Editing Abarth (section)

==History==
===1949: Abarth & C.===
[[File:1950-Abarth205Monza.jpg|thumb|left|A 1950 205A, one of the first Abarth cars]]
Carlo Abarth was [[sporting director]] of the [[Cisitalia]]  racing team starting in 1947.<ref name="AISA corse">{{cite conference |url=http://www.aisastoryauto.it/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=111&Itemid=45 |first=Lorenzo |last=Boscarelli |title=Abarth: le corse |conference=Abarth: l'uomo e le sue auto; [[Fiorenzuola d'Arda]], 9 May 2010 |work=Monografie AISA |volume=90 |language=it |pages=3–25 |format=PDF |publisher=Associazione Italiana per la Storia dell'Automobile |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213000702/http://www.aisastoryauto.it/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=111&Itemid=45 |archive-date=13 February 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The following year, the manufacturer folded, and founder [[Piero Dusio]] flew to Argentina.

Abarth, funded by Armando Scagliarini,{{efn|Father of Cisitalia racing driver Guido Scagliarini.}} took over Cisitalia's assets and on 31 March 1949, '''Abarth & C.''' was founded in [[Bologna]].<ref name="AISA compendio">{{cite conference |url=http://www.aisastoryauto.it/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=111&Itemid=45 |first=Renzo |last=Avidano |title=Carlo Abarth - Il compendio di una vita per le auto e le corse |conference=Abarth: l'uomo e le sue auto; [[Fiorenzuola d'Arda]], 9 May 2010 |work=Monografie AISA |volume=90 |language=it |pages=29–32 |format=PDF |publisher=Associazione Italiana per la Storia dell'Automobile |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213000702/http://www.aisastoryauto.it/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=111&Itemid=45 |archive-date=13 February 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="history2">{{cite web |url=http://www.bernimotori.com/abarth_history_en.html |title=Karl Abarth, the man and his history |website=bernimotori.com |access-date=28 May 2014}}</ref> Carlo's astrological sign, [[Scorpio (astrology)|Scorpio]], was chosen as the company logo.

From the Cisitalia liquidation, Abarth obtained five 204 sports cars (two complete Spiders and three unfinished), a D46 [[Open-wheel car|single-seater]], and various spares.<ref name="AISA corse" /> The Cisitalia 204s were immediately rechristened [[Abarth Cisitalia 204A]].<ref name="AISA corse" /> Abarth proceeded to build and race a series of sports cars developed from these last [[Cisitalia]] cars. In addition to Guido Scagliarini, the "Squadra Abarth" racing team lined up celebrated drivers, including [[Tazio Nuvolari]], [[Franco Cortese]], and [[Piero Taruffi]]. Notably, Tazio Nuvolari made his last appearance in racing at the wheel of an Abarth 204A, winning its class in the Palermo–Monte Pellegrino [[hillclimbing|hillclimb]] on 10 April 1950.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,5/articleid,1596_02_1953_0191_0005_22054961/ |title=Quando venne a Torino per la sua ultima gara |date=13 August 1953 |newspaper=[[La Stampa|Stampa Sera]] |page=5 |access-date=12 February 2015}}</ref> Alongside racing, the company's main activity was producing and selling accessories and performance parts for [[Fiat S.p.A.|Fiat]], [[Lancia]], Cisitalia, and [[Simca]] cars, like [[inlet manifold]]s and [[Muffler|silencer]]s.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,2/articleid,1599_02_1951_0087_0002_22415418/ |title=Le attrattive del Salone |date=12 April 1951 |newspaper=[[La Stampa|Stampa Sera]] |page=2 |access-date=12 February 2015}}</ref>

On 9 April 1951, the company's headquarters were moved to [[Turin]];<ref name="history2"/> Abarth began his well-known association with Fiat in 1952, when the company built the [[Abarth 1500 Biposto]] on Fiat mechanicals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rickcarey.com/Catalog%20Descriptions/Abarth%20Biposto/AbarthBiposto.htm |title=1952 Abarth 1500 Biposto Coupé |website=rickcarey.com |access-date=28 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721102318/http://www.rickcarey.com/Catalog%20Descriptions/Abarth%20Biposto/AbarthBiposto.htm |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status = dead|df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In 1957, Abarth entered a deal with Fiat whereby they were paid direct fees for successful competition finishes.<ref name=DM94>{{cite magazine | ref = DM04 | magazine = [[Octane (magazine)|Octane]] | first = Delwyn | last = Mallett | title = Hot Abarths | page = 94 | date = December 2004 | issue = 18 | volume = 2 }}</ref> Abarth accordingly went on to enter their cars in countless hillclimbing and sports-car racing events across the world, mainly in classes from 850 to 2000 cc, competing with [[Porsche 904]] and [[Dino (automobile)|Ferrari Dino]] in the higher echelons. Since they were paid based on the number of results, Abarth entered their cars in every conceivable class and in countries across the entire world.<ref name=DM94/> [[Hans Herrmann]] was a factory driver from 1962 until 1965, winning the [[1000 km Nürburgring|500 km Nürburgring]] in 1963 with [[Teddy Pilette]].<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://abarthcarsuk.com/about-abarth/the-history-of-abarth/|title=The history of Abarth|access-date=2014-05-28|work=abarthcarsuk.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529052707/http://abarthcarsuk.com/about-abarth/the-history-of-abarth/|archive-date=29 May 2014|url-status = dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Abarth promised [[Johann Abt]] that he could race a factory car for free if he won all the races he entered.{{When|date=October 2013}} Abt almost succeeded; of the 30 races he entered, Abt won 29 and finished second once.{{When|date=October 2013}}<ref name="history"/> Abt later founded [[Abt Sportsline]].

[[File:Fiat Abarth 595 - Automotoretrò 2012 (6864198535).jpg|thumb|Abarth 595, derived from the Fiat 500]]
Abarth produced high-performance exhaust pipes, diversifying into tuning kits for road vehicles, mainly for Fiat. A racing exhaust was produced for the 1950s [[Lambretta]] models "D" and "LD". Original Abarth LD exhausts are now valuable collectors' items. Reproductions are available, which carry the Abarth name; how Fiat feels about this is not known. Lambretta even held several 125 cc motorcycle land speed records during the 1950s due partly to the exhaust that Abarth developed for them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.racinglambrettas.com/mielambretta/dracer.html |title=125 Model D Racer |website=racinglambrettas.com |access-date=22 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://lambrettista.net/2013/10/07/lambretta-world-land-speed-record-scooter/ |title=Lambretta World Land Speed Record Scooter |website=lambrettista.net |date=7 October 2013 |access-date=22 June 2014}}</ref>

In 1958, Abarth developed the [[Abarth 1000 GT Coupé|Abarth Alfa Romeo 1000]] in collaboration with the Milanese manufacturer. They sent an engineer, Mario Colucci, to oversee the process. Abarth was impressed with his skill, and while the car remained a one-off, Colucci was given the position of Abarth's Technical Director in 1960.<ref name=FCAabalfa>{{cite web | url = https://www.fcaheritage.com/en-uk/heritage/stories/alfa-romeo-abarth-1000 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221204115428/https://www.fcaheritage.com/en-uk/heritage/stories/alfa-romeo-abarth-1000 | archive-date = 2022-12-04 | title = Alfa Romeo Abarth 1000 | work = FCA Heritage | publisher = FCA Italy S.p.A. }}</ref> Colucci's first design was a mid-engined, tubular framed roadster using the 750 engine called the '''Abarth Spider Sport.''' This car had an unfortunate gestation period and never attained much success in competition, while Abarth himself favored the rear-engine layout and kept offering both types.<ref name=DM95>[[#DM04|Mallett (2004)]], p. 95.</ref> The Spider Sport series was also built with 700 and 1000&nbsp;cc displacements, while a few late examples were fitted with 1300&nbsp;cc engines of Simca origins. Colucci's next design, the Group 4 [[Fiat Abarth 1000SP|1000&nbsp;SP]], was much more successful and spawned a range of mid-engined, tubular-framed, fibreglass-bodied sports prototypes.<ref name=FCA1000sp>{{cite web | url = https://www.fcaheritage.com/en-uk/heritage/stories/fiat-abarth-1000sp | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220926025711/https://www.fcaheritage.com/en-uk/heritage/stories/fiat-abarth-1000sp | archive-date = 2022-09-26 | title = Fiat Abarth 1000 SP | work = FCA Heritage | publisher = FCA Italy S.p.A. }}</ref>

Abarth also helped build sports or racing cars with Porsche<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.porschearchive.com/render.cfm?source=20775~356B_Carrera+GTL+Abarth~1960-1960/ |title=Porsche 356B Carrera GTL Abarth |website=porschearchive.com |access-date=28 May 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and Simca.

===1971: Fiat takeover===
Carlo sold Abarth to Fiat on 31 July 1971.<ref name="history" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Abarth : the man, the machines|last=Greggio, Luciano.|date=2002|publisher=G. Nada|isbn=88-7911-263-5|oclc=62269051}}</ref> The acquisition was not made public until 15 October.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,17/articleid,0139_01_1971_0242_0017_4835645/ |title=L'Abarth entra nel gruppo Fiat |date=16 October 1971 |newspaper=[[La Stampa]] |page=17 |access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref> As Fiat was not interested in the Reparto Corse racing operations, these were taken over by [[Enzo Osella]].<ref name="history" /> Osella obtained cars, spares, technicians, and drivers (amongst them [[Arturo Merzario]]), and continued the racing activity, founding the [[Osella]] racing team.<ref name="AISA Fiat">{{cite conference |url=http://www.aisastoryauto.it/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=111&Itemid=45 |first=Renzo |last=Avidano |title=I rapporti con la Fiat |conference=Abarth: l'uomo e le sue auto; [[Fiorenzuola d'Arda]], 9 May 2010 |work=Monografie AISA |volume=90 |language=it |pages=33–35 |format=PDF |publisher=Associazione Italiana per la Storia dell'Automobile |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213000702/http://www.aisastoryauto.it/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=111&Itemid=45 |archive-date=13 February 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Thus ended for Abarth the days of sport prototype and hillclimb racing.

Under Fiat ownership, Abarth became the Fiat Group's racing department, managed by engine designer [[Aurelio Lampredi]].<ref name="history" /> Abarth prepared Fiat's rally cars, including the [[Fiat 124 Sport Spider|Fiat 124 Abarth Rally]] and [[Fiat 131#Motorsport|131 Abarth]].<ref name="history"/>
In December 1977, in advance of the 1978 racing season, the beforehand competing Abarth and [[Lancia#Lancia in motorsport|Squadra Corse Lancia]] factory racing operations were merged by Fiat into a single entity named EASA (''Ente per l'Attività Sportiva Automobilistica'', Organization for Car Sports Racing Activities).<ref name="lastampa EASA">{{cite news |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,17/articleid,1099_01_1977_0277_0018_16066498/ |title=Rally, Fiat e Lancia si uniscono in un nuovo "super-squadrone" |first=Michele |last=Fenu |date=6 December 1977 |newspaper=[[La Stampa]] |page=17 |access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref> [[Cesare Fiorio]] (previously in charge of the Lancia rally team) was appointed director, while [[Daniele Audetto]] was [[sporting director]]; the EASA headquarters were set up in Abarth's Corso Marche (Turin) offices.<ref name="lastampa EASA" />
The combined racing department developed the [[Lancia Montecarlo#Montecarlo Turbo|Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo]] [[Group 5 (racing)|Group 5]] racing car which won the [[1980 World Championship for Makes]] and the [[1981 World Endurance Championship of Makes]]. It also created the [[Lancia Rally 037]] [[Group B]] rally car, which won for Lancia the [[1983 World Rally Championship season|1983]] [[List of World Rally Championship Manufacturers' champions|World Manufacturers' Championship]]).

On 1 October 1981, Abarth & C. ceased to exist, and was replaced by Fiat Auto Gestione Sportiva, a division of the parent company specialised in the management of racing programmes that would remain in operation through to the end of 1999, when it changed to Fiat Auto Corse S.p.A. <!-- changed specialized to BE to match programme -->

Some commercial models built by Fiat or its subsidiaries [[Lancia]] and [[Autobianchi]] were co-branded Abarth, including the [[Autobianchi A112 Abarth]], a lightweight and inexpensive "[[boy racer]]". The A112 Abarth was introduced with a 58 hp engine, soon followed by a 70 hp one, and a specific "A112 Abarth trophy" was run from 1977 to 1984.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fcaheritage.com/it-it/heritage/storie/autobianchi-a112-abarth-58-hp |title=Autobianchi A112 Abarth 58 HP |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2020-01-14 |website=FCA Heritage |publisher=[[Fiat Chrysler Automobiles|FCA]] }}</ref>

In the 1980s, Abarth name was mainly used to mark performance cars, such as the [[Fiat Ritmo]] Abarth 125/130 TC.

In 2000s, Fiat used the Abarth brand to designate a trim/model level, as in the [[Fiat Stilo]] Abarth.

===2007: Rebirth of Abarth & C. S.p.A.===
On 1 February 2007, Abarth was re-established as an independent unit with the launch of the current company, Abarth & C. S.p.A.,<ref name="repubblica abarth">{{cite news |url= http://www.repubblica.it/2007/02/motori/febbraio-07/debutta-gamma-abarth/debutta-gamma-abarth.html |title= Svolta Fiat: torna l'Abarth e diventa marchio indipendente |date=23 January 2007 |newspaper= [[La Repubblica]] |first=Vincenzo |last=Borgomeo |language=it |access-date=7 September 2014}}</ref> controlled 100% by Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., the [[subsidiary]] of Fiat S.p.A. dealing with the production and selling of passenger [[car]]s and [[light commercial vehicles]].

The first models launched were the [[Fiat Grande Punto|Abarth Grande Punto]] and the Abarth Grande Punto S2000. The brand is based in the Officine 83, part of the old Mirafiori engineering plant.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160306094202/http://duemotori.com/news/auto_news/23072_abarths_new_premises_in_turin.php Abarth's new premises in Turin]}} from duemotori.it (18 Feb 2008)</ref> The [[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]] as of 2022 is [[Olivier François]].

In 2015, Abarth's parent company was renamed [[FCA Italy S.p.A.]], reflecting the incorporation of Fiat S.p.A. into [[Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]] that took place in the previous months.

=== Yamaha XSR900 Abarth===
In 2017, Abarth collaborated with [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] to produce a limited-edition motorcycle, the "Sport Heritage café racer special". Named the [[Yamaha XSR900|XSR900 Abarth]] it was based on the 847&nbsp;cc [[Straight-three engine|inline-triple]] [[Types of motorcycles#Standard|standard]] neo-retro Yamaha XSR900.<ref name=yamaha>{{cite web|url=https://www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk/products/motorcycles/sport-heritage/xsr900-abarth.aspx?year=2017//|title=XSR900 Abarth|publisher=[[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]]|access-date=5 December 2016|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220113103/https://www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk/products/motorcycles/sport-heritage/xsr900-abarth.aspx?year=2017//|url-status=dead}}</ref>