Abarth 595/695 695 SS (Assetto Corsa)

Abarth 595/695 695 SS (Assetto Corsa)

Carlo Abarth had an extraordinary gift: he could take the most modest of cars and transform them into genuine competition machines. The 695 SS Assetto Corsa represented the pinnacle of his work with the Fiat 500 platform. Starting with the tiny rear-engined city car, Abarth's engineers bored and stroked the air-cooled twin-cylinder engine, added a special camshaft, enlarged the valves, and fitted a free-flow exhaust to extract an astonishing 38 horsepower from just 689cc — more than double the standard 500's output.

The 'Assetto Corsa' (racing setup) designation meant this was no mere street tune. The car received stiffer springs, Koni dampers, a front anti-roll bar, wider wheels, and upgraded drum brakes. The body was stripped of unnecessary trim, and distinctive flared wheel arches accommodated the wider track. A prominent oil cooler protruded from the front, and the engine lid was louvered for additional cooling.

Despite weighing barely 470 kg, the 695 SS could reach 140 km/h — remarkable for an engine smaller than many motorcycles. On tight hillclimb courses and small racing circuits, these tiny Abarths regularly embarrassed cars with many times their displacement. The car competed in the under-700cc class where it was virtually unbeatable.

Today, the 695 SS is one of the most coveted Abarths. Its combination of David-vs-Goliath character, beautiful Scorpion badge heritage, and genuine racing provenance makes it irresistible to collectors who appreciate engineering brilliance over brute force.