At one time Moto Guzzi prepared an air cooled V twin prototype for the FIAT 500. It was designed by Eng. Carcano and had no relationship to the engine later used in the Moto Guzzi bikes; other than the fact that it was a V twin.

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Apparently Carcano enjoyed blasting off other car drivers who were left surprised that what seemed an ordinary Fiat 500 could out accelerate them.

My father in law, who was no slouch when it came to piloting anything with wheels, came back from a test drive to say that he felt that the engine was too powerful for the car and it would need upgraded wheels, suspension, and brakes. Apparently FIAT agreed with him and decided it would be too expensive. They then decided to go with Abarth who had already developed tuning kits for the 500.

In the end they shipped semi completed cars to Abarth where they were fitted with all the Abarth components and then sold through Abarth dealers.

In 1971 FIAT acquired Abarth and the rest is history.

Peter

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