Download Print Press Kit: 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth Abarth Brand Timeline November 15,1908 – Karl Abarth is born in Vienna, Austria 1930 – Starts racing his own hand-built motorcycles. He becomes a five-time European motorcycle champion 1939 – A near fatal accident ends his motorcycle racing career 1949 – Starts the‘Abarth & C’ company producing after market products for production cars as well as performance exhaust systems; wins the Italian 1100 and Formula 2 championships with his first race car ever built (the 204A Roadstar, derived from a Fiat 1100) 1955 – The Abarth 750GT is launched 1956 – The Fiat Abarth 750, with a body by Bertone, is presented and immediately sets a number of endurance and speed records that same year; two different versions of the same car appear with a Zagato body: Fiat Abarth 750Z agato and Fiat Abarth 750GTZ agato 1958 – Creates the Fiat 595 Abarth from a Fiat 500 and with it breaks six international speed records 1965 – Fiat 595 Abarth tallies nearly 900 victories over its seven-year run 1971 – Abarth is absorbed into Fiat Auto 1979 – Karl Abarth dies on October 24 2007 – The Abarth brand is relaunched in Europe 2011 – The Fiat 500 Abarth is introduced in the U.S.