1959 Fiat-Abarth 750 GT ‘Double Bubble’
Zagato’s lightweight aluminum-alloy coachwork transformed the humble Fiat 600 into a formidable competition machine, with Carlo Abarth’s tuning expertise extracting nearly double the output from the modified 747cc engine.
The collaboration between Turin’s master tuner and Milan’s renowned coachbuilder created one of the most successful Italian etceterini, bridging the gap between a road-going sports car and a purpose-built racer.
Unveiled at the 1956 Geneva Motor Show, the design featured Zagato’s signature “double bubble” roof treatment (twin bulges added to the roofline to provide helmet-friendly headroom while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency). This distinctive styling element would become synonymous with sporting Zagato coupes for decades.
Production began in 1957 with lightweight aluminum-alloy panels over a tubular steel framework, yielding a competition weight of around 1,180 pounds (535 kg).
Racing success came quickly. Multiple examples finished at the top of the 750cc class at the 1957 Mille Miglia, establishing the model’s credentials on Europe’s most demanding road course.
Further victories accumulated at Sebring, Le Mans, and countless SCCA events throughout North America, where weekend racers ordered examples through Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr.’s Roosevelt Motors distribution network.
Total production reached approximately 400 to 450 units through 1960, with several distinct series incorporating progressively refined bodywork and a range of engine specifications.
Source
