The Abarth company was founded in 1949 by Karl Abarth, a racing and motorcycle driver, in cooperation with Guido Scagliarini. The first model was the Abarth 204A Roadster, which in terms of technology and design was based on the Fiat 1100. This model won the 1100 Sport Championship and was successful in Formula 2. Apart from activities related to preparing cars for races, Abarth also produced ready-made tuning kits, which improved the performance, power and speed of standard vehicles.
Meaning and History
Abarth was founded in 1949 by renowned racing driver and designer Carlo Alberto Abarth. Initially, it manufactured automobile mufflers and exhaust systems under the Abarth & Co brand. In the early 50s, the company transitioned to the first small-scale sports cars. The last car created under the supervision of the founder came out in 1971. In the same year, Fiat bought Abarth. In 2007, Fiat decided to revive the Abarth brand as a separate brand and released the Abarth Grande Punto, and a little later, in 2008, the new Abarth 500 based on the Fiat Nuova 500.
1949 – 1954
From the very beginning, the logo of the company depicted a Scorpio, the creator chose it not only because it was his zodiac sign, but also because such a logo would be difficult to copy. Initially, the logo consisted only of the image of a scorpion, made in blue and black tones. Under the logo could be seen a red inscription “Abarth & Co.-Torino”.
1954 – 1958
In 1954, the scorpion was depicted on a shield – a symbol of victory and passion, the background of which was painted in yellow-red colors. The inscription “Abarth & Co” was already on a blue background and was done in yellow color. It is said that the colors were actually a tribute to Merano, the city where Carlo’s father was born.
1955 – 1958
As with previous modifications, the color palette was the first thing that grabbed attention. This version features much darker blue and red. For others, the most noticeable change, though, will be the image of the scorpion as it acquired a bolder and more angular shape. It no longer looked as realistic as in the previous version. This change was supported by a choice of a simpler, yet bold, geometric, sans-serif typeface for the name. Finally, the designers added a black shield outline that looked more powerful and sophisticated than a pale yellow one.
1958 – 1969
In 1958, there was a letter “C” instead of “Co”, and the scorpion became simpler in color and shape. His main colors were blue and white, and he was depicted on a yellow-red shield (like the previous logo).
1969 – 2007
In 1969, major changes were related to the scorpion, which was now depicted in black. The letter “C” also disappeared, and now the name of the company was in white color on a blue background. The red and yellow shield continued to be used, but with thicker outlines.
2007 – Present
In 2007, along with the purchase of the company by Fiat Corporation, a new logo was developed. The restyling consisted of changes in the position of the scorpion (claws and head on yellow part of the background, and the rest on red), lettering that give strength thanks to the “Microgramma” font and a horizontal stripe with the Italian flag. The logo was now rendered in 3D using chrome-plated steel.
Emblem and Symbol
The Abarth emblem consists of a shield with a Scorpio that symbolizes the concept of victory and passion. It artistically uses the red, white and green colors present in the Italian flag. The red and yellow colors used in the shield are representative of the racing world. As for the font used, it is a slightly modified Microgramma Bold D Extended.
The Legends
The Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato
Although it debuted in 1955, it is distinguished by an all-aluminum body. Due to the great handling and low weight, the car was quite eagerly used in racing.
Abarth 695 Rivale
The manufacturer calls the Abarth 695 Rivale the most refined Abarth ever. The car is distinguished by a special painting, with a double blue stripe where the colors are combined.
The Abarth 124 Spider
The Abarth 124 Spider follows the pattern in which the brand has operated since its reactivation in 2007. It is a sports version of the Fiat 124 Spider model
