Presenting an Abarth 2200 Coupe Allemano from 1959 designed by Giovanni Michelotti. At the end of the Fifties, Fiat needed to replace its small executive sedan (the 1400/1900), the company’s first new model after World War II. This coupe has its basis in a much more ordinary Fiat sedan: the 1800. The very rounded body of the 1400 gave way to the crisp, upright shape and formal lines of the 1800. Moving upmarket for the brand, the new executive Fiat sedan had six-cylinder engines of an inline configuration. Debuting in early 1959, the 1.8-liter model produced 75 horsepower, but a 1962 upgrade brought output to 86 horses.
Shortly after the 1800’s debut, the range-topping 2100 joined its sibling in dealerships. With a 2.1-liter engine of 82 horsepower, the 2100 also morphed into a Speciale trim with a longer wheelbase and an upscale front-end treatment. The 2100 was short-lived; however, in 1961, it was succeeded by the larger 2300. At the same time, the pinnacle 2100 went away, and a new base model 1500L joined the line. Combined, the three 1800 variants sold over 150,000 examples. 1500, 1800, and 2300 disappeared between 1968 and 1969, as the larger and more luxurious 130 took their place. Let’s head back to the Fifties.
From its inception in 1950 through 1971, Abarth was an independent manufacturer of racing and road cars. While the company favored altering Fiat models, it also made performance parts and accessories for several European marques. But at the fancy sedan’s debut, Abarth’s founder Carlo Abarth had his eyes on the new 2100. While Abarth would handle the mechanical changes in-house, the coupe body was shopped out to Carrozzeria Allemano. The well-known coachbuilder was formed in 1928, making car bodies for all the big Italian names.
Allemano sculpted a sleek coupe shape to replace the upright angles of the 2100 sedan, then trimmed a luxurious interior of fine leather and metals. Meanwhile, Abarth hired Ferrari V12 engine master Aurelio Lampredi to massage the 2.1-liter engine of 2100. Displacement increased by around 100 cc, and the new 2200 engine was fitted with three carburetors instead of one. Power output increased to 135 horses.
Source: thetruthaboutcars (Corey Lewis, Nov. 2019)
