Happy Columbus Day: 2013 Fiat 500C Abarth

We continue DT's Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving celebration with this next Italian import, which is a Fiat:  The 2012 release of the Fiat 500 for the US market was actually a success from a sales perspective..but despite the "Eye-tal-yon" heritage, this thing was assembled in Meh-he-co, which probably isn't a bad thing, because I have to guess that Mexican build quality is gonna be superior to Italian build quality over the long run.  Anyway, this 500 is no normal 500, it is the 500C version AND it is upgraded with Scorpion venom to the Abarth spec, which means 160 horsepower and 170 ft-lbs of front tire shredding torque from the 1.4 liter Multi-Air 4-banger mated to a 5-speed shift-it-yourself transmission. Find this 2013 Fiat 500C Abarth offered for $9000 in Long Beach, CA via craigslist.

FIat Abarth Munday: 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth

Our next feature on this most festive holiday known around the globe as Fiat Munday's is another Fiat, but this one is wasn't assembled by someone named Gianni in Italy, but more than likely built by Jan in Poland or Juan in Mexico...which is not to say it isn't a better car...but would fettuccine made by Jan or Juan be as scrumptious?  Find this 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth here on eBay offered for $8000 buy-it-now or make-offer in Wilmington, NC.

Italian Stallion: 1969 Fiat 850 Sport Coupe

The cost of entry into the "cool" car club is getting ridiculous these days, and I'm not just talking about Ferraris, Porsches, Supras, but even simple 1st gen Mustangs in great shape are pricy, BUT, you can still find interesting cars in good shape that just aren't that "desirable" for whatever reason. You've just got to be creative.  Find this 1969 Fiat 850 Sport Coupe offered for $14,500 near Phoenix, AZ via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Rice Crispy Exhaust: 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth

One of the problems with driving a fast factory sports car (like a newish Corvette, M3, 911..etc) is that random people want to race you...which leaves you with the conundrum of winning these on-ramp derbys and looking like a rich buy-your-way-into-first-douche and losing your license as you murder innocent strangers in a fiery crash....so the best alternative is just to drive like a dowager in your fancy sports car confident that its Nurburgring track time is better than the next guy's.  Alternatively you could buy a sleeper V8 powered Chevette, but then you need to convince those new Vette owners to race against you instead of driving like grandpa, and you still won't win the race because your wheels fall off and you still end up in jail after crashing into a crowd of nuns waiting for the bus.  So...what you really need is a car that looks like it is fast, sounds like it is fast, makes you feel good about mashing the loud pedal, but is really slow and you barely exceed the speed limit.  You need the automotive equivalent of a Harley...like this 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth here on eBay bidding for $8,100 reserve-not-met with $10,500 buy-it-now located in White Plains, NY.

Fiat Lux: 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth

Ever read popular car magazines anticipating the day when the featured new cars will depreciate to meet your budget?  If so, here is a performance-optioned specimen in near-new condition making an early visit to your price range.  Find this 15,000 mile 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth for sale in Omaha, NE for $12,250 via craigslist.

Cinquecento Sportivo: 1972 Fiat 500

A few years ago if you had pointed me to an advert for a classic Fiat 500 with a $17k asking price, I would have laughed and started searching for custom El Caminos...but times change and the whims of the car buying public might make this thing a decent buy.  Find this 1972 Fiat 500 Sport Abarth offered for $17,000 in Los Angeles, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

The Italians Are Here: 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth

We continue DT's Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving celebration with this Fiat:  The 2012 release of the Fiat 500 for the US market was actually a success from a sales perspective, even if the JLo returning to the Bronx ad was as fake as the so-called "Moon Landing." Not to mention the Charlie Sheen Abarth advertisements that started airing just as Charlie Sheen was in full-on Warlock mode.  Frankly I think that Cher would have been a better choice over JLo for an Italian car because Cher's performance in Moonstruck was far superior to JLo's in the Wedding Planner, but the North American version of the new 500 is built in Mexico. Anyway, find this 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth here on eBay bidding for $12,900 reserve-not-met with 1 day to go, located in San Ramon, CA.

15k: Roasted Espresso: 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth

Classic Italian cars are like a fine wine, aged to perfection and consumed in a leisurely manner.  Modern Italian cars, on the other hand, are like coffee.  Properly prepared, they can be tasty, but consume them quickly, lest they spoil and become rancid.  Find this 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth here on eBay offered for $14,542 buy-it-now or make-offer located in Mountain Lakes, NJ.

5k: Chile Pepper: 1967 Fiat Abarth OT 1000 Spider

The Bertone designed and built Fiat 850 Spider was a small 2-sear roadster that sourced its rear engine setup and mechanical parts from the higher volume Fiat 850 sedan.  The nuts at Abarth created a hopped up version with a bigger engine and called it the Fiat Abarth OT 1000 Spider. Don't ask me what OT stands for because I don't know.  Maybe Over the Top?  Open Track?  Overtly iTalian?  Oxidizing Tin? Original Tankster?  Origami Truck?  Over Taken?  Organic Tomatoes? Olive Tapenade?  Really, I DON'T KNOW.  Find this 1967 Fiat Abath OT 1000 Spider found here on eBay currently bidding for $5,100 reserve-not-met with 4 days to go, located in Altanta, GA.

2k: One of Three? 1971 Autobianchi A112 Abarth

The Autobianchi A112 was a supermini built by a joint venture between an automaker (Fiat), tire company (Pirelli) and bicycle maker (Bianchi).  The all Italian dynamic trio built a handful of models starting in 1955, mostly higher end versions of Fiat offerings that often showcased new or innovative technology (front wheel drive, fiberglass body elements, etc), but in 1969 Bianchi was fully incorporated into the Fiat SpA corporate monster (folks often forget that Fiat owns Ferrari, Maserati, Lancia, Alfa Romeo...Chrysler).  Henceforth, the Autobianchi name was used to market versions of the Lancia product that was based on a compacted version of the Fiat 128.  Confused?  Don't be.  Just checkout this rusty 1971 Autobianchi A112 Abarth offered for $2,000 in St. Augustine, FL via craigslist.

15k: Autobianchi From Norway: 1977 Lancia A112 Abarth

The Autobianchi A112 was a supermini built by a joint venture between an automaker (Fiat), tire company (Pirelli) and bicycle maker (Bianchi).  The all Italian trio built a handful of models starting in 1955, mostly higher end versions of Fiat offerings that often showcased new or innovative technology (front wheel drive, fiberglass body elements, etc).  In 1969 Bianchi was fully incorporated into the Fiat SpA corporate monster (folks often forget that Fiat owns Ferrari, Maserati, Lancia, Alfa Romeo...Chrysler) and the Autobianchi name was used to market versions of the Lancia product in Italy, but retained the Lancia name elsewhere.  Today's Autobianchi was born as the A122 Abarth version in Norway, hence the Lancia emblem, but has managed to find its way through Ellis Island and into the New World.  Find this 1977 Lancia A112 Abarth offered for $17,000 buy-it-now on ebay with 9 days to go.  Tip from Kaibeezy.

5k: Cheap Track Rat: 1971 Fiat 850 Abarth 1300 Spider

The Fiat 850 Spider was a small 2-sear roadster with a body designed and built by Bertone and mechanical bits from the Fiat 850 sedan. The 850 is pretty slow, even by X1/9 standards, but today's feature has had an injection of scorpion venom.  Find this 1971 Fiat 850 Abarth 1300 Spider for sale in Clovis, CA currently bidding for $3,500 reserve-not-met with buy-it-now of $5,300 via ebay.

10k Flash: 1983 Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130 TC

The Fiat Ritmo (badged Strada in the USA) was a compact front wheel drive hatchback distinctively styled by Bertone and sold around the world from 1978-1988.  The basic edition has been called the Fiat Gitmo, because driving one is humiliating and pointless experience, but the hopped up Abarth badged 130 TC version had all the elements of a thrash-able hot hatch.  This 1983 Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130 TC edition is for sale in Miami, FL bidding starts at $8,000 with no reserve with 1 day to go.

10k: 1957 Fiat 600 Abarth Tribute; La Carrera Panamericana Veteran

It is a few days late for the Mayan Carpocalypse, but any veteran of La Carrera Panamericana road race in Mexico deserves this badge.  This 1957 Fiat 600 was a vintage racer given an Abarth tribute paintjob and raced in La Carrera Panamericana vintage road race in Mexico in 2007 is now for sale in Denver, CO currently bidding at $8,000 with reserve-not-met.