One to Buy: ex-Alain Finkelstein 1969 Abarth SE 010
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The SE 010 was Abarth’s new-for-1968 under two-litre Group 6 challenger created to take on similar machinery from the likes of Alfa Romeo (33/2), Porsche (910), Chevron (B8), Lotus (47) and Ferrari (Dino 206 S).
Although designer Mario Collucci had wanted to go with a mid-engined layout, Carlo Abarth got his way and the SE 010 ultimately adopted a rear-engined configuration which was deemed perfect for the hillclimbs and tight, twisty circuit races the Turin firm expected to prioritise.
Having hit the ground running and picked up a litany of wins using the two-litre engine for which it was conceived, 1.3, 1.6 and even 3-litre engines were successfully shoehorned into the SE 010 which, from the spring of 1969, was also homologated into the Group 4 class following the FIA’s decision to reduce the production requirement from 50 to 25 cars.
Set to go under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s auction in Paris on February 22nd is an SE 010 in superb restored condition and with outstanding provenance.
Chassis 0018 was originally sold to Alain Finkelstein who used it to great effect in the French Hillclimb Championship (the Championnat de France de la Montagne) between 1969 and ‘70.
Finkelstein placed third in the standings following his 1969 campaign and, although single seat racing cars were permitted to compete from 1970, he still managed to finish sixth during his second season with the car.
1971 saw chassis 0018 campaigned by Jean-Marie Porcier, after which it was sold to former French hillclimb champion, Pierre Maublanc. In 1976 the car was purchased from Maublanc by Jean Rocher who has retained it ever since and, between 2016 and 2017, subjected the car to an exacting restoration.
