Rare, race-proven Abarth OT 1300 with Targa Florio pedigree and Osella ownership offered as a storied restoration candidate.
A legendary piece of Italian motorsport history is set to cross the block at Broad Arrow Auctions' Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este sale on May 25. Offered as Lot 235, the 1966 Fiat Abarth OT 1300, chassis number 0047, is a three-time Targa Florio entrant and GT 1.3 class winner, boasting provenance that includes ties to one of Formula One’s storied privateer teams.
Built by Abarth in limited numbers for Group 4 competition, this OT 1300 “Omologata Turismo” variant represents the golden era of Italian endurance racing. With a rear-mounted 1,298-cc inline-four delivering 147 horsepower at a screaming 8,800 rpm, the car features a five-speed gearbox, self-locking differential, and the famed “periscopio” roof scoop—a cooling solution that became a signature of the model.
First registered in 1966 to Turin-based driver Fiorenzo Genta, chassis 0047 earned a class victory in the 1967 Targa Florio and competed again in 1968 and 1969. All three entries were officially classified, a rare feat in the punishing Sicilian road race. A remarkable survivor, the car still bears its 1969 technical inspection decal from the Automobile Club Palermo.
Later owned by Vincenzo Osella—founder of Osella Corse and one of Abarth’s most influential figures—this Abarth continued its competitive career under French rally driver Jean-François Thaon before entering long-term storage. It was acquired by the current owner in 1988 and has remained preserved, yet unrestored, for the past 37 years.
Offered now as a restoration project with extensive documentation, the OT 1300 presents a compelling opportunity for collectors seeking a direct connection to motorsport’s most romantic era. With its blend of racing pedigree, design purity, and mechanical charisma, this “Periscopio” Abarth stands as a time capsule from the heart of Italian competition history. See it here.
