modified ferraris

Rear view of the Abarth Ferrari. The body was totally reconstructed from photographs of the Abarth body. Courtesy Bill Warner

This week we present a chapter from Randy Cook’s new book Bowtie Ferraris. Meet Randy at Amelia Island this weekend and get a signed copy of the only book ever published about Chevy engined Ferraris. Or, if in continental U.S., order below from VeloceToday.

By Randy Cook

This unusual Abarth-Ferrari has had more rebodies than any of its contemporaries. It was delivered as a Vignale spyder in March 1953 by the factory to Franco Cornacchia’s Scuderia Guastalla of Milan, Italy for Giulio Mussitelli. It was soon re-bodied by Abarth with a unique aluminum body consisting of multiple removable panels, held together with Dzus fasteners, with a very distinctive nose featuring a center headlight.

Musitelli with the Abarth-bodied Ferrari on the Targa Florio. Photographer unknown

This is the only Ferrari ever bodied – or modified –by Abarth. In 1953, Mussitelli drove it in many Italian races and hill climbs. In 1954, it was rebodied by Scaglietti and received a three-liter engine to 250MM specification. Mussitelli continued to race it in Italy until it was sold to Luigi Chinetti who resold it to Gary Laughlin of Ft. Worth, Texas in January 1956.