Author Topic: Avalanche #3- Solved- 1962 Abarth Simca 1300 (Read 886 times)

Avalanche · « **on:** November 20, 2012, 10:02:28 PM »

What car is this and what is its claim to fame?

Avalanche · « **Reply #1 on:** November 24, 2012, 11:20:00 PM »

Experts?

sixtee5cuda · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2012, 12:01:17 AM »

Compasso d’Oro design prize winner?

Avalanche · « **Reply #3 on:** November 25, 2012, 12:04:44 AM »

Quote from: sixtee5cuda on November 25, 2012, 12:01:17 AM

Compasso d’Oro design prize winner?

No...that's not it.

dzima1985 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 25, 2012, 12:21:03 AM »

1956 Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato?

Avalanche · « **Reply #5 on:** November 25, 2012, 12:31:54 AM »

You're on the right track, but only one of the 6 things you list is correct.

sixtee5cuda · « **Reply #6 on:** November 25, 2012, 01:28:06 AM »

1960 Fiat Abarth 1000 Bialbero

mekubb · « **Reply #7 on:** November 25, 2012, 09:32:05 AM »

Simca Abarth 2000 ?

Avalanche · « **Reply #8 on:** November 25, 2012, 09:47:51 AM »

Quote from: sixtee5cuda on November 25, 2012, 01:28:06 AM

1960 Fiat Abarth 1000 Bialbero

1 out of 5

Avalanche · « **Reply #9 on:** November 25, 2012, 10:04:08 AM »

Quote from: mekubb on November 25, 2012, 09:32:05 AM

Simca Abarth 2000 ?

Very close. There is a feature on this car that is not found on the Simca Abarth 2000. This feature also gives a clue as to the claim to fame of this car.

sixtee5cuda · « **Reply #10 on:** November 25, 2012, 10:58:11 AM »

Twin Cam?

Avalanche · « **Reply #11 on:** November 25, 2012, 10:59:36 AM »

It does have a twin cam engine but that's not the information I'm looking for. This car is not a Simca Abarth 2000.

mekubb · « **Reply #12 on:** November 25, 2012, 12:12:39 PM »

But Abarth it is ?

Avalanche · « **Reply #13 on:** November 25, 2012, 12:20:01 PM »

Abarth is correct.

mekubb · « **Reply #14 on:** November 25, 2012, 01:13:33 PM »

And Simca Abarth as well ? If it is then how about a 1300 from 1961 ?

Avalanche · « **Reply #15 on:** November 25, 2012, 01:15:47 PM »

Simca, Abarth and 1300 are correct. Get the year correct and you may be surprised to find the significance of this little machine.

mekubb · « **Reply #16 on:** November 25, 2012, 05:04:22 PM »

The year is 1962, the first year it raced. I'm not sure what 'claim of fame' you want to hear, may be that it reached 230 km/h with a 1300 cc engine and could keep up with 2 litre racers ?

Avalanche · « **Reply #17 on:** November 25, 2012, 05:14:05 PM »

Quote from: mekubb on November 25, 2012, 05:04:22 PM

The year is 1962, the first year it raced. I'm not sure what 'claim of fame' you want to hear, may be that it reached 230 km/h with a 1300 cc engine and could keep up with 2 litre racers ?

Since you have most of the criteria correct, I'll call this puzzle solved and award the point. The clue to the "claim to fame" I'm looking for is in the single driving light mounted in the grill opening.

mekubb · « **Reply #18 on:** November 26, 2012, 03:20:36 AM »

Ok thanks for the point (not awarded yet I see..). I had noticed the single driving light but didn't thought that it was that special. I believe 230 km/h with a 1300 cc engine is more special

Avalanche · « **Reply #19 on:** November 26, 2012, 09:42:36 AM »

The car is, as noted, a 1962 Abarth Simca 1300. The significance of the single driving light is that this apparently was a requirement to compete in the 24hrs of LeMans. The car was campaigned by Claude Dubois and Georges Harris at LeMans in 1962. It was the only Abarth Simca to finish the race and finished 14th overall. More importantly, it finished 1st in its class (1300cc experimental). The results aren't quite so stunning when you consider only 18 of 55 cars finished the race, but just finishing is an accomplishment.

Here is a shot of the business end...

D-type · « **Reply #20 on:** November 27, 2012, 05:38:37 AM »

"The significance of the single driving light is that this apparently was a requirement to compete in the 24hrs of Le Mans"
Interesting! I have never seen a mention of this before. But knowing the ACO, it doesn't surprise me at all. Pictures of Le Mans cars from that period show that some - but not all - cars had additional lights to supplement the headlamps. Do you know whether the requirement was based on number of lights, wattage or brightness?

Avalanche · « **Reply #21 on:** November 27, 2012, 09:58:54 AM »

Quote from: D-type on November 27, 2012, 05:38:37 AM

"The significance of the single driving light is that this apparently was a requirement to compete in the 24hrs of Le Mans"
Interesting! I have never seen a mention of this before. But knowing the ACO, it doesn't surprise me at all. Pictures of Le Mans cars from that period show that some - but not all - cars had additional lights to supplement the headlamps. Do you know whether the requirement was based on number of lights, wattage or brightness?

This is not something I can verify either. It was a group of gentlemen, far more educated than I, that were speculating this. The light is recessed into the coachwork so it isn't just an "add-on". I'd love to know the real significance of the single driving lamp. Can someone enlighten us?

Otto Puzzell · « **Reply #22 on:** November 27, 2012, 10:13:10 AM »

If they were Lucas units, about 50% of them wouldn't work. Knowing that, they only attached 1 per car....

Iluvatar · « **Reply #23 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:51:09 PM »

I don't think this is so special... this is not the first Abarth car with a central front light, and Abarth used this feature as a styling cue on some cars (210A, Ferrari 166, Bertone 1500)
Nevertheless on this car the light doesn't look really as a style feature... I believe it was only added for more light power to race at night... not so strange if this car was born for LM or similar races...

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Author Topic: Avalanche #3- Solved- 1962 Abarth Simca 1300 (Read 886 times)