To celebrate its 75th anniversary, Abarth has designed a special car inspired – not only in name – by the historic 1300 OT road-going berlinetta of 1965. A brand new model that takes up the vein, and the basis, of the 1000 SP concept, another revival packaged by Abarth Classiche on the chassis and mechanics of the Alfa Romeo 4C and built in just five units. A limited series to which this new homage to the past is also intended, which is also part of the Heritage “Reloaded by Creators” project, presented as a 1/3 scale model (the “format” usually used for aerodynamic tests) to a small circle of enthusiasts and journalists on the afternoon of April 11 at the Heritage HUB in Via Plava in Turin. For the occasion, an exhibition was also set up open to the public for three months starting from 12 April, with about forty historic pieces (including the many Lancia rally and track cars made by the Abarth racing department) and the prototype of the 1000 SP itself.

With the latter, the “new” 1300 OT will share the underpinning and some design elements such as the spotlights embedded in the nose, but it has its own development that rewards the craftsmanship and exclusivity of its construction: the bodywork, completely made of carbon, it has a front and fenders made in a single piece, which would be unthinkable for a production car, an air intake created by shortening the front compartment cover. The rear bonnet is also monobloc, and can be dismantled if necessary even if access to the engine compartment is achieved by lifting the large transparent cover equipped with slits. The rear retains the round headlights of the basic model, but united by a single large black band on which the Abarth writing is written in large letters, and by a double central exhaust terminal.

With this evocative exhibition – said Roberto Giolito, now director of Heritage – and the announcement of the very limited Abarth Classiche 1300 OT series, the Heritage department of Stellantis (Alfa Romeo, FIAT, Lancia, Abarth) celebrates not only an invaluable human heritage, sporty and technological but pays homage to the different generations of enthusiasts around the world who, even today, expect both adrenaline-pumping driving and distinctive style from a Scorpio car, maintaining faith in the founder’s famous motto “Sunday on the track and Monday At the office”.

“The objective – adds Alessandro Ravera, Heritage Special Vehicles Operation Manager – is to show again the manufacturing capacity of our Abarth Classiche department and create a new small milestone that pays homage to the historical heritage of a brand like Abarth. This project is even more successful than that of the 1000 SP itself, because its design fits even more perfectly on the base, and the production in very few units allows for fewer compromises in some stylistic choices than a mass-produced vehicle would have.