A 1960, Porsche 356B Carrera Abarth GTL1002, in the Paddock area of the 2018 London Classic Car Show
Piloted by drivers of the calibre of Moss, Hill and Bonnier, the Abarth-bodied 356B Carrera is one of the most desirable cars in the world. The model’s name comes from the celebrated Carrera PanAmericana road race and was a very limited run of specially bodied coupés powered by the 1598cc dohc Carrera motor already used by ‘regular’ high-performance 356s. The lightweight all-alloy bodywork was hand built by Abarth in Turin under the then racing rules that allowed special bodywork on a production chassis - as long as the weight was not less than 95% of the original. The more streamlined, lower profile gave the small car a useful performance advantage at Le Mans, the Targa Florio and Goodwood, where top Grand Prix drivers scored significant class victories for the German company. No two Abarth Carreras were alike, each chassis varying slightly in profile and trim. Perspex was substituted for glass in all areas bar the windscreen, and alloy componentry abounded. ightweight bucket seats were standard equipment, as was a roll-over bar and 21-gallon fuel tank. Even with such small engines the cars were capable of 135 – 140mph. The raised, heavily louvred rear is a characteristic of the model, the shape reprised in the current 997 model Porsche 911. Between 1960 and 1963, the Porsche Abarth Carrera GTL was a regular ‘giant-killer’ on the circuits. For example, World-Champion-to-be Graham Hill drove a works car to 4th overall at the 1960 Goodwood Tourist Trophy (and 6th the following year), while Strähle/Pucci/Linge finished 6th overall in the 1961 Targa Florio.
Size: 4249px × 3152px
Location: ExCel, London, UK
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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