And this car was in his collection, so it's probably original and correct. Similar or same unique color in different light.

 Isn't this second car the same one from the video clip that you posted earlier? I've looked over both of these photos, & both cars do not appear to be "authentic" - there are several small tell-tale clues if you look close enough (though the one from the video is slightly better). ;)

I do like the colors, they are similar to a photo I have from an old Abarth 750 Berlina brochure.

-JS.

The car seen from the rear I think is a customer's  vintage rally car and could very well be a replica.
What do you find incorrect about the car seen from the front? (Yes, it is the one in the video.)
Can you tell what year it is?

Jim

Quote from: Pantdino on May 19, 2008, 07:19:48 AM
The car seen from the rear I think is a customer's  vintage rally car and could very well be a replica.
What do you find incorrect about the car seen from the front? (Yes, it is the one in the video.)
Can you tell what year it is?

Though it's hard to tell much from one photo, I can see that the car shown from the rear has a homemade rear emblem set using the "ABARTH" rear chrome script from the 850TC (which came after this car), & large individual "750" numbers. The fender emblem looks to be a small Abarth shield, which wasn't used there on early cars. The rear decklid is from a 600D (more louvres). The gauge pod seen in the car is the type used on the 500-based cars (widely available on today's aftermarket scene). The wheels & hubcaps are 13" Fiat 850, not 12" Fiat or Abarth. The roof should also be red, matching the side stripes.

  The car seen from the front has the correct Abarth front grille/whiskers & shield/script emblems on the nose. The hood "V" ornament looks to be a reproduction item (slightly different shape/angle/pitch @ front). The rubber hood strap was not normally used until the later 850TC, but most likely added by the owner. Car has original Abarth 7-vent steel wheels, but should have either the Abarth spinner/pie-plate type hubcaps or smaller Fiat 600 Series 1 type hubcaps for this early of a car (the chromed steel hubcaps shown are from later Fiat 600/Abarth 750). The "Elaborata" fender script is wrong (should be the "derivazione 750 ABARTH" script that I started this topic about). If I remember correctly from the video clip, the tach unit & speedo unit were not Abarth 750. I now recognize the large blurry emblem I caught a glimpse of on the dash - it's a thick alloy "Fiat 600" script used on very early 600's (like on my Viotti 600's dash). Again, the roof should also be red to match the side stripes.

The sliding side windows & early style seats (vaguely recalled from video clip) would indicate a 1955 or 1956 vintage.

I find it odd that both of these cars are missing the alloy trim around the rear 1/4 windows. ???

-JS.

One of those green cars does not have the side marker lights on the front fenders.  Did the early cars not have them?  And the other car has alloy drip rails.  I am not sure I have seen this before.  A few things on each car don't quite look correct, as J.S. has pointed out.

I have to say that I really love this green color (sometimes called seafoam green).  My 600 has it.  I saw Greg Schmidt's Abarth in San Diego one year when it was for sale.  I think it was a 68-ish car, and that car had the same green color and it looked outstanding IMHO.  Did the early cars have matching interior colors?  The interior in my 58 600 is still in pretty good shape and I plan to re-use it as-is (except for replacing door panel backing). 

J.S., does the color choice of your car affect the interior color for an early car?

Gil

Quote from: zippyfiat on May 19, 2008, 06:31:37 PM
One of those green cars does not have the side marker lights on the front fenders.  Did the early cars not have them?

The small round sidemarker lights were likely added later (early cars did not have them originally). This was probably done to conform to later Motor Vehicle Code laws that went into effect in several European countries. My Viotti 600 didn't originally have them, but had them added later due to this very reason (Italian law). I took that into consideration when viewing these 2 cars ;)

Quote from: zippyfiat on May 19, 2008, 06:31:37 PM
And the other car has alloy drip rails.  I am not sure I have seen this before.

  Common C-shaped metal or chromed-plastic door edge &/or rain gutter moulding, likely added by the owner (or dealership). I took that into account, as well. ;D

Quote from: zippyfiat on May 19, 2008, 06:31:37 PM
I have to say that I really love this green color (sometimes called seafoam green).  My 600 has it.

  It's a popular & well-liked paint color, & compliments the 600 body shape very well. It's common-ness is why I won't have it on my car, haha. (i JuSt LiKe To bE DiffEreNt)

Quote from: zippyfiat on May 19, 2008, 06:31:37 PM
I saw Greg Schmidt's Abarth in San Diego one year when it was for sale.  I think it was a 68-ish car, and that car had the same green color and it looked outstanding IMHO.

Are you sure his car wasn't the Corsa light blue/gray color? (sorry, I haven't seen that car for a good 15+ years) Yes, it was a very nice car. I wonder where it went to?

Quote from: zippyfiat on May 19, 2008, 06:31:37 PM
  Did the early cars have matching interior colors?  The interior in my 58 600 is still in pretty good shape and I plan to re-use it as-is (except for replacing door panel backing).  J.S., does the color choice of your car affect the interior color for an early car?

  Well, there were factory-Fiat interior colors, and then there were "other options" (customer choice). Most of the very early cars had the houndstooth or plaid type materials in a color(s) that complimented the paint color, which I tend to prefer. Unfortunately, I don't have early "factory" paint/interior color documentation (yet?), except for a few 1955-56 600 sales brochures. Later cars had the typical 2-color seats you often see now (the second color was often on the top 1/4 &/or front 1/4 of the seats). Upholstery materials/colors are listed in the back of the later 600D factory Bodywork Spare Parts Catalog. There are also many optional-color upholstery kits available in the aftermarket (like on eBay these days).

  Though I haven't seen documentation to verify it yet, I would think that certain paint colors got paired with certain upholstery colors from the factory. I have this info for the 850 series, but not the 600's. My own car will likely have a "period correct" upholstery type in colors that will compliment the paint colors, paired at my discretion (I do well with aesthetics, haha).

-JS.