Abarth powerhouses in comparison - Fiat-Abarth 595 essesse, 1000 TCR and 695 biposto

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Abarth powerhouses in comparison - Fiat-Abarth 595 essesse, 1000 TCR and 695 biposto

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Created on June 3, 2015

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

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Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv Reinhard / Max Pichler

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - together with the 595 esseesse from 1969 and the 695 Biposto from 2015

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - between the 595 esseesse from 1969 and the modern descendant 695 Biposto

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - together with the 595 esseesse from 1969 and the 695 Biposto from 2015

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - the golden mean? In any case, that's where it is in terms of performance, with the 595 esseesse from 1969 on the right and the 695 Biposto from 2015 on the left

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - in the background the only slightly younger but much more powerful 1000 TCR from 1970

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - the manageable speeds still allow for a chat with the passenger

Bild von Partner Porsche AMAG Mai Foto-Galerie 2026

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - with around 32 hp, of course, you can't pull out any big trees

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - followed by the ancestor Fiat-Abarth 695 Biposto

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - looks faster than it is

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - you have to do without bucket seats and lateral support here

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - sporty without being unwelcoming

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - sportiness is the order of the day in the cockpit

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - the instrument layout is much sportier than the standard version of the Fiat 500

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - the scorpion on the bow

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - in front of its descendant 695 Biposto from 2015

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - Widenings for more powerful wheels

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - those were wide tires back then

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - completely labeled

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - the scorpion should of course not be missing

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - the sportiest version bears the SS lettering

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - small engine for a small car

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - the hood opens downwards

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - two-cylinder by engine artist Gianfranco Bossù

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - two cylinders are all you need

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - type plate and chassis number

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - valuable lettering

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - three times Fiat-Abarth, around 160 hp between the vehicles

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - together with its Group 2 brother 1000 TCR

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - to the left the Fiat-Abarth 595 from 1969

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - significant difference in performance with little difference in size, on the right the 595 esseesse from 1969

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1969) - next to the Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR from 1970

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - looks more elongated than its shorter brother 595 esseesse from 1969

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - the Group 2 rocket

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - driven courageously, the front wheel on the inside of the bend takes off

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - the little king of the racetrack

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - then as now, only a few followed in its footsteps

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - a dwarf with a lot of potential

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - the little one is lighter, but also weaker than its successor in spirit, the 695 Biposto

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - in front of its indirect descendant 695 Biposto

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - the tires are warmed up

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - feels wonderfully direct

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - three wheels are enough to build up grip

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - for professional and amateur racing drivers, but it really wasn't cheap

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - significantly more race-like than its parallel-built little brother, the 595 esseesse from 1969

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - ready for the start

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - a typical racing engine, it needs revs and sufficient cooling

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - bucket seats and non-slip steering wheel

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - committed to motorsport

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - Supports for the driver's and passenger's legs

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - rev counter up to 10,000 rpm, speedometer up to 200 km/h

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - geared towards Group 2

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - large cooling opening

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - looks businesslike

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - Front hood catches

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - pragmatic closures

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - Quick fuel filler cap

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - quick fuel filler cap accessible from the outside

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - Gas cap and windshield wiper

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - Widenings for fatter tires

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - beautiful alloy wheels

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - ready to go

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - four cylinders in the rear

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - the one-liter engine develops up to 130 hp

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - it runs and how it runs

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - two Weber carburetors and open bags

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - dual exhaust system

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - almost like a bar counter

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - the differences to the 695 Biposto from 2015 are particularly evident here

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - only the old model has the engine at the rear, the "successor" 695 Biposto has the power above the front wheels

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - visual similarities, major technical differences

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - and its indirect successor Abarth 695 Biposto

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - one engine in the rear, one in the front (Abarth 695 Biposto from 2015)

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) and Abarth 695 biposoto (2015) - they both have four cylinders and a power-to-weight ratio of around 5 kg per hp, but they are still worlds apart

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - here the growth in size becomes really visible - on the right the 695 Biposto from 2015

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - looks almost dainty compared to its indirect successor, the 695 Biposto

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Abarth 695 Biposto (2015) - looks smaller than it really is

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Abarth 695 Biposto (2015) - on a test drive

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Abarth 695 Biposto (2015) - dynamic on the road

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Abarth 695 Biposto (2015) - Carbon look on the front wing

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Abarth 695 Biposto (2015) - note the aluminum gearshift

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Abarth 695 Biposto (2015) - this is how you imagine sporty cockpits these days

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Abarth 695 Biposto (2015) - loops must suffice as door handles

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Abarth 695 Biposto (2015) - plastic door glasses on the doors approved for road use

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Abarth 695 Biposto (2015) - the modern Abarth sign

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Abarth 695 Biposto (2015) - Brembo stoppers and perforated brake discs

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Abarth 695 Biposto (2015) - biposto stands for two seats

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Abarth 695 Biposto (2015) - Diffuser and dual exhaust system

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Abarth 695 Biposto (2015) - rear design compared to the Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR from 1970 and 595 from 1969

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1970) - framed by Fiat-Abarth 695 Biposto and 595 esseesse from 1969

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (2015) - the modern incarnation of the 595, with four cylinders and well over 150 hp

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Carlo Abarth in front of his cars in 1965

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Fiat-Abarth 595 SS (1965) - together with 695 SS and 695 SS Assetto Corsa on the sales literature

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1963) - the little brother of the 850 TC

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1964) - side view, left

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1963) - visually, the 595 differed only slightly from its 500 series counterpart

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1963) - the 595 also had type lettering on the inside

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Fiat-Abarth 595 SS (1964) - the fast SS was based on the Fiat 500

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1963) - performance-enhanced 500

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Fiat-Abarth 595 (1963) - Exploded view of the performance-enhanced engine

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Fiat Abarth 695 SS (1964) - a real racing car by Carlo Abarth - at the Geneva Motor Show 2014

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Fiat Abarth 695 SS (1964) - with the famous folded-up engine covers - at the Geneva Motor Show 2014

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Fiat Abarth 695 SS (1964) - intended to whet the appetite for its modern successor - at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show

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The original Abarth 695 celebrated its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in 1964

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Fiat-Abarth 695 (1964) - celebrates its debut in Geneva - Geneva Motor Show 1964

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Fiat-Abarth 695 (1964) - New release at the Geneva Motor Show - at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show

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Fiat-Abarth 695 (1964) - the little fastest - the first example of the latest representative of the racy small cars from Abarth - at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show

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Fiat-Abarth 695 (1964) - at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show

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Fiat-Abarth 695 (1965) - a wolf in sheep's clothing

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Fiat-Abarth 695 SS (1964) - Interior of the upgraded 500 model

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Fiat-Abarth 695 SS (1964) - Presentation at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show

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Fiat-Abarth 695 (1964) - scorpion on the front, type lettering on the hood

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Fiat-Abarth 695 (1964) - not quite as dynamic as the SS version

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Fiat-Abarth 850 TC Corsa (1964) - apart from the large tank, there were hardly any restrictions for everyday use - despite 69 hp at 7,600 rpm

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Fiat-Abarth 850 TC (1967) - large additional radiators were particularly necessary for racing

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Fiat-Abarth 850 TC Berlina Corsa (1967) - racing version with large radiator and checkerboard pattern on the roof

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Fiat-Abarth 850 TC Corsa (1967) - with the large radiator and war paint, understatement was no longer possible

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 Berlina Corrsa (1966) - at the four-hour race of the Jolly Club in Monza in 1966

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 Berlina Corsa (1968) - on the race track

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Fiat-Abarth 850 TC (1963) - on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 Berlina Corsa (1970) - side view, front-left

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 Berlina Corsa (1965) - Ignazio Giunti during the race at the Côte du Col Bayard

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Fiat-Abarth 2000 prototype (1971) - in Turin, in the background of the 1000 TCR Group 2

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Fiat-Abarth 2000 prototype (1971) - 2000 (left), 3000 prototype (right), in Turin, in the background the Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (Berlina Corsa)

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Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR (1971) - on the Abarth stand in Turin

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Summary

In a good 20 years, Carlo Abarth built over 200 different types of car and his vehicles won over 7000 races. Reason enough to compare two of his successful models with a modern successor. A 595 essesse, a 1000 TCR (Berlina Corsa) and a 695 biposto competed against each other on the race track. This vehicle report describes the characteristics of the three vehicles and shows them in current and historical images, as well as in brochures.

This article contains the following chapters

Carlo Abarth and his work
The 500 descendants
Radials
Break and rebirth
The compromise?
Extremes
Comparison of the technical data
Further information

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

A racing car that you can drive to work during the week, but which is competitive on the mountain or on the circuit at the weekend, has always been desirable. Carlo Abarth was one of the masters of this discipline and the name Fiat-Abarth is still associated with everyday powerhouses today. He was a successful entrepreneur and team boss, Carlo Abarth. Between 1950 and 1971, he produced well over 200 different car models under his name and with his zodiac sign Scorpio as a trademark. The spectrum ranged from slightly more powerful small cars to eight-cylinder prototypes and also included formula cars and elegant Granturismo vehicles.

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