Carlo Abarth
Encyclopedia
Carlo Abarth born Karl Albert Abarth was an automobile designer. Abarth was born in Austria, but later was naturalized as an Italian citizen; and at this time his first name Karl was changed to its Italian equivalent of Carlo.
, during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
. As a teenager, he worked for Castagna
in Italy
(1925–27), designing motorbike and bicycle
chassis. Back in Austria, he worked for Motor Thun and Joseph Opawsky (1927–34), and
raced motorbikes, winning his first race on a James Cycle
in Salzburg
on 29 July 1928. He later was European champion five times, along continuing the engineering. After a serious accident in Linz
he abandoned motorbike racing, and designed a sidecar
(1933) with which he managed to beat the Orient Express
railway on the 1300 kilometres (807.8 mi) stretch from Vienna to Ostend
(1934).
He moved permanently to Italy in 1934, where he met Ferdinand Porsche
's son-in-law Anton Piëch, and married his secretary. Abarth was long hospitalized and had his racing career end, due to a racing accident in Yugoslavia
(1938). He stayed in Yugoslavia (with some visits in Austria and Italy though) until the war was over.
and the family-friend Ferry Porsche, and with engineer Rudolf Hruska
and Piero Dusio
, he established the Compagnia Industriale Sportiva Italia (CIS Italia, later becoming Cisitalia
), having the Italian Porsche Konstruktionen
agency (1943–48). The first automobile outcome of this cooperation was the rather unsuccessful Tipo 360 F1
prototype (see also Porsche 360
). The CIS Italia project ended when Dusio moved to Argentina
(1949).
company with Cisitalia
racing driver Guido Scagliarini in Bologna
(31 March 1949), using his astrological sign, the
Scorpio
, as the company logo. Same year Abarth & Co moved to Turin. Financed by Guido Scagliarini's father Armando Scagliarini, the company made racing cars, and became a major supplier of high-performance exhaust pipes, that still are in production as Abarth.
(20 October 1965).
He sold the company on 31 July 1971 to Fiat
and continued a while as a CEO and then moved back to Vienna, Austria.
His second wife, Nadina Abarth-Zerjav
, he married on 28.11.1949. After cohabitating with her until 1966 the couple divorced in 1979. The same year, about six weeks before his death, Abarth married his third wife, Anneliese Abarth, (born 1939); she continues to head the Carlo Abarth Foundation and wrote one of his biographies in 2010.
Before worldwar II
Abarth was born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. As a teenager, he worked for Castagna
Carrozzeria Castagna
Carrozzeria Castagna is an Italian coachbuilding company from Milan. The company history startsin 1849 when Carlo Castagna bought the Ferrari coachbuilding business. In the end of 1800 was made first coach to automobile with...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(1925–27), designing motorbike and bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
chassis. Back in Austria, he worked for Motor Thun and Joseph Opawsky (1927–34), and
raced motorbikes, winning his first race on a James Cycle
James Cycle Co
The James Cycle Co Ltd., Greet, Birmingham, England, was one of many famous British cycle and motorcycle makers centred around the English Midlands, particularly Birmingham...
in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
on 29 July 1928. He later was European champion five times, along continuing the engineering. After a serious accident in Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
he abandoned motorbike racing, and designed a sidecar
Sidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
(1933) with which he managed to beat the Orient Express
Orient Express
The Orient Express is the name of a long-distance passenger train service originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. It ran from 1883 to 2009 and is not to be confused with the Venice-Simplon Orient Express train service, which continues to run.The route and rolling stock...
railway on the 1300 kilometres (807.8 mi) stretch from Vienna to Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
(1934).
He moved permanently to Italy in 1934, where he met Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche was an Austrian automotive engineer and honorary Doctor of Engineering. He is best known for creating the first hybrid vehicle , the Volkswagen Beetle, and the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK, as well as the first of many Porsche automobiles...
's son-in-law Anton Piëch, and married his secretary. Abarth was long hospitalized and had his racing career end, due to a racing accident in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
(1938). He stayed in Yugoslavia (with some visits in Austria and Italy though) until the war was over.
After the worldwar II
Following this, he moved to Merano, where his ancestors originated from. Abarth got to know both Tazio NuvolariTazio Nuvolari
Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari was an Italian motorcycle and racecar driver, known as Il Mantovano Volante or Nivola. He was the 1932 European Champion in Grand Prix motor racing...
and the family-friend Ferry Porsche, and with engineer Rudolf Hruska
Rudolf Hruska
Rudolf Hruska was an Austrian automobile designer and engineer, most famous for his design of various Alfa Romeo cars....
and Piero Dusio
Piero Dusio
Piero Dusio was an Italian soccer player, businessman and racing driver.Dusio was born at Scurzolengo, province of Asti. His active soccer career ended in a knee injury, after which he started a textile business , which evolved into sporting goods as well as becoming supplier of military uniforms...
, he established the Compagnia Industriale Sportiva Italia (CIS Italia, later becoming Cisitalia
Cisitalia
Cisitalia was an Italian sports and racing car constructor. The name "Cisitalia" derives from "Compagnia Industriale Sportive Italia", a business conglomerate founded in Turin in 1946 and controlled by the wealthy industrialist and sportsman Piero Dusio...
), having the Italian Porsche Konstruktionen
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
agency (1943–48). The first automobile outcome of this cooperation was the rather unsuccessful Tipo 360 F1
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
prototype (see also Porsche 360
Porsche 360
Porsche 360 Cisitalia is an automobile from Porsche introduced in 1949. The name Cisitalia is the name of the company that ordered the model.-History:The car was commissioned by Piero Dusio in 1946...
). The CIS Italia project ended when Dusio moved to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
(1949).
Abarth & Co, Turin, Italy
Carlo Abarth then founded the Abarth & C.Abarth
Abarth is an Italian racing car maker founded by Austrian-Italian Carlo Abarth and Italian Armando Scagliarini in Turin in 1949. Its logo depicts a stylized scorpion on a red and yellow background.- History :...
company with Cisitalia
Cisitalia
Cisitalia was an Italian sports and racing car constructor. The name "Cisitalia" derives from "Compagnia Industriale Sportive Italia", a business conglomerate founded in Turin in 1946 and controlled by the wealthy industrialist and sportsman Piero Dusio...
racing driver Guido Scagliarini in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
(31 March 1949), using his astrological sign, the
Scorpio
Scorpio (astrology)
|Infobox align="right" style="border:3px solid white;"||style="text-align: center;"|Scorpio is the eighth astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the zodiac between the 210th and 239th degree of celestial longitude. Generally, the Sun transits this area of the zodiac between 24 October and...
, as the company logo. Same year Abarth & Co moved to Turin. Financed by Guido Scagliarini's father Armando Scagliarini, the company made racing cars, and became a major supplier of high-performance exhaust pipes, that still are in production as Abarth.
Speed records
Carlo Abarth personally set various speed records at the Autodromo Nazionale MonzaAutodromo Nazionale Monza
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a race track located near the town of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy. The circuit's biggest event is the Formula One Italian Grand Prix, which has been hosted there since the sport's inception....
(20 October 1965).
He sold the company on 31 July 1971 to Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
and continued a while as a CEO and then moved back to Vienna, Austria.
Private life
Carlo Abarth was married three times. His first wife was secretary of Anton Piech in ViennaHis second wife, Nadina Abarth-Zerjav
Nadina Abarth-Zerjav
Nadina Abarth-Zerjav was the daughter of the Slovene minister Gregor Zerjav and his wife, Milena nee Lavrencic....
, he married on 28.11.1949. After cohabitating with her until 1966 the couple divorced in 1979. The same year, about six weeks before his death, Abarth married his third wife, Anneliese Abarth, (born 1939); she continues to head the Carlo Abarth Foundation and wrote one of his biographies in 2010.