Model Factory Hiro K837 1/12 1000SP LM 24h Race 1969 Ecurie Fiat-Abarth France #51 M.Zanetti / U.Locatelli

A one-time racer and automobile designer, Carlo Abarth, founded the "Abarth & C." company in 1949 in Bologna, Italy (moved to Turin in 1951), which focused on selling car parts and designing race cars. Abarth made a name for itself, with cars designed by the founder himself, participating in various races in the GT class and Touring Car class from 1950 to 1960.
Interested in participating in the sports prototype class, Abarth convinced designer Mario Colucci to leave his post at Alfa Romeo to become the new technical director at Abarth. While both had conflicting design philosophies, with Abarth preferring a rear overhang engine setup whereas Colucci preferred a mid-ship engine, the cars designed by Colucci under Abarth's direction were used in many races in the 1960s, before Carlo's departure from the company and the arrival of the 131 Rally and 037 Rally in the 1970s and 1980s, respectively.
Among the many machines that Colucci was involved in designing was the 1000SP, a prototype racing car (the "SP" being short for "Sports Prototype") launched in 1966. The 1000SP was designed with a tubular trellis chassis that Colucci was personally fond of, along with a mid-ship engine that C. Abarth was against, all sitting under a lightweight FRP body. In order to obtain homologation, 25 were built in 1966 and 25 were built in 1967, allowing it to qualify for races such as the Targa Florio.
Of the many 1000SPs that raced, one was entered in the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans under the Ecurie Fiat-Abarth France team, featuring a different front cowl among the many design differences from the base 1000SP.

- A 1/12 scale model based on the 1000SP that entered the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans, car #51.
- A fully detailed, multi-material kit featuring white metal, resin, etching, turned parts, rubber tires, silk screen decals, and various cords, allowing for maximum representation of the original vehicle.
- Aluminum turned parts used for engine funnels, light rims, muffler end, and wheel rims. The front bonnet, doors, and rear cowl can be opened and closed, allowing a view of the detailed interior after completion.