Photos by Robert Catt
VeloceToday reader Robert Catt emailed is late last week. “A Fiat Abarth X1/9 prototipo is on a roundabout near Goring, Worthing (UK) on Thursday November 2, 2017, sadly to say burnt out. I think it has only been there a couple of days. No doubt West Sussex or Worthing Police are aware.”
Worthing is a large seaside town in England, with borough status in West Sussex. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, 10 miles west of Brighton, and 18 miles east of the county town of Chichester.
We thought it looked familiar and searched our archives for similar Prototipo X1/9s. But first look at the rest of Robert Catt’s photos of the fiery Prototipo in the UK.
Front end seems to have escaped almost intact from the fire. Very original looking and almost identical to S/N 0023003 photographed by Roberto Motta in Italy.
As cars drive by, the X1/9 Prototypo sits, burned out by the side of the roundabout.
Where the fire was, and it went into the interior. What happened to the carbs and wheels?
But is it a prototipo?
Well, we thought this was a close dead ringer for one of the Fiats tested by Roberto Motta for VT March 10, 2015. But Motta took a close look at the photos provided by Robert Catt and found the seats too large and the roll bar not right. We noted the difference in the engines, particular the cam covers. “Could be a replica, and I think that #0023003, the subject of my earlier article, is still owed by Macaluso’s son.”
However, the Prototipo’s history is still shrouded by some mysteries, as Motta related in the 2015 article. “For example, we are not sure how many chassis were really built. The first car was the chassis #128 AS 0000133. This car is still in Italy. Then in the summer of 1974, Abarth prepared five new chassis with a numerical sequence from #128 AS 0023001 to #128 AS 0023005. The first three chassis numbers were definitely registered on September 4th, 1974.”
Some years ago, Motta endeavored to photograph three of these cars. All these car were found in Italy, near Torino:
#23001 Deila’s car which can be seen below.
#23002 Seen in a Volta, Italy, work shop.
#23003 Macaluso’s car and the first subject car here.
#23004 Legend says that in the chassis series, there was the ‘stradale’ and another spare chassis that was never used in race events. Some think #23004 would have been the stradale chassis, but I never seen the car. Reportedly, this car was in the Al Cosentino workshop, and some years ago the car was sold. Cosentino claims to have bought at least one, but never provided the chassis number.
So, what is the X1/9 Prototipo found on the roundabout in the UK last week? One of the missing cars, a modification of an existing one, or a nice replica? Bet we find out so stay tuned.
Photos by Roberto Motta
#0023003 Macaluso’s car here and below.
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looks very much like the TargaFlorio classics have had for sale for some time. but their website is down now.
??????
This is probably a Guy Moerenhout replica. Guy has done many replicas.
You can reach him near Antwerp and he has a web site.
Hi It looks like the Fiat Abarth X1/9 Prototipo replica sold by Targa Florio Classics a few years ago. Was based upon a right hand drive car.
Probably David Robey’s replica
My immediate thought was the Targa Florio Classics car that was for sale in the UK. Wonder if this was an accidental engine fire or it was stolen?
If it’s David Robey’s, which like Phil, I think it is, it will be his second Abarth to burn out on the road.
It is owned by Darren West from ferring near Worthing who bought it off targa Florio classics its a replica not the real deal.. Its a sad sight it was a nice replica and sounded great
CLL19T this is its #plate. The car is named Targa Florio. It’s just a British copy on fire…
The Stradale that Al had now lives in Sydney Australia and is being restored
Hi, yes this was my car. We built it up over the course of 2 years and sold it last summer to the current owner, Darren. I emailed him last night as soon as I saw this article to ask what happened and this was his reply.
“Driving along at 40 one evening. bloom of orange behind me. fire went through the back window in seconds. Jumped out ( quickly ) and tried to put it out. 12 foot flames and didn’t stand a chance. car gone in 3 minutes.”