True beauty

It is said that Carlo Abarth would ask for scissors and cardboard whenever he had an idea for the design of one of his future cars. Whether this is true remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Abarth always had what were probably the most beautiful cars on the racetrack. One of the best examples of this is undoubtedly the 1968 Fiat Abarth OT 2000 Periscopio.

After the cooperation with Simca ended in 1965, Abarth almost inevitably had to return to working with Fiat. Mario Colucci developed a new racing car, the 1300 OT, based on the existing Simca 1000 and various new parts from the Fiat 850. This car was to become one of Abarth’s most successful sports cars ever. In 1966, the 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine already produced 140 hp, which made the car, weighing just 655 kilograms, capable of speeds in excess of 240 km/h. And it won the World Sportscar Championship in Division 1 in 1966 and 1967. The 1300 OT, which was built by Sibona & Basso, was easily recognizable by its “Periscopio,” the air intake on the roof (with the exception of the first 50 models). It is quite possible that Carlo Abarth first designed it with scissors and cardboard.

The 1968 Fiat Abarth OT 2000 Periscopio (Series 2) was also equipped with this periscope, but the vehicle was even more extreme in every respect. The vehicle was powered by the tried-and-tested 2-liter four-cylinder engine, which delivered 215 hp and propelled the 665-kilogram beauty to speeds of over 270 km/h. Among the most famous drivers were Taramazzo, Steinmetz, and Jochen Rindt (who, despite his great talent, was never one of Carlo Abarth’s favorites). Only 15 examples of this vehicle were ever built, making it one of the most sought-after (and most expensive) Abarths ever.

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Not really a collection, more for the feeling.

VIN: 137C.044
Engine: 237.007

Auction: Gooding Christie’s, Amelia Island 2026, estimate 450’000 to 550’000 Dollar, with these informations: «This 1300 OT, chassis 137C.044, boasts an impressive competition pedigree. Delivered new to Abarth Corse Deutschland, it was campaigned by German driver Siegfried Dau during the 1966 season, achieving victories at the Mainz- Finthen Flugplatzrennen and the DARM Touring Car Grand Prix at Hockenheim. Additional 2nd in Class finishes at the Hockenheim 100-Mile race and the ADAC Nürburgring 500 Km further demonstrated the model’s competitiveness in period. On the international stage, the 1300 OT contributed to Abarth’s dominance in FIA Division 1, helping secure Manufacturer’s Cup victories in 1967 and 1968. These achievements firmly established the OT series as one of the most formidable small-displacement racing cars of the mid-1960s. Following its brief but successful racing career, chassis 137C.044 entered Peter Kaus’ famed Rosso Bianco Collection, where it underwent an extensive restoration by Auto Schiemenz of Bonn, Germany. In the late 1980s, it joined the esteemed collection of Shiro Kosaka, founder of the Gallery Abarth Museum in Japan, before being acquired in 2008 by noted Italian car collector Elad Shraga. During his stewardship, the car benefited from a mechanical recommissioning and was then shown and driven selectively. Subsequent ownership by respected collectors Tom Stegman and Tom Shaughnessy preceded its acquisition in 2016 by Curtis Leaverton, under whose care it has been meticulously maintained and sparingly exercised. Retaining its correct tipo 237 Abarth engine and benefiting from a distinguished and well-documented ownership history, chassis 137C.044 represents a rare opportunity to acquire a well-prepared and historically significant example of one of Abarth’s most celebrated small-displacement racing cars.»

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VIN: 047

We have a wonderful picture story, here.

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There is more Abarth in our archive. And then there is the summary of 75 Years of Abarth.