Do you like it? ▶ Support the editorial team and buy Shots Magazine a drink...
Sixty years after Carlo Abarth's legendary record-breaking drive, the Italian watch brand Breil and Abarth are jointly launching an exclusive timepiece.
The “Breil Abarth 1000” chronograph, in a strictly limited edition, pays tribute to a milestone in automotive history.
A tribute to a historic moment
On October 20, 1965, he wrote Carlo Abarth A personal chapter in motorsport history. At the legendary Autodromo Nazionale Monza, the then 57-year-old company founder drove the Abarth 1000 Monoposto Record to two new world records.
With this single-seater, he set new best times in the G displacement class over the quarter mile (13,62 seconds) and 500 meters (15,38 seconds) – the 100th world record overall for the brand with the scorpion in its crest.
The story behind this achievement is remarkable: Carlo Abarth, a successful motorcycle racer in his youth, lost about 30 kilograms through a radical diet in order to even fit into the cramped cockpit of the racing car, which weighed only 500 kilograms.
The single-seater, based on a Formula 2 chassis, had a 982 cubic centimeter four-cylinder engine with two camshafts, producing 105 hp at 8.800 revolutions per minute.
Technical sophistication on the wrist
The new chronograph combines sporty design with high-quality materials. The black stainless steel case with a Bilux finish is topped with a forged carbon bezel, while the screw-down case back is made of classic carbon fiber.
The aluminum start and stop buttons are located at 2 and 4 o'clock and, with their racing design, are reminiscent of controls from the... MotorsportSkeletonized titanium hands with luminescent coating guarantee optimal readability in any lighting situation.
A sapphire crystal protects the dial, while the precise quartz movement ensures reliable timekeeping. Water-resistant to 10 bar, the watch is also suitable for active wearers.
Special details underscore its character: The case back features the engraving "1965-2025, Abarth 1000, 60 anni di storia" along with the individual serial number. The black stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp bears the logos of both brands.
Collectible item with a history
With only 465 units produced, the "Breil Abarth 1000" is likely to quickly become a highly sought-after collector's item. This number underscores the unique nature of this collaboration between the watch manufacturer, founded in Milan in 1935, and the tuning specialist from Turin.
The original Abarth 1000 Monoposto Record can now also be admired at the Heritage Hub in Turin, where it is exhibited alongside other historic record vehicles such as the 1956 Abarth 750 Bertone.
The long-standing partnership between Breil and Abarth finds its most ambitious realization to date with this chronograph – a wristwatch that combines pioneering spirit, Italian design and the unmistakable racing spirit.
Sierks Media / © Photos: Abarth, Stellantis
