1961 Fiat-Abarth 850 SS Record Monza Coupé
Carlo Abarth’s genius for transforming humble Fiat engines into supernatural performers was on full display with the 1961 Fiat-Abarth 850 SS Record Monza Coupé, part of a strictly limited series that embodied the Austrian-born engineer’s racing philosophy.
After establishing his Turin operation in 1949 following the collapse of Cisitalia, Abarth created a succession of aerodynamically styled sports cars in conjunction with Carrozzeria Zagato, beginning with the 750 GT in 1956.
The 850 SS Record Monza represented the evolution of Abarth’s giant-killing exploits in early 1960s touring and GT racing, enlarging Fiat’s inline four-cylinder engine to 847 cc (commonly referred to as 850 cc) and achieving approximately 75 to 76 horsepower at around 8,000 rpm in competition specification.
Named in honor of Abarth’s numerous record-breaking achievements at Monza, the car featured Zagato’s characteristically lightweight and aerodynamic aluminum coachwork developed to compete in the 850 cc class.
By 1962, the Abarth lineup included variants such as the 850 TC, 850 TC Nürburgring, 850 TC Corsa, and 850-based Zagato-bodied coupes, all produced in limited numbers.
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