01 Aug 08
Abarth 1300 GT
6. Abarth-Simca 1300 GT
The French company Simca was part-owned by Fiat, so Abarth was an obvious collaborator when it wanted to develop a racer and sport up its image.
Abarth modified the rear-engined Simca 1000 by shortening its chassis, creating an aerodynamic aluminium body (similar to that of its own 700/1000 Biabero coupe) and uprating the suspension and brakes.
Power came from Abarth's own 1300cc twin-cam, twin-carb engine, which developed up to 140bhp, and the car won the 1962 world championships in its category.
Weighing just over 600kg, the 1300 GT was quick, and it became Abarth's most successful racer. 1600cc and 2000cc versions followed, as well as the more highly-modified, fibreglass-bodied prototype-category OT 1300, winner of the 1966 and '67 world touring car championships in its category and the 1966-68 Italian championships.
Abarth's tie-up with Simca ended when the French company was bought by Chrysler in 1968, though the Fiat-derived 2000cc engine it had developed for the Simca racers went on to be used in the 236B sports-racer.
