The 1964 Abarth Simca 2 Mila Corsa is a legendary Italian sports coupe. It was produced by Abarth, the racing division of Fiat, in cooperation with Simca, the French automaker.
How Many Were Made?
The Abarth Simca Coupe was produced in limited numbers, with only 278 units manufactured in total between 1964 and 1967. Its rarity and racing pedigree have made it a highly sought-after collector’s item today.
What Makes It Special?
The Abarth Simca stands out for its lightweight construction, racing-tuned engine, and bold styling. It took an ordinary Simca 1000 economy car and transformed it into an aggressively styled pocket rocket.
Several features contribute to the Abarth Simca’s uniqueness:
- Tuned High Revving Engine: The engine was eventually increased to two litres, the cylinder head was equipped with twin camshafts and twin Weber 45DCOE double-barrel carburettors; it delivered 192 hp. The lubrication was dry sump with two oil pumps and a radiator was fitted in the front. The engine was mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
- Lightweight Aluminium Body: The coupe body was made from aluminium to reduce weight compared to the standard steel body. This helped the Abarth Simca achieve a very impressive power-to-weight ratio for the time.
- Performance Upgrades: The suspension, brakes, and tires were upgraded to match the increased engine performance.
Who Designed It?
The Abarth Simca was designed by Mario Revelli de Beaumont, head of Abarth’s racing department.
Revelli de Beaumont had an extensive racing background, both as a driver and engineer. He used this experience to design a competition-inspired coupe that placed a strong emphasis on the essentials for performance – lightness, power, and handling.
His skillful upgrades transformed the mundane Simca into the thrilling Abarth.
The Engine
The A-S 2000 was powered by a four-cylinder Abarth engine of 1947 cc, rated at 202 h.p. (149 kW). Its maximum speed was 168 mph (270 km/h).
Its overall length was 12 ft (3.61 m), overall width was 5 ft (1.48 m), height was 4 ft (1.20 m), its wheelbase was 7 ft (2.09 m), and its track was 4 ft (1.270 m).
Its fuel tank held a tiny 6.6 imperial gallons, although optional tanks of 12.1, 18.7, and 24.2 imperial gallons were also available. Its empty weight was 1,518 lb (689 kg).
Combined with the car’s low weight, the Abarth Simca had a better power-to-weight ratio than exotic supercars of its era like the Lamborghini Miura.
The Interior
The interior of the Abarth Simca focused on reducing weight and embracing the car’s sporting spirit:
- Lightweight Bucket Seats: Thin racing buckets provided ample lateral support while saving weight over the regular seats.
- Minimalist Dashboard: A small simple dash does away with unnecessary trim and switches to pare down to the essentials. The important gauges – tachometer, speedometer, fuel, and temperature level – were right in front of the driver.
- Small Racing Steering Wheel: The tiny three-spoke wheel provided quick reflexes and enhanced the race-car feel.
- Manual Windows and Locks: Power windows and locks added unwanted weight, so the Abarth stuck to basic manual ones.
- No Back Seats: The rear seats were ditched entirely, as befitting the car’s racing mission.
- Spartan Door Panels: Lightweight vinyl door panels had the minimum material needed.
- Exposed Metal Surfaces: The roof, inner doors, and other sections used exposed metal instead of trim pieces to further reduce pounds.
While spartan and lacking creature comforts, the interior embodied the pure driving focus of a 1960s hot hatch. Form followed function, an ethos still seen in lightweight performance cars today.
How Many Are Left?
As a very limited production vehicle from the 1960s, the Abarth Simca Coupe is an extremely rare car today. Of the approximately 278 units originally built, it is estimated only around 50 examples survive today.
Most of the surviving Abarth Simcas remain in Europe, particularly in Italy, France, and the UK. There are believed to be fewer than 10 currently in the United States, making the car virtually unseen on American roads.
How Much is an Abarth Simca 2000 Worth Today?
Thanks to their rarity and significance, Abarth Simca 2000 cars command lofty prices in today’s classic car market. Low-mileage, original examples in good condition can easily fetch over $250,000 at auction.
Cars with desirable options like the 5-speed gearbox or 140hp engine command even higher prices approaching $400,000 to $500,000. Exceptional concours-quality examples have sold for up to $600,000.
The new record for an Abarth Simca 2000 is believed to be the $605,000 paid for a meticulously restored 1964 model in 2021. That car had special one-off Abarth alloy bodywork.
Even worn, non-original cars without the rare 5-speed or high-output engine can still sell for $100,000 or more. Prices continue to rise as the Abarth Simca 2000 becomes even more collectible.
The Abarth Simca 2000’s blend of exclusivity, Italian flair, and sporting pedigree make it highly sought-after today.
These rare Franco-Italian sports cars represent an important milestone in the evolution of post-war performance cars. For automotive enthusiasts, they remain a must-have collector’s prize.
The remaining examples are treasured by their owners. Many make appearances at vintage rallies and shows to be enjoyed. Others remain tucked away in private collections, brought out on nice sunny days to exercise their high-revving engines.
