Fiat Abarth OT 1300

Fiat Abarth OT 1300
CategoryGroup 4 sports car
DesignerMario Colucci[1]
Production1965–1968
Technical specifications[2]
ChassisTubular chassis
Length3,830 mm (150.8 in)
Width1,620 mm (63.8 in)
Height1,040 mm (40.9 in)
Axle track1,296 mm (51.0 in) (Front)
1,340 mm (52.8 in) (Rear)
Wheelbase2,015 mm (79.3 in)
EngineI4 1289 cc
1946 cc FR Layout Longitudinally mounted
Transmission5-speed manual
Power110 kW (150 PS) @ 8,800 rpm
180 N⋅m (133 lb⋅ft) @ 4,600 rpm[3]
Weight655 kg (1,444 lb)
Competition history
Notable driversHelmut Krause
Hans-Dieter Dechent
Ernst Furtmayr
Erich Bitter
Johannes Ortner
Manfred Abels
Werner Buls
Siegfried Dau
Reinhold Joest
Ralf Walter
Klaus Brand
Toine Hezemans
EntriesRacesWinsPodiumsPoles
228[4]11112 outright, 31 class wins281

The Fiat Abarth OT 1300 was a successful Group 4 Sports prototype built by Abarth between 1965 and 1968.[5][6][7] There was also a two-litre model developed from this, called the OT 2000.

Design

The OT 1300 has a fibreglass body over a bespoke tubular frame, although especially the rear suspension layout and geometry was derived from the Fiat designs which Abarth had based their previous GT cars on.[8] Derived from the open-topped Abarth OT 1600 Sport Spider (tipo 135/A), an open-topped prototype racer completed in 1965, the OT 1300 had a very similar front end and lower half.[9] The new model entered production in May 1965 and was built in its initial form (Series I) until March of 1966. After these first 50 cars had (reportedly) been finished, the car received homologation for Group 4 racing; until then, it had to compete against faster Sports Prototypes. As the OT remained popular and competitive, Abarth revised the design with a Series II, with numerous improvements. These cars were fitted with a bulbous plexiglass rear windshield cover, held over the original, vertical rear pane and flying buttresses with nine removable bolts. The chassis was also widened, as was the tread. The front end was also revised, with a flatter appearance and a grille in the shape of a smile. The molds for the original design had been thrown together in a hurry, with the front fender being 6–7 cm (2.4–2.8 in) wider on one side than the other; this was rectified with the Series II.[10]

One of the OT's most distinct features was the "Periscope" (Periscopio); as the cabin was much too hot for endurance racing, Abarth experimented with various vent layouts and eventually settled on this, off-center, periscope-style vent to provide cool air for the driver. While the periscope was a clear improvement, the rear window cover made the car less stable at speed and also made the cabin hotter than before, so most owners removed it or installed Series I rear clamshell panels.[11] The oversquare, in-house engine displaces 1,289 cc (1.3 L), from a bore and stroke of 86 mm × 55.5 mm (3.39 in × 2.19 in). The first series develops a claimed 147 hp (108 kW) at 8,800 rpm;[12] power for the second series increased marginally, to 157 hp (115 kW) at the same engine speed.

Racing History

Race Victories

  • 1966 Nürburgring 500 km
  • 1967 Hockenheim Grand Prix

Class Victories

  • 1966 Monza 1000 km
  • 1966 Nürburgring 1000 km
  • 1966 Mugello Grand Prix
  • 1966 Coppa Citta di Enna
  • 1966 Hockenheim Grand Prix
  • 1966 500 km Zeltweg
  • 1967 Mugello Grand Prix
  • 1967 Coppa Citta di Enna
  • 1967 500 km Zeltweg
  • 1967 Ollon-Villars Hillclimb
  • 1967 Nürburgring 500 km

OT 2000

Abarth also developed a 2-litre derivative called the OT 2000, introduced in 1966 and using largely identical bodywork and with the same model code of 137C. This engine was Abarth's own development, with twin overhead camshafts and five main bearings.[8] With a 10.5:1 compression ratio and double Weber 50DCO3 carburettors, it displaces 1.9 litres (1,946 cc) from a bore and stroke of 88 mm × 80 mm (3.5 in × 3.1 in). Maximum power was 208 PS (153 kW) at 7,600 rpm; enough for a top speed of 270 km/h (168 mph) - albeit this depended on the gearing. Around 20 examples were built of this, the last OT.[8] Another source states that only three examples of the OT 2000 were built, with the first one delivered new to the Ford family in 1966.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Abarth OT 1300". Historic Auto Pro. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  2. ↑ "1965 1300 'OT' Prototipo". Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  3. ↑ "Abarth OT 1300 specs, performance data". FastestLaps.com. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
  4. ↑ "abarth 1300 OT - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
  5. ↑ "1965→1966 Fiat Abarth OT 1300". 24 April 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  6. ↑ "Abarth OT 1300 specs". Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "1965 Abarth OT 1300". Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 Kobayashi, Shotaro, ed. (25 July 1977). "All about Abarth". Car Graphic (in Japanese). No. 197, issue 8/77. Nigensha Publishing Co., Ltd. p. 95.
  9. ↑ "Fiat Abarth OT 1300 Prima Serie", Abarth Collection (pamphlet) (in Italian), no. 7, Hachette-Fascicoli, p. 3, 2007, archived from the original on 2026-05-29 – via Berni Motori
  10. ↑ "Una carrozzeria a prova d'aria" [A body shaped by the air], Abarth Collection (pamphlet) (in Italian), no. 31, Hachette-Fascicoli, p. 4, 2009, archived from the original on 2026-05-30 – via Berni Motori
  11. ↑ Una carrozzeria a prova d'aria, p. 5. Archived 2026-05-29 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ Fiat Abarth OT 1300 Prima Serie, p. 5. Archived 2026-05-30 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ "Abarth OT 2000 Coupé Periscopio". Brummen, Netherlands: Gallery Aaldering.
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