An Abarth High in the Low Countries
Fiat Abarth 124 Rally cars in the Abarth Works Museum.
No one in the low countries quite compares to Guy Moerenhout, a enthusiast and garage owner with a distinct taste for things Abarth. In fact, there is probably no one in Europe with an Abarth inventory of parts, knowledge and cars under one roof, with 3500 square meters of space located in Belgium.
The official address is Guy Moerenhout Racing, Industriestraat 1-2500, Lier Belgium, between Antwerp and Brussels. We might add that there is a threefold purpose to Guy’s place–to sell cars, parts, as a garage and now, Guy is the proud owner of the “Abarth Works Museum” under the same huge roof in Lier. And if you are anywhere in the area, be sure to drop by–you will be amazed!
Guy was one of the last of the Abarth rally racers, supported by Fiat Auto Belgio before the Abarth adventure ended in the 1970s. But it was too late for Guy, he was smitten with the Tornadoes from Turin and decided to open a Car and Tuning Workshop in 1971.
He started buying, selling, repairing and tuning lots of different makes of cars and was national representative for Lada in Belgium. He worked with other makes and cars like: 4×4, Daihatsu, Mitsubishi and Honda. In 1982 he drove a Land Rover on the Paris-Dakar Rally, and also competed in the Safari Rally Zaire several times. Over the years Moerenhout has worked on the publicity and promotions for a variety of make and has driven many different cars. But all the while, Abarth remained his greatest passion.
Rare Simca Abarth 1150 Esse Esse with a six speed box, for sale at 40,000 Euros.
Concentrating on the Fiat and Simca based Abarth, Guy started collecting cars, parts and an enormous amount of experience in things Abarth. By 1997, he was ready to devote his entire focus to the sale of Abarth related parts and cars.
As demand started to overtake the supply of real Abarths, Moerenhout found himself having to make copies for his customers. He now builds Abarth recreations with polyester bodies and has made almost every polyester body part for and Abarth one can think of. One of the more recent projects is an Abarth 1300 Periscopo. But don’t worry about being fooled–Guy will be glad to guide his customers through the maze of the real and the unreal. One just pays accordingly.
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The Abarth Works Museum opened in 2007, and features Fiat Abarth 124 Rally, a Fiat Abarth 695 Esse Esse, a 750 GT Zagato, Monomille, Simca 2000 and many more of the great Abarth race and rally cars.
When in Brussels..where to go...
fax: +32 (0)3 440 67 80
www.abarth-gmr.be
guy@abarth-gmr.be
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Out of the 95 cars I’ve owned in my 77 years, I believe my 1966 Fiat Abarth 695SS was my favorite of all. I bought it new through Al Cosentino and went to the Abarth factory to pick it up. I rode in the car with the test driver on a track at the factory and he said everything was good to go (in Italian). I drove it through Italy to the coast and arranged shipping to Los Angeles. The clutch was stuck, but after much effort it came unglued and I drove it home to Denver, Co. This was about the last year that a european car could be purchased and shipped here because of the U.S. safety regulations. The headlights were too low by about 3 inches, but I got it though ok. I kick myself for trading it later for the new ’68 or ’69 Fiat 124, even though that car was advanced for it’s time. It just didn’t have the pa-zazz of the Abarth……………….Jim
I have had the following Abarths: Abarth Sestriere, Record Monza Bialbero 1000 (which I raced at Palm Springs 1989), 750GT Double Bubble, Abarth Simca 1300 (formerly Norbert McNamara’s, Abarth Scorpione (purchased from Al Consentino in Brewster NY). I visited the Abarth Factory around 1971 and toured the place. I saw the tables with guys assembling engines and Scorpiones on rollers so they could push the shell around. The address was: 38 Via Marche, Torino, I wonder if it is still there or if Carlo’s office is kept the same…..
Fantastic and Superb, my sincerely congretulation for your site. I love the Abarth cars , in my Hobbie I´have a little blog and I put for sale any parts abarth , orig whells cromodora , because my dream is a Fiat 124 abarth rally!!!
I have a 124 Sport coupé cc 1438 , 1968, but the Spider Abarth…When I`have a time and possibility I´m going in your abarth works museum , Is the Beautyfull in the Europe.
Sory my english is not very good, but Thank You for this mots.
From Portugal ( Douro Region)
yes ,via Marche is still there and now also Abarth headoffice .Mayby you have some old photos ?I have some that is rebuilding (small) this place again.Mayby you can help
Hello,
I’m from Austria and I’m looking for a used independent front suspension for my Fiat 850 Sedan.
Equal condition!
Best regards
Gerhard
hallo ,a used suspention like this you will not find .A new one will cost you ex shocks 1500 euro.The where only on 1600 and 2000 OT fitted
It’s possibile the lancia stratos replica have?
We’ve been planning such an article. Perhaps you know of someone who owns one?
I’m for a long time a client/friend from Mr.”Abarth” Guy and it is true that he has an excellent number of beautifull Abarth’s you should pay a visit to his extraordinairy museum,besides he is tuning my Abarths to complete satisfaction and without him there would not be the big interset in Europe I should say the world, for this unique car.He even export cars to Japan as wel!!!!
Regards to all Abarth lovers,
Jacobus Visser.