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Pocket Rocket: 1968 Fiat Abarth 595 Esse Esse

This 1968 Fiat Abarth 595 Esse Esse has a mere 330 kilometers, or 207 miles, showing on its odometer since it underwent a full restoration. It presents as well as you might expect for a classic with this background and is now searching for a new home. Barn Finder Araknid78 spotted the Fiat, so I have to say thank you so much for referring it to us. It is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. There have been 10 bids submitted on the Italian classic at the time of writing, which has pushed the price along to $5,600. However, the reserve hasn’t been met.

As is the case with many classic cars, there are plenty of clones of the Abarth variants kicking around in the market today. However, it appears that the owner holds documentation that confirms this vehicle’s authenticity. First impressions of the Esse Esse paint a flattering picture, with the panels and paint presenting exceptionally well. There are no signs of any dings, dents, or rust, and the paint shines beautifully. All of the correct trim and badges are present, and their condition is all that you might expect from a freshly restored vehicle.

One curious fact to consider with this car is the paint’s state in the trunk and the engine bay. It is impossible to see this clearly in the supplied photos, but it is clearly visible in the video that I have included at the bottom of this article. These areas appear to be original and untouched, and the paint has plenty of marks and imperfections. Given that the Fiat has only just undergone a restoration, I’m surprised that these areas weren’t treated to a repaint. This is especially true given the owner’s claim that the Abarth was fully dismantled for the restoration.

The Fiat’s interior shows all of the hallmarks of a recently restored vehicle, and there isn’t much to be critical of when you look at its condition. The upholstered surfaces appear to be perfect, while the same is true of the painted surfaces and carpet. The wheel isn’t original, but that should be comfortable to grip on longer journeys. The video at the bottom of the article does reveal one other interesting quirk with this car. The video is shot with the engine running, and while it shows that the tachometer is functional, neither of the center gauges appear to be working. That is something that might require some further investigation.

If you wander around the back of the Abarth and take a bit of a look, what you will find is a 594cc 2-cylinder engine that pumps out 32hp. The power then finds its way to the road via a 4-speed manual transaxle. This isn’t a lot of power, but it is a massive improvement over the standard 500’s paltry 22hp. It also reduced the ¼ mile ET from 25.9 seconds down to 21.8 seconds. The drivetrain of the Abarth has been rebuilt as part of the restoration process. The odometer shows 330 kilometers, which equates to a mere 207 miles since the work was completed. The owner states that the car runs and drives like new, and the engine sounds clean and sweet in the video below.

I admit that I like this 1968 Fiat Abarth 595 Esse Esse, and I wouldn’t mind having it parked in my garage. A few inconsistencies with the vehicle would need to be investigated, including why certain areas weren’t repainted and why some of the gauges don’t operate. However, this might be clarified if potential buyers took the time and effort to perform a personal inspection. That is something that I will always advise people to do before handing over their hard-earned cash for any classic. If this Fiat does check out as being okay, it is a car that could be a real blast to own and drive.

Comments

  1. Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

    Nice little vintage pocket rocket, but it’s small enough it should probably be called a Paragraph Paragraph instead of an Esse Esse..

    Like 6
  2. Avatar KEVIN L HARPER

    These will out pull any Ferrari or any other exotic for catching birds.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Ike Onick

      “birds” as in Britain-speak? I don’t think any American “bird” would be too interested.

      Like 1
  3. Avatar James HGF

    The Abarth 595s and 695s are fantastic cars whether driven on the street or as hard charging race cars. This one is most appealing, but as much as I’m a fan of Abarths I don’t have the expertise to judge the car’s authenticity. Currently the bidding has reached $ 6,100. Expect reserve above $ 25,000. In June 2020 a very nice 595 sold at auction for £ 36,000 ($ 45,000 then as £ was $ 1.25 now $ 1.32).

    Auction results for car sold in Belfast, Northern Ireland 26 Jun 2020:

    https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1970-fiat-abarth-595-ss

    Will add comment with link to a copy of the Abarth 585 695 book Deganello & Donati.

    Like 2
  4. Avatar James HGF

    The Abarth 595 695 book by Deganello & Donati provides extensive data on 595s – 695s and race history (lots of photos) from 1965 through 1974:

    https://www.ebay.it/itm/Libro-Abarth-595-695-E-Deganello-R-Donati-Nada-Editore-USATO/124427595003?hash=item1cf8766cfb:g:VbgAAOSwmhtfpWzi

    As usual click to enlarge photos:

    Like 2
  5. Avatar KEEB

    Hate seeing crimped wire terminals and bulkhead holes without grommets, looks amateur to me.

    Like 3
  6. Avatar chrlsful

    I’m glad 1/2 the side is door.
    Looks like some good legal fun.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Jef Fowler

    Good catch on lack of grommet on bulkhead. Doesn’t make sense.
    Crimped terminals may be the original method.

    Like 1

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