So we've got an Abarth 595 Competizione on test at the moment, the first hot 500 we've had in at PH for a long, long time. And it's rather good fun.
Around £20K would get you into 'our' 595...
Exposure to this and the mad
dog 'boxed 695
Biposto
at last week's Geneva show has suddenly put all things Abarth back on our radar, to the extent that while researching what's in the classifieds for my roadtest on the Competizione I stumbled across this. Cool, eh?
Now, our test car as specced costs £21,290. Which is conveniently comparable with the £19,990 being asked for this rather tasty looking medley of seemingly pukka period Abarth bits into a 695 SS 'Evocazione'. Now my Italian isn't all that but it's clear enough from this and the accompanying text that XJA 639L isn't an original car. But it looks to have been faithfully converted and the overall effect is convincing. I popped by our colleagues on Classic & Sports Car for their view and, while there was a little teeth sucking at the lack of originality, they admitted it wasn't ridiculously priced. C&SC did a look back at Abarth in its June 2013 issue, which included a drive in a proper 595 SS - a features archive is being uploadedhere and fingers crossed will include that story in due course.
...but could get you into this too. Decisions!
Anyway. Checks and balances squared away and originality be damned this car just looks like a right hoot. It's got fat Minilites squeezed into swollen arches, stripes, scorpion logos aplenty and, of course, the engine lid propped open in the signature Abarth fashion. I'd try the same look with the new one but then I wouldn't be able to see where I was going. OK, the interior is pretty minimal and ... intimate but the driving position can't be any worse than the modern car's. Honestly. And which would be cooler for punting around the city?
ABARTH 695 SS EVOCAZIONE
Price: £19,990
Why you should: It screams fun on four wheels; it's cooler than the new one
Why you shouldn't: Lack of originality may put off the beard strokers
See the original advert here.
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