The 1960 Abarth 1000 Bialbero Record Car is set to become one of the most striking automobiles to grace Pebble Beach this summer, when it goes under the hammer at Gooding & Co’s 20-21 August sale.
‘La Principessa’ was first unveiled at the 42nd Turin Motor Show, created for Fiat-Abarth by Pinin Farina for the express purpose of capturing the world record for the highest sustained speed of the longest period of time – a feat it achieved in 1960.
The incredible shape was developed using the wind tunnel at Turin Polytechnic University and boasted a drag coefficient of just 0.20 – low enough to ensure that it’s first record wasn’t its last. The car went on to set nine world records at Monza, including 10,000km at an average speed of 118.7mph, as well as 72 continuous hours at an average speed of 116mph.
The car is completely unrestored having been with the same private owner for decades, while Gooding’s sale represents the first time that it has ever been offered for public sale.
