Sleeping beauty
The Fiat Abarth 1300 OT with the chassis number #047 was probably originally yellow. What is certain is that its first owner was Fiorenzo Genta, a racing driver from Turin. However, he did not drive the Targa Florio 1967 himself; Guido Garufi and Giuseppe Ferlito were at the wheel when the car won its class. He still owned the Abarth for the 1968 Targa Florio, but by then it was yellow with a blue stripe. However, Giuseppe Virgilio and Salvatore Panepinto were at the wheel and had to give up after six of nine laps, but were still classified. The picture was similar in 1969, with Genta as the owner. #047 was now light blue and also had the famous ‘periscopio’. Virgilio, together with Angelo Bonaccorsi, took second place in the class up to 1.3 litres. Genta sold the Abarth 1971 to Paolo Vitale, who sold it to Renzo Bucci – and then the car came to Vincenzo Osella in 1973. Yes, the same Osella who took over the racing department, Reparto Corse, from Abarth in 1973, after Carlo Abarth had to sell to Fiat. He was followed by Jean-François Thaon, a doctor from France, then another Frenchman, Dominique Bouvier, after that Guido Bartolomeo, who probably wanted to restore the car, because he sold it in 1988 in individual parts to an Italian, in exchange for a Topolino and a Dino 246 GT. We also know that he had the engine overhauled, then restored the car again – and then put it in a barn for the last 37 years. And this is what #047 looks like today. Because we like it so much, we are showing all the pictures individually here.
This wonderful Fiat Abarth 1300 OT will be auctioned off by Broad Arrow in Villa d’Este on 24/25 May 2025, with an estimated price tag of €400,000–450,000. We have more Abarth, much more Abarth: here.
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