1953 Abarth 1100 SS Ghia Coupe

Generously Lent by Buzz & Bradley Calkins

• Unique collaboration between FIAT, Abarth, and Ghia for the  Turin Motor Salon

• Best in Show at the 2021 Audrain Concours

• Restored after discovery in a Maryland barn after 30 years

Described as a "Masterpiece of Design" by "Motor Italia" in 1953, this car helped solidify the marriage of Fiat and Abarth. Ghia displayed the car as the "Fiat Abarth 1100 SS" at the Turin Auto Show alongside the Dodge FireArrow. This is the only example of the Abarth 205 competition bodied by Ghia where its unique body styling was conceived by Giovanni Michelotti. It revealed some iconic Ghia components such as the wide front grille and infused special elements such as the round bullet nose and curvaceous rear quarters. 

Using the last of 4 Abarth 205 race chassis, mated to a FIAT 103/1100 engine and transmission – the 1098 cc Fiat inline 4-cylinder with twin Solex Carburetor, running through a 4-speed manual transmission, producing 89 hp - the car’s diminutive stature received increased performance utilizing specialty parts created by Abarth, an early collaboration that was to blossom in the years to come.  After the show in Italy, the car was bought by Bill Vaughn, an American whose plan was to use the car to develop his own compact V8 automobile and subsequently showed the Abarth at the 1954 New York Automobile Show calling it a Vaughn SS Wildcat.  The concept did not take with the American public and the car was relegated to extended storage in Ashton, MD where it remained for 30 years.