1966 Abarth 1300 OT Periscopio

During his long career, tuning specialist Carlo Abarth contributed to many superb racing cars that were built on platforms ranging from mass-production Fiats to exotic four-cam Porsches. Few of these models, however, involved as comprehensive an approach as his OT (Omologato Turismo) series, as this 1300 OT coupe splendidly attests.

In late 1964, Abarth’s contract with supplier Simca expired, as Chrysler had taken a majority stake in the French manufacturer and had little interest in pursuing a competition agenda. Seeking a replacement for the successful Simca-Abarth 1300 and 2000 GTs, the Italian constructor took the opportunity to develop his own engine design, culminating in the production of a 1300 cc inline 4-cylinder motor with two valves per cylinder, twin-plug ignition, and dry sump lubrication. Fed by two large Weber carburetors, the 1300 OT engine developed a compression ratio of 10.5:1 and was good for 145 hp.

Abarth penned a handsome coupe body that was molded in three-piece clamshell fashion by Sibona & Basano of Torino, and the coachwork was mounted on a developed version of a Fiat 850 chassis in a series of at least 50 examples built between May 1965 and March 1966, thus satisfying homologation requirements. The thoroughbred race car featured minimal adornments, with a bare fiberglass interior and weight-saving features like drilled aluminum pedals.

As the rear-mounted motor and front-mounted radiator contributed to cabin heat, several cars were equipped with a periscope-style intake on the roof that fed cool air directly to the driver. In this configuration, the model was appropriately nicknamed Periscopio. The 1300 OT Coupe dominated its class during the 1966-68 seasons, notably winning the Division 1 FIA Manufacturer’s Cup in 1967 and 1968.

This car, chassis no. 137C.044, was delivered new to Abarth’s German affiliate, Abarth Corse Deutschland. The car was driven in many events during the 1966 season by Siegfried Dau, most notably winning the HMSC-Flugplatz-Rennen at Mainz-Finthen in June, and the DARM Touring Car Grand Prix at Hockenheim in July. The 1300 OT also earned second-in-class honors at the 100-mile race at Hockenheim and the 500 KM Nürburgring.

Following the season’s conclusion, the Abarth was directly sold to Peter Kaus, the well-known German enthusiast behind the Rosso Bianco Collection, and it was subsequently treated to a full restoration by Auto Schiemenz of Bonn. Two decades later, the Periscopio was sold to Japanese collector Shiro Kosaka, owner of the Gallery Abarth, a marque-dedicated museum.

In 2008, the 1300 OT was sold to respected Italian car collector Elad Shraga, who commissioned a substantial mechanical rebuild. The cylinder head and valves were reground, the pistons were recoated, and the block was refurbished with new bearings – rare components given that original Abarth-designed parts are essentially unobtainable. The transmission and differential were rebuilt, and a new custom-made dual radiator was installed.

Once completed, 137C.044 was shown and driven occasionally before being sold in 2010 to an Ohio-based enthusiast who continued to enjoy the car in events. More recently, the Abarth was acquired by the consignor, and it has since been maintained for future event use or presentation on concours fields.

According to John de Boer’s Italian Car Registry, this extremely rare car is one of approximately 50 1300 OTs built in total, and perhaps of as few as a dozen examples equipped with the namesake periscope air inlet. As these Abarths were molded in fiberglass and generally driven hard in competition, it is safe to assume that very few of the cars emerged from their period racing campaigns as unscathed as this fine example.

Still equipped with a proper tipo 237 Abarth engine, and accompanied by impressive documentation including a manufacturer’s specification sheet, photos of the restoration work, and prior Bills of Sale, this beautiful and exotic race car beckons Italian car aficionados and vintage racing enthusiasts to indulge in its high-revving engine performance and remarkable handling. It is a wonderful testament to the genius of Carlo Abarth that would complement any collection.