I currently drive a '14 Abarth daily and have a '79 Spider 2000. It's the perfect combo
My understanding of the Essesse is that a US Spec 'base' Abarth and a Euro/Australian Essesse are the same. The difference being the Euro/Australian 'base' Abarth has < 160hp. Your car should be on "normal" factory Abarth springs and there are quite a few aftermarket options for lowering springs.
We took both the Abarth and the Spider to AutoFesta ( car show in little Italian in Sydney) on the weekend. Wife enjoyed driving the Abarth.
The Esse Esse sold here in Australia, are sold as 160HP - 118Kw, they are suppose to have all the goodies that come in the timber Abarth box which was the add-on's to the original Abarths (135HP)
THE FLEET
2014 Abarth "SS"
1981 Spider 2000 (Legend Industries Turbo - minus the Turbo)
1978 X1/9 1.3 Dual IDF 40's, Coupe Cam, Allison Header/Exhaust
1971 128 Sedan 1100cc, Coupe Cam/Headers
Motokhana Special 127 rear engined Rail 903cc