by Mike –

Here is my pick for the classic car for sale today that I would like to own. If you want an Abarth race car it would be difficult to find a better one than this Fiat-Abarth 1000 Bialbero GT Competition Coupe once owned by Briggs Cunningham, raced by Bruce McLaren and also owned and reunited with its original engine by Greg Paris, the late Abarth historian, collector and restorer who was a long time close friend.

I wrote about another of Greg Paris’ former Abarths here.

1961 Fiat-Abarth 1000 Bialbero GT Competition Coupe

Gooding says,

* Winner, 1962 Sebring 3-Hour Race for Cars Under 1.0 Liter

* Star Period Drivers Include Bruce McLaren and Walt Hansgen

* 2nd in Class and 4th Overall at the 1962 Bridgehampton 400 KM

* Part of Abarth’s First Manufacturer’s Championship-Winning Season

* Expert Concours-Level Restoration by Nino Epifani of Berkeley, California

* Best in Class Winner, 2002 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

* Handsomely and Correctly Presented and Highly Charismatic

* Of the few Fiat-Abarth 1000 Bialbero GT Coupes produced, this example, is particularly special. Race-numbered 8 and driven by rising star Bruce McLaren, it was one of a three-car Abarth attack mounted by the Briggs Cunningham racing team at the March 23, 1962, Sebring 3-Hour Race

* The Fiat-Abarth passed through several owners after Cunningham until Abarth historian Greg Paris acquired it in 1987 and reunited the car with its original engine. In 1999 and 2000, Mark Gessler acquired the Paris collection, which included this Sebring-winning car.

This Abarth race car is for sale at the Gooding auction in Monterey, August 16 – 17, 2013.

The estimate is: $300,000 – $400,000.

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My friend Greg Paris, once owned this beautiful car. He would probably be surprised at the price estimate of his former car. But maybe not, he always seemed to be ahead of the crowd picking great cars and this one is a very special Abarth.

Let us know what you think about this classic Abarth in the Comments.

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