WELCOME BACK ALFA ROMEO 4C: THIS IS THE ABARTH CLASSICHE 1300 OT
This is the new Abarth Classiche 1300 OT that pays tribute to an old Fiat-Abarth OT 1300 from 1965. It is a car that, says Abarth, “maintains the essence of an authentic Abarth”. Which is why it’s based on a [checks notes] two-door Alfa Romeo that went out of production in 2020.
Right then. Mr Abarth, while famous for selling performance parts for Fiats and Lancias, whose name now adorns the rorty and eye-wateringly expensive 500 mini hot hatches, did once do an Alfa Romeo. So there’s some connection there.
And like the Abarth 1000 SP project from 2022, this new two-door has been spun off the Alfa Romeo 4C: excellent news for those who enjoy hunting down cambers and waiting for turbo boost of a weekend.
Yep, mechanically it’s all 4C, so that means a turbocharged 237bhp four-cylinder petrol engine mounted just behind your head, a twin-clutch gearbox and rear-wheel-drive. Abarth’s not mentioned anything about weight, but seeing as the Classiche’s body is made from carbon fibre, it should still be light.
As with the original 1300 this new car pays tribute to, there’s a ‘periscope’ attachment (originally designed to better cool the cabin) on the roof, along with a slatted, plexiglass rear window. The rear’s certainly a tad more cohesive than the donor 4C.
The bonnet vent up front mirrors that of the original ’65 car, though where that car’s headlights looked like a mini Ferrari 250, this new one adopts a twin spotlight arrangement. Naturally there are new wheels and plenty of Abarth badges.
Just five will be built, by Abarth’s Heritage department set up to reimagine its back catalogue. No word on price, but there’s a scale model too, both revealed at the company’s 75th anniversary celebration.