Stellantis Heritage is pleased to announce a new creation resulting from the decade-long collaboration between Abarth and Breil, the renowned Italian watch and jewelry brand born in Milan in 1935.
The Breil Abarth 1000 timepiece pays tribute to one of the most iconic moments in the history of the Scorpion brand: the 100th world record set by Carlo Abarth himself at the Monza Autodrome on 20 October 1965.
Produced in a limited and numbered edition of 465 pieces, this exclusive watch renews the bond between two Italian brands, characterized by audacity, performance and a passion for mechanics, as well as embodying the pioneering spirit of that legendary challenge, combining mechanical design and sporting tension in a chronograph with an unmistakable character. And for those who want to admire the extraordinary 1965 Abarth 1000 single-seater, we remind you that a model is preserved in the Heritage HUB in Turin, alongside the 1956 Abarth 750 record Bertone and the 1960 Fiat-Abarth 1000 single-seater record Pininfarina. In this wonderful Stellantis exhibition space dedicated to the Group's Italian brands, the three single-seaters are on display in the “Records and races” area alongside other triumphing rarities from major circuits around the world.
After all, Carlo Abarth consolidated his reputation as a brilliant car designer and eclectic entrepreneur also through the many records broken by his ‘creations’. These performances were almost always staged at the Monza autodrome which, still equipped with its high-speed ring, was perfect for long distances at very high rhythms. Among the stars of these exploits, a prominent role was played by the 1965 Abarth 1000 single-seater, with which the founder set his 100th world record, an achievement that established him as the ultimate symbol of determination, precision and speed, values that are now back in vogue in the new Breil Abarth 1000.
Abarth 1000 single-seater 1965 Record G Class
Aged 57, Carlo Abarth decided to take to the track once again as a driver, racing in an open-wheel single-seater to set the 100th Abarth record twice, as both manufacturer and driver. The new car, developed entirely in Abarth, was an open-wheel single-seater with a 1000 cc engine, based on the one used in Formula 2 in the 1964 racing season. The double camshaft engine delivered 105 hp at a high speed of 8,800 rpm, weighed only 500 kg dry and had a small 10-litre fuel tank, just enough to set the new acceleration records established by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) towards the end of 1964. Between reality and legend, it is told that in order to physically fit into the cockpit, Carlo Abarth underwent a strict diet (which legend relates exclusively based on apples) and lost as much as thirty kilos; certainly, in addition to allowing him to fit into the cockpit, the weight reduction contributed to improving the car's performance, and thus to achieving the result. Therefore, on 20 October 1965, the familiar circuit of the Monza Autodrome was the theatre for yet another exploit. The Fiat Abarth 1000 single-seater achieved two world records in the G Class, setting records for acceleration over a quarter mile (13.62 seconds) and 500 meters (15.38 seconds). Not satisfied with this success, Carlo had a 2000 engine fitted to the single-seater and the following day set two new acceleration records in the E Class as well: the quarter mile and 500 meters in 11"55 and 15"38 respectively. In the following year, the single seater returned to the Monza circuit to take back the records the Germans had tried to chase.
Breil Abarth 1000 Chronograph | Limited Edition
The 42 mm diameter IP black steel case features compact, dynamic lines and is characterized by a forged carbon bezel, a 4composite outstanding material employed in the racing car and supercar world. The carbon fiber dial features applied hour markers and chronograph counters, reminding of the on-board instrumentation of a single-seater car: every detail is designed to express absolute sportiness. The hour and minute hands are skeletonized and have luminescent-coated tips. The second hand has a red-tipped tip. The BREIL and ABARTH logos appear at 12 o'clock. The tachymeter scale is located on the outer edge of the dial. The customized START and STOP chronograph pushers, with their ergonomic, racing-inspired profile, evoke the controls of a competition car, while the red detail on the START pusher on the black IP finishing background echoes the graphic language of Abarth, a symbol of grit and performance. The letter B for BREIL appears on the setting crown. The dial is protected by a high-resistance sapphire crystal, and the back features a customized caseback engraved with the limited edition serial number and the inscription ‘1965-2025 ABARTH 1000 60 years of history’. Inside, the TMI VK63 quartz movement ensures impeccable precision and reliability. The watch is water-resistant to 10 atmospheres and is completed by a black IP steel strap with a deployant clasp featuring safety push-buttons, decorated with the BREIL ABARTH logos.