Abarth Made A One-Off 1000 SP Roadster Based On Alfa Romeo’s 4C

These days the Abarth name is relegated to signposting the performance versions of Fiat’s 500 and 124 Spider sports cars. But back in the 1950s and 1960s Abarth was ticking off race wins all over Europe with its combination of tuned Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and even Porsche power units, and lightweight hand formed body panels.

And now the 1000 SP (Sport Prototipo), one of the greatest of those race winning cars, has just been reimagined for 2021. The Stellantis press release doesn’t go into too much technical detail about the car, but it gives us enough to work out what’s under the skin.

There are references to a carbon fiber chassis tub, MacPherson strut rear suspension, and a mid-mounted and turbocharged 1742cc four-cylinder engine developing 237hp (240 ps), all of which point to the recently deceased Alfa Romeo 4C Spider.

If you’ve ever seen a 4C you’ll know the thing is tiny. So to see it dwarfing the original 1000 SP in these photographs gives you an idea of how minute the 1960s car really is. It almost looks like the latest project from The Little Car Company, the guys who make the Baby Bugatti.

But size aside – and without spending a fortune there was no way for the Stellantis engineers to change the core dimensions of the donor car – the new car does a pretty good job of translating the original’s most recognisable styling cues.

Abarth 1000 SP above, Alfa Romeo 4C below

Related: Alfa Romeo Sends Off 4C Spider In The US With Limited 33 Stradale Tributo Edition

There are no pop-up lights, but modern projector lamps echo the original’s parking lights, and the hood features the same large horizontal slot and 20 perpendicular slots behind it.

There’s a retro-look black roll hoop behind the seats, and the bodywork and side window glass has been reshaped to mimic the older aluminium-bodied car’s voluptuous curves. But the most successful part is probably the rear end. Sure, it looks almost SUV tall next to the dainty original’s, but the army of vents on the decklid and the bisected rear mesh panel, presumably allowing turbocharged heat to escape from the engine bay, give the new SP real presence, and a very different look to the original 4C.

The 4C went out of production in 2020 and it’s very likely this project is just a bit of fun, rather a hint at any impending u-turn on that decision. Stellantis says it’s only making one car, which will be used at major classic-themed events this fall. But since the 4C was a bit of sales flop, it’s possible there may be a few more carbon tubs lying around the Alfa R&D center if you’re adamant the company build you your very own.