RM Sotheby’s will offer the unique 1953 Abarth 1100 Sport in its August 18-19 classic car auction in Monterey.
It was created as a show piece for Carl Abarth, a racing engineer with a burgeoning business selling parts to racing teams.
The Abarth 1100 Sport is a testament to the skill of restorer Greg Kinzel
It’s believed to have been designed by Giovanni Michelotti, the man behind some of the most enduringly popular sports cars of the 1950s and 1960s. It features futuristic coachwork by Italian maker Carrozzeria Ghia.
The car is built on the chassis of an Abarth 205, a racer produced between 1950 and 1951.
Only four Abarth 205 chassis were ever built.
The lot first appeared at the 1953 Turin Auto Show. It was later sold on to an American buyer, who planned to manufacture more.
Unfortunately that didn’t come to pass and over the years the car fell into disrepair.
Eventually it ended up in the hands of Greg Kinzel, who carried out a remarkable restoration.
The car was named best in show at Pebble Beach in 2015, the first time it had been seen in public since 1954.
Kinzel told CBC News at the time: "The response was overwhelming. It's a well-known car in history.
"It has been unseen since 1954 so when this pops out of the woodwork, it's like the second coming of Christ for a car guy."
The lot is offered without reserve. No estimate is available.
As it’s entirely unique it’s difficult to call, but it looks very likely to sell for several million dollars.
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