1967 FIAT Abarth 850 TC Replica

This 1967 Fiat Abarth 850 TC ‘Tribute’ is an expertly-finished recreation of the 600D ‘Derivata’ racing cars of the period, presented in outstanding mechanical and cosmetic condition.

A left-hand-drive car originally delivered to continental Europe, it was discovered in Italy in 2008 and subsequently exported to the US. It was then enjoyed by several American owners over the next decade before being purchased and imported by its current UK-based keeper in 2018.

While mechanically upgraded to 850 TC specification, the aggressive bodywork has the cosmetic appearance of the 1000 TC ‘works’ cars with the fantastic red chequered roof and side stripes. The car retains its original chassis stamping as a 600D, with the correct Fiat build plate in the engine bay, along with a reproduction ‘tribute’ Abarth ID plate.

Equipped with a carburettor-fed 847cc four-cylinder engine and four-speed manual transmission, it produces approximately 50bhp at 5,200 rpm. The odometer currently reads 4,819 km (2,994 miles), which is understood to be the mileage since the conversion.

With all the relevant EU taxes-paid the Fiat was registered here with the number AHJ897E. It retains its Arizona title paperwork. Having been in storage for just over a year, a focus on other projects means the owner is now reluctantly offering it for sale. 

The first thing you notice is the that it has been fitted with the wider Abarth 1000TC-style ‘Corsa’ front bumper, which houses the front-mounted radiator and oil cooler. Finished in red, which contrasted beautifully with the white bodywork, it looks sensational, aided and abetted by the ‘Pirelli’ logo and Abarth scorpion, both of which add to the car’s strong competition vibe.

This racing vibe is reinforced by the Vitaloni Californian wing mirrors, which are finished in matching bright red, as is the broad ‘Fiat Abarth’ stripe that runs the length of the car. A red chequered roof adds a contemporary twist.

The boot/engine lid is propped open in true competition Abarth style by twin three-legged supports. This arrangement, designed in-period to help cool the engine under competition conditions, exposes the engine to full view, so it’s a good job that it is so beautifully detailed and clean.

As are the period-correct touches such as the Abarth bonnet latches and the incredible ‘Fiat Abarth’ wiper linkage. Seriously, it’s practically worth the price of entry just to be able to gaze on that piece of chromed modern art.

The rest of the brightwork is in very good order and the whole car looks amazing. Evidently repainted during the conversion, it has stood up well over the intervening years. The vendor describes the paintwork as being in “very good condition”, a description we wholeheartedly agree with.

With the best stance we’ve seen in a long time, the car sits low on a set of rare and period-correct Melber 5.5” x 13” alloy wheels, which are wrapped in a matching set of four Pirelli P700-Z tyres in 165/55 R13 size. The tyres have a December 2014 manufacturing date and are in virtually ‘as new’ condition.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but do give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

There are a few minor blemishes of course, most notably around some of the panel edges. The worst of these is the area around the rear arch on the right-hand side, but the sills, door shuts and jambs all appear to be in sound condition.

We can see that the new owner will almost certainly want to refurbish the alloy wheels, too. Not that they are in a bad condition but simply because they’re a little jaded and so contrast starkly with the rest of the car, which is so good. 

Inside, the red vinyl interior is in great condition with no apparent rips, tears or stains. The rear seat looks almost unused, and the front seats, which are piped in black and able to tilt forward to allow access to the back, are still in minty fresh condition.

The driver sits behind a Momo Prototipo steering wheel fitted with an Abarth centre boss, as well as an original period instrument cluster with Jaeger gauges. The central rev counter is flanked by the speedometer, as well as oil and water temperature gauge and a fuel readout.

The rest of the trim components are in equally good order, with little wear to the chrome and plastics, and with charming period details like the pull straps on the B-pillars and the brown gearlever knob, the colour of which would never have been our first choice but looks simple stunning in the flesh.

The rubber mats that line the floor are excellent and lifting them reveals rust-free metal floors. The door cards look almost new and feature pleated pockets for extra storage.

The front boot is as nicely finished as the rest of the car, being clean and freshly painted. All the components in there are very neatly installed, including the wiring. It also contains the spare wheel, which looks to be fitted with a newish tyre.

The headlining is probably the worst bit of the interior, and that’s only moderately bad and could be lived with very easily.

Other problems seem to be limited to a scruffy gearlever plate, peeling trim on the nearside rear wheelarch, and some wobbly trim on the rear parcel shelf. None of which should be time consuming or expensive to remedy.

The owner tells us that this example has followed the same path as the in-period Abarth conversions, starting life as a standard Fiat 600D before being modified to 847cc ‘Turismo Competition’ specification.

It now features independent suspension all round and front disc brakes in addition to an upgraded water pump, alternator and new cooling fan in order to produce a more driveable car for modern, traffic-choked driving conditions.

The engine bay is clean, tidy and purposeful, with the Abarth-specific aluminium components, model-specific carburettor, and all the hoses and wiring all being in superb condition.

Mechanically, the car is in excellent fettle with only a few thousand miles driven since the total refurbishment and conversion to 850 TC specification. It drives very well indeed, feeling perky and running well.

Despite its compact city-car origins, this car deserves to be enjoyed outside of the urban environment, driven with gusto and with a huge smile on the next owner’s face. It also makes a wonderful noise thanks to that glorious megaphone exhaust.

Speaking of which, the underside is as clean as the rest of the car and that expensive exhaust has been coated white, which contrasts wonderfully with the rest of the mechanical components.

The plucky little Fiat doesn’t have a current MOT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have the car re-MOT’d at the earliest. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

Little is known of the car’s history prior to the vendor buying it from Scotsdale in January 2018 from a dealer in Canada. For that reason, prospective bidders will need to set their budget based on its current condition rather than being able to rely on a hefty history file.

So, if you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – please contact us to arrange an appointment.

This Fiat Abarth 850 TC ‘Tribute’ is a magnificent recreation of a 1960s motorsport favourite. Available at a fraction of the cost of a genuine Abarth with competition provenance, this car would be a terrific entrant for historic events, including any number of rallies or hillclimb events.

With just 78 registered as being in regular use in 2017, and another 44 on SORN, even the standard car is a rare sight. This rarity, plus the obsessive attention to detail that went into creating and maintaining it, means we think this example will sell for between £19,000 and £26,000, but with an even lower reserve – or about the same as you’d pay for the mass-produced, fast-depreciating year-old modern Fiat 500 Abarth.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.