Makes › Cisitalia › 204A Abarth Motto Spider · Rare production · 1949–1950
Cisitalia
204A Abarth Motto Spider
Cisitalia 204A spider with Abarth and Motto connection; lead gives 5 units from Wikidata, not confirmed.
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- Not yet verified
- Years
- 1949–1950
- Engine
- Fiat-sourced four-cylinder, Cisitalia-modified · 1,089 cc / 1.1 LFactory: 1,089 cc
- Power
- 59.7 kW / 81.1 PSFactory: 80 hp · converted
- Top speed
- Not yet verified
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Giovanni Savonuzzi (body design); Rocco Motto (bodies)
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The 204A was the first Cisitalia to show Porsche influence in its chassis and suspension. It was developed with Carlo Abarth, and its open racers were the first Cisitalia-Abarths. Only about five 204As are believed to have been built.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
No production figures recorded yet.
History
Carlo Abarth joined Cisitalia in 1947 under an agreement with the Porsche family. When Cisitalia went bankrupt about two years later, Abarth received several racing cars, including two complete 204As and a third under construction.
The 204A debuted in May 1948 with a Fiat-based 1089 cc engine tuned by Abarth. It was raced only a handful of times in 1948. In 1949 the cars were raced as Cisitalia-Abarths, with the 'scorpion' badge.
Later in 1949 a fixed-head coupe body by Giovanni Michelotti, built by Vignale, appeared on the 204A platform. Tazio Nuvolari's last career win came in a 204A in April 1950.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard 204A Abarth Motto Spider.
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine manufacturer | Fiat (engine unit), tuned by Cisitalia and Abarth1 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Engine family | Fiat-sourced four-cylinder, Cisitalia-modified1 Independently researched |
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Not yet verified |
| Cylinders | 41 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 1,089 cc / 1.1 LFactory: 1,089 cc1 Independently researched |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Valvetrain | Single side camshaft with pushrods1 Independently researched |
| Fuel system | Twin Weber carburettors1 Independently researched |
| Power | 59.7 kW / 81.1 PSFactory: 80 hp · converted1 Independently researchedSource writes bhp and 'as much as 80 bhp' on fuel with 50% alcohol; a maximum, not a dyno rating. Unit kept as stated. |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Manufacturer | Fiat1 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | Four-speed manual (Fiat-origin)1 Independently researched |
| Gears | 41 Independently researched |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | All-new steel tubular chassis1 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Twin-trailing arm and transverse torsion-bar front suspension (Porsche-type)1 Independently researched |
| Rear suspension | Live axle with transverse leaf spring1 Independently researched |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Lightweight bodywork built by Rocco Motto1 Independently researched |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Being verified against factory or registry sources before it is published. Have a source? Contribute it.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
1949 - 1950 Cisitalia-Abarth 204A Motto Spider Level C Wouter Melissen · Ultimatecarpage.com · 2013-01-21
- Fiat-sourced four-cylinder engine
- the Fiat-sourced four-cylinder engine
- The production-based unit displaced 1,089 cc
- single, laterally mounted camshaft that actuated the valves through push-rods
- twin Weber carburettors
- it could produce as much as 80 bhp
- which was also of Fiat origins
- It was mated to a four-speed manual gearbox, which was also of Fiat origins.
- four-speed manual gearbox
- It used an all new steel tubular chassis
- twin-trailing arm and transverse torsion bar front suspension
- Consisting of a live axle with a transverse leaf spring
- The bodies were built by Rocco Motto, who specialised in lightweight constructions.
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