Simca Abarth 1150 car history

Manufacturer:	Simca - Abarth
Years of production	1963 to 1965
Type	Spots car
Engine	1,137  cc

The Simca Abarth 1150 is a series of sports cars made by the Italian manufacturer Abarth on behalf of Simca .

History 

The Simca 1000 is actually the result of the project "Fiat 122", the one that was to be the replacement of the Fiat 600 but which was not accepted by the general management of Fiat who preferred the project "100G" which would become the Fiat 850 . During a visit to Turin by Henri Théodore Pigozzi , boss of Simca, then a subsidiary of Fiat , in 1957 , he was seduced by this study and obtained to recover the project to achieve it in France.

The body designed in Turin by Mario Revelli de Beaumont , famous Italian designer and sees his engine at the rear by the classic design that Fiat has developed with its new Fiat 600 and 850. It is a "very back "with a four-wheel independent suspension (helical springs at the rear and blades in front) and a motor cylinder four longitudinal cantilever rear box with a four-speed synchromesh Simca Abarth 1150 and SS Corsa also with competition suspension option. It was also the last car to receive the contribution of the Fiat design office for its design very inspired by the Fiat 850 .

It was therefore not very difficult for Abarth engineers to work for an upgrade of the car in its sports version. It was during the summer of 1962 and Simca Abarth sign this cooperation agreement, especially as the main competitor of Simca, Renault, had just launched in June its new R8 Gordini and his partner had to study a sporty version.

In 1961, a first agreement was made between the two manufacturers for the supply of one hundred Simca 1000 platforms for the production, by Abarth, of the Abarth Simca 1300 GT which will be homologated in Grand Touring in 1962. The car is officially presented at the Salon Geneva in March 1962. in the 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a 1000  cc engine Fiat, and two 1300  cc Fiat-Abarth engine in prototype: one in 1300 ended with an average of more than 150 km / h. In 1963, a 1300 is engaged in Grand Touring, but does not finish the race.

In December 1963, this coupe evolves in Simca Abarth 2000 equipped with a Fiat-Abarth engine of 1,946 cc developing 192 DIN hp at 7,100 rpm and a box with 4 or 6 speeds. The car will be homologated in Grand Tour at the end of January 1964.At the Turin Motor Show in November 1963, it is not a car that is presented on the Abarth stand but four! The Simca Abarth 1150, 1150S, 1150 SS and 1150 SS Corsa. carburation for the  1150 1 Solex F 32 P BIC downdraught carburettor 1150 Corsa 1 Solex twin barrel carburettor and 1150 SS 1 Solex C 32 PA IA 7 downdraught carburettor.

The engine displacement of the original 944 cc engine  was increased to 1,137  cc by increasing the bore by 1 mm and the stroke by 11 mm, allowing it to develop 55 hp compared with just 50 on the model Simca. The speed was just over 150 km / h instead of below 130.

The model was different from the basic model with its grille adorned with a red banner supporting the shield Abarth, the rims were perforated to better ventilate the brakes and included hubcaps bearing the Abarth logo. The interior layout was identical to the basic model but as an option we could have a more refined and complete dashboard signed Abarth.

All Simca Abarth 1150 models have the same rear mounted  4 stroke 4 cylinders engine  slanted at 15°, in line engine with 1,137  cc but each model offers different powers depending on the compression ratio with additional :

• PERFORMANCE: Simca Abarth 1150
  Engine capacity: 69.36 cu in, 1,136.747 cu cm
  Fuel consumption: 35.3 m/imp gal, 29.4 m/US gal, 8 x 100 km
  Max speed: 93.8 mph, 151 km/h
  max power (DIN): 55 hp at 5,600 rpm
  max torque (DIN): 63 1b ft, 8.7 kg mat 3,500 rpm
  max number of engine rpm: 6,500
  specific power: 48.4 hp/l
  power-weight ratio: 28.9 lb/hp, 13.1 kg/hp
• Simca Abarth 1150 S
  max power (DIN) 58 hp at 5,600 rpm
  max torque (DIN) 64 1b ft, 8.8 kg m at 3,500 rpm
  max speed 96.9 mph, 156 km/h
• Simca Abarth 1150 SS
  max power (DIN) 65 hp at 5,600 rpm
  max torque (DIN)65 1b ft, 9 kg m at 4,500 rpm
  max speed 100.6 mph, 162 km/h
  fuel consumption 33.2 m/imp gal, 27.7 m/US gal, 8.5 1 x 100 km
• Simca Abarth 1150 Corsa
  max power (DIN) 85 hp at 6,500 rpm
  max torque (DIN) 80 1b ft, 11 kg m at 4,500rpm
  max speed 107.5 mph, 173 km/h,
  fuel consumption 28.2 m/imp gal, 23.5 m/US gal, 10 1 x 100 km