’56 he instituted a World Records programme run at the Monza circuit: Two years later an Abarth 500 achieved a record by covering 18,186 km at an average speed over 7 days of 108.5 kph. Fiat was impressed! So impressed that Carlo was able to gain agreement from Fiat that it would make a payment to Abarth for every motor sport victory recorded by a Fiat-based Abarth product. This arrangement proved to be extremely helpful over many years, primarily in supporting the development of new products and race activity at Corso Marche. So, in fact, there were over 7,000 ‘reasons’ why the name ‘Record Monza’ should be chosen for the new version of the Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato launched in Paris in October ’58 – those ‘reasons’ being the number of win bonus payments eventually made by Fiat through to ’71.
The 750 GT Zagato had emerged in April ’56. Performance was reasonable for the era considering the engine’s small displacement, the combination of 47 bhp and a kerb weight of 535 Kg enabling a 0-60 mph time of around 15 seconds and a top speed of about 93 mph. However, given the Abarth marque’s inherent sporting aspirations, there was no hesitation in work beginning on a faster version. This was founded on the availability for ‘58 of the Tipo 222 (696 cc) and Tipo 221 (747 cc) engines which incorporated the new twin cam (Bialbero) head designed by Gioachino Colombo. Both were equipped with twin Weber 36 DCL 4 carburettors. The 221 engine was rated at 57 bhp, allowing the 750 Record Monza to achieve a 0-60 mph time of 11.4 seconds and a top speed of 109 mph. Priced at Lit 2,075,000, the model symbolised Abarth’s serious intent in regard to top flight sportscar racing, albeit that it was the succeeding 1000 Bialbero that eventually racked up the victories. The 1000 model was unveiled in January ’60 with the designation, Fiat Abarth 1000 Bialbero Coupe, featuring the Tipo 229, 982 cc engine and with bodywork devised by Mario Colucci without input from Zagato, (though with several aspects, the single intake engine deck lid for instance, carried over from the Record Monza). Confusingly, the Automobile Club d’Italia Homologation form for the new 1000 Coupe has the value ‘Coupe Record Monza’ in the field Tipo di Carrozzeria. Regarding the homologation, Luciano Greggio asserted that following the Record Monza’s launch, ‘a semi-production run of 100 cars went ahead immediately to obtain homologation in the Grand Touring category.’ Though this could be a confusion with the homologation of the 1000 Coupe in March ’61, (whereas the FIA archive for ‘59 does not contain such a document for the 750 Record Monza), the 750 Record Monza began, in Spring ’59, to appear in the list of Abarth race/class victories compiled for administration of the Fiat bonus payments. The model’s victory count for the year reached 53. There were 51 in ’60, but by ’61, the 1000 Bialbero had taken over, with 55 wins during the course of the year. Indeed, by late ’61 the 750 Record Monza had been replaced in effect by a ‘family’ of Colucci’s coupes comprised of the Monomille (single cam), 700 Bialbero and 1000 Bialbero, with bodies made successively by Corna, (immediately following the break with Zagato), Beccaris and, finally, Sibona & Basano.
Stand out 750 GT Record Monza first placings were in ’59: Six Hours, Vallelunga, (Prinoth); Targa Florio, (Prinoth/Carini); Mille Miglia, (Prinoth/Pitscheider); Eight Hours, Lime Rock, (Penske/Callahan); Coupes de Paris, Montlhéry, (Fabi). In ’60: Six Hours, Hockenheim, (Seidel/Poltronieri); GT Grand Prix, Monza, (Seidel); 500 Kms, Nurburgring, (Castellina/Vinatier); Preis von Tirol, (Fabi); 1000 Kms de Paris (Consten/Condriller).
Surveying extant 750 Record Monzas offered for sale in recent times, several may be considered ‘early,’ indicated as having been built in ’59. Two have been described as ’57-made. As seen below, #441205 is certainly a ‘low’ chassis number – every other one I’ve seen is in the range #500000 to #860214. It is claimed to be ‘pre-production’ and possibly prepared originally as a works race car. But the date is surely unfeasible – the year of first presentation of the Record Monza being ’58, and the public debut in Paris ‘late,’ (in October). This car has two features that are characteristic for ’59-made examples, distinguishing them from ’60-manufactured cars – absence of indicator repeater lamps on the front wings and no centrally-located intake aperture in the front valance. As usually found, the chrome engine deck lid badge script incorporates ‘Derivazione’ in its abbreviated form, ’deriva’ – ‘fiat deriva ABARTH 750.’ The car was offered in February 2025 in RM Sotheby’s sale in Miami and was sold for $78,400.
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| #441205 Courtesy Classicdriver.com |
#534203 is described without any equivocation as being of ’59 production. Externally it differs from #441205 in having black, rather than bright metal frames for the two small rectangular intake apertures low in the front valance panel. Also at variance is the engine deck lid badge, which reads, ‘fiat derivazione ABARTH 750.’ In addition, there appears to have been an aftermarket modification to the rear lamp clusters. As on #441205, these are mounted with vertical orientation in standard specification, but are differently shaped, fitted to the engine decklid rather than the rear of the wings and are horizontally orientated on #534203.
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| #534203 Courtesy CarsandClassic.com |
Bonhams, in handling the sale at Goodwood in July ‘08 of #541508, described it as having been made in ’57. As Lot 595, the car’s auction description notes do not provide any information that would be a basis for attributing this date and I would be confident that this is in fact a ’59-built example. This car provides evidence that the front wing indicator repeater lamps, (not fitted on the two cars shown above), were introduced early in the production run, probably around June/July, ’59. This car is fitted with Campagnolo Abarth alloy wheels, (probably recent recreations given their apparently ‘unworn’ condition).
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| #541508 Courtesy Bonham's |
Another ’59-built Record Monza is #546440. It incorporates a few unusual features: 1) Currently fitted with an ex-Fiat 850 Berlina 903 cc race engine; 2) Tubular bumpers; 3) Single, Raydyot style front wing-mounted external mirror; 4) Plain, full size bright metal wheel trims. Also of note is the absence of front indicator repeater lamps. Offered for sale in 2025 for £64,950.
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| #546440 Courtesy CarandClassic.com |
The unrestored #550070 was sold on Bring a Trailer in 2025 for $30,000. While the new owner’s first concern would surely be attention to the bodywork/chassis, this car will be in need of a replacement, original specification Abarth Tipo 221 engine. The motor then currently fitted is described in the BaT listing: The non-running Tipo 100.000 inline-four is believed to have been sourced from a Fiat 600 and installed under previous ownership. It is fitted with an Abarth intake manifold and air cleaner along with a single Weber downdraft carburettor.
Among points of note with the bodywork is the absence of Zagato ‘Z’ front wing badges, engine deck lid badge, front bumperettes and centre grille/shield, missing rear side ‘glasses’ and flared extensions to the rear wheel arches.
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| #550070 Courtesy Antczak Motors |
In late ’58 Carlo Abarth agreed to grant distribution rights in the U.S. East Coast region to the Roosevelt Automobile Company. This enterprise was the creation of Franklin Roosevelt Jr, son of the former American president. There was mutual agreement that participation in American motorsport would be an essential aspect of the marketing strategy. Thus, there was immediate implementation of a plan in which cars would be race-prepared at the factory and shipped to New York, with ongoing race entry and maintenance/repair carried out and funded by Team Roosevelt. Initially, this involved the supply of four Record Monzas to run in the 12 Hours of Sebring in March ’59. The outcome was highly successful, the cars finishing 1-2-3-4 in the 750 GT class. One of them was #550486. It was sold in recent times – 2014 – by Bonhams for $203,500. According to the auction lot description notes, this is the Record Monza that carried race number 62 and was driven by Lanzo Cussini and Remo Cattini to 2nd place in class. Restoration was apparently started in the ‘90s according to Bonhams and by late in the decade it was being raced at Lime Rock in VSCCA historic events.
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| #550486 Courtesy Bonhams |
14th April ’59 was apparently the date on which #555575 was delivered to its first owner in Palermo, capital of Sicily. Apparently never raced or owned/operated outside Italy, the car was sold in 2019 by Girardo for €115,000. The front end is notable, being non-standard in terms of an absence of the usual central ‘grille,’ scorpion crest shield and whiskers combination, and of brake cooling duct intake apertures below the indicator lamps. At the rear, a crest shield badge has been mounted centrally on the engine deck lid above the ‘fiat ABARTH 750’ chrome script badge. Distinctive on this car are the wheels. These were made by Ruote Amadori. Founded in 1950, Amadori was one of the first Italian makers of cast alloy wheels. The company’s design was chosen by Zagato for fitting so some of the Giuletta Sprint Zagatos built for Alfa Romeo. The same type was original equipment for the OSCA 1600 GT Zagato – see here. Also of interest are the seats. The standard type featured rectangular transverse cut-outs towards the top of the backrest and near to the leading edge of the squab. In #555575 they have the backrest cut-out, but the squab does not – while it has two buttons in a similar position. This would appear to identify these as being the lightweight, tubular frame type fitted as original equipment to the Giulietta Sprint Zagatos, as seen below.
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#555575 - note Amadori wheels Courtesy Girardo
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| #556150 Courtesy Bring a Trailer |
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| #556150 Courtesy Bring a Trailer |
A Facebook post from December ’24 presents details and photographs of #560697, which ‘FIAT ABARTH’ says was manufactured on March 27, 1959. An extensive restoration process is outlined, with emphasis of a focus on returning the car, as far as possible, to original specification. This includes features the post states as being exclusive to the Record Monza model: ‘The Jaeger rev counter with a painted redline zone around 7000 rpm, the starter lever with the choke lever removed, etc. are features that are only found on the 750 Bialbero . . .’ These items are seen below, as is the engine bay, an especially attractive feature of the car. As with #556150, Borrani bimetal wheels are fitted.
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| #560697 Courtesy Corgys |
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| #560697 Courtesy Corgys |
Another Record Monza for which a date of manufacture is asserted is #577535 – 20th April ’59.
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| #577535 Courtesy Bonhams |
Although positively identifying vehicle built in its era is often a complex and difficult matter, a Record Monza tends not to be since it bears multiple ‘tags,’ reflecting the origin of its chassis structure, the Abarth marque itself and the source of the body. Thus, a car will have a Fiat factory stamping into the chassis sheet metal, an Abarth-fitted plate with stampings for, 1) Tipo, 2) No. Telaio (chassis), and 3) No. Motore (engine) and a body number, assigned by Zagato. Regarding the later, this will usually be found in various places, including on the underside of internal trim, door apertures and on the windscreen frame under the dashboard. For #577535, the body number is quoted as being Z47.
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| #577535 Identifications Courtesy ClassicDriver.com |
As indicated in the third paragraph of this survey, initial racing successes for the Record Monza in ’59 were attributable to the exploits of driver, Ernesto Prinoth. According to Bonhams’s notes for the recent sale of #577535, Prinoth was its first owner, taking delivery in April ‘59. It had apparently previously been an Abarth works race car, featuring the 14-hole Borrani alloy wheels and front disc brakes. It was also suggested, although not confirmed, that it is one of the cars that participated in the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, and Coppa Sant Ambrosius in ‘59. The Bonhams sale, in Belgium, October ’19, saw a price of €95,000 realised.
#614316 is said to have been manufactured in July ’59. In September ’25 it was referenced on the authoritative Fiat Abarth 750GT Zagato Forum. The post stated that ‘The car currently has an Abarth 850S motor (214) and the original 750 motor is currently being rebuilt to go in the car next year.’
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| #614316 Courtesy Michael B/Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato Forum |
Prior to joining Abarth in ’59, Mario Poltronieri had been one of the drivers participating in the legendry world record breaking at Monza. Subsequently employed by Carlo Abarth, he was mainly a test driver, but he was also involved in the workshop with engine tuning and in the office with Public/Press Relations. In the days before the volume of cars produced at the ‘old’ Abarth Via Trecate factory premises and subsequently at the new base at nearby 38 Corso Marche, when the staff headcount was small, various tasks were delegated to Poltronieri on an ad-hoc basis – he journeyed to England for example to evaluate Dunlop’s disc brakes and this led to their adoption by Abarth. Having played a part in the records breaking, it was especially appropriate that Poltronieri should have become the owner of the Record Monza, #711565, once he was member of staff. The deal may have come about through his involvement with the car in an experimental/development role since it has been said that the car was originally built as a spider and rebodied as a coupe in ’62.
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| #711565 Courtesy AutomotiveMasterpieces.com |
In October ’18, Record Monza #780410 was offered in a sale at Padua by Bonhams with an estimate of €120,000 - €160,000. The auction lot notes included, (it) ‘was comprehensively restored by renowned Italian coachbuilders Faralli of Pisa, Tuscany some 10 years ago, while the overhaul of the mechanicals was entrusted to the Abarth specialist Fallorno of Empoli, again in Tuscany.’ Despite its excellent condition and Abarth Classiche certified status, the car remained unsold.
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| #780410 Courtesy Bonhams |
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| #780410 Courtesy Bonhams |
Probably conducive with its chassis number, #860214 was described at Sotheby’s ’16 London sale as a ’61 car. It was offered with an estimate of £75,000 - £90,000, but not sold. Any sales resistance may have stemmed from it being equipped with a replacement, single cam engine. On the other hand, it is a car with racing history, having most notably been driven by the well known Umberto Maglioli, three times winner of the Targa Florio.
Although the Sotheby’s description incudes an indication that it had, ‘the benefit of Abarth Classiche certification,‘ a non standard engine deck lid (with 8 louvres in the lower area) and absence of a script badge on the panel are evident. The front valance panel incorporates a central, elliptical intake aperture. This feature has been seen on no other examples in this survey of extant Record Monzas, except for a believed-’60 made car for which the chassis number is unknown. Also noted are non-standard B pillar badges, (‘lightning' version fitted in place of the usual ‘flag, ‘RECORD MONZA’, scorpion crest items). Sliding race inserts are installed in both side windows. Wheels are Campagnolo Abarth style alloys.
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| #860214 Courtesy RM Sotheby's |
The 850 Record Monza was introduced in June ’59, outdoing the 747 cc model in performance terms with 70 bhp and a top speed of 118 mph. But the key to Abarth’s ongoing GT racing success was the new 982 cc Fiat Abarth 1000 Bialbero Coupe, (ES 01). Announced in January ’60, the new car’s Tipo 229 engine gave 91 bhp and was capable of 121 mph. Initially, it was Zagato-bodied and had the appearance of the 850 Record Monza, but not ‘Z’ badged. With the establishment of Carrozzeria Abarth, the building of restyled bodies was re-assigned to Beccaris. Thus, the Record Monza designation lapsed. A more detailed account of the transition is found in the Do Look Back post, Abarth's 912 - the Mono Mille GT
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