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Retro-Futuristic Fiat Abarth 2000 Scorpione Storms Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

Even though this year's most prestigious elegance competition for classic and vintage cars was won by a 1956 Maserati 450 S and an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS from 1931, the real head turner of the show was the jaw dropping beautiful Fiat Abarth 2000 Scorpione Concept from 1969.
Fiat Abarth 2000 Scorpione 1 photo
Photo: Abarth; Pininfarina
Based on an Abarth 2000 Sport Spider SE chassis and powered by a 16-valve 2-litre DOHC engine able to produce circa 220 horsepower at 8.700 rpm, this red beauty sports a sleek wedge silhouette and a roofline only 970 mm above ground level.

Built a couple of years before Abarth was bought by Fiat, the outlandish sports car was designed by Italy's top automotive design firm and coachbuilder Pininfarina. Despite its small carburetor-fed mill, the Scorpione is theoretically able to reach a 275 km/h top speed thanks to its low air resistance and 670 kg dry weight.

The biggest eye-catcher of the Concorso belongs to Japanese aficionado Shiro Kosaka. His passion for everything Abarth made him actually open a museum in Tokyo which houses the best and the most rare Abarths ever built.

Despite its funny car oversized exhaust pipe sticking out the back and white go-faster stripes on the sides, this car has never seen racing throughout its existence. With very little protection from the pillarless 180-degree wraparound windscreen, it's easy to imagine what would happen to the driver in a rollover crash.

This Italian automotive masterpiece might very well be Abarth's Magnum Opus. Just look at the videos below and try not fall in love with it. PS: somebody please remind the owner to watch his head while dropping the glass top.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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