As the 2020 Rétromobile is approaching, it is time to revisit some of the favorite memories from past events. Rétromobile will open its gates on the 5th of February and will await visitors until Sunday evening. For more information on access opening hours and the programme, visit their official website,
The 2018 Rétromobile featured an exhibition dedicated to the 100th birthday of Carlo ABARTH. The 22 models showcased were stemming from Englebert Möll’s impressive collection, a swiss collector.
During the last 50 years, Engelbert Möll created a unique collection of Abarth cars. His collection grew after he was forced to abandon his racing career as an Abarth factory driver, due to a severe accident near Stuttgart in 1963.
Mr Möll built up a unique time capsule consisting of important Abarth race cars from the fifties until the early seventies, and his collection resides in Switzerland. This story actually rhymes well to the Abart Works Museum in Belgium, a favourite stopover on my way to Techno Classica.
The Abarth Works Museum is the best place to celebrate the brands 70th birthday
The selection encompassed a wide range of brands and purpose. The majority were Fiat derivatives, like the Abarth 2400 Coupé Allemano, based on the Fiat 2100.
There were Abarth models based on other brands, notably a few Simcas, like the Abarth Simca 2000 from 1963 or the Abarth Simca 1300 GT Corsa of 1963, with which Engelbert Möll won 8 victories.
There were a few racing prototypes like the Abarth 3000 Sport Prototipo of 1971, the ‘Abarth Osella 2000 Spider Prototipo from 1972, as well as Abarth 2000 Prototipo Pininfarina from 1974.
As far as I can see, the collection was also presented at a very impressive presentation at the 2019 Geneva car show celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Abarth brand.
