The Abarth 1300 Scorpione was a small rear-engined coupé built in small numbers from 1968, a Fiat 850-based car with a body by Francis Lombardi and a 1,280 cc engine; it is usually described as the last Abarth car developed independently, before Fiat took over the company in 1971. The sources for this model disagree on several points, so this page shows both values where they differ.
Abarth 1300 Scorpione at a glance
| Coachbuilder | Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi, Vercelli; styling attributed to Giuseppe Rinaldi |
|---|---|
| Production years | 1968–1972 or 1968–1971, depending on the source |
| Debut | Geneva Auto Salon, March 1968 (Sports Car Market); unveiled in 1970 (Carrozzieri Italiani) |
| Base car | Fiat 850 |
| Engine | Abarth 1300/124, derived from the Fiat 124 four-cylinder and bored out to about 1,280 cc |
| Power | 74–75 PS (SS version: 100 hp) |
| Weight | 670 kg (UltimateSpecs); 680–750 kg in other sources |
| Top speed | 175.6 km/h in a 1970 test, about 180 km/h claimed; the SS about 185 km/h |
| Size | 371 cm long, 149.5 cm wide, 105 cm high, 204.5 cm wheelbase |
| Units built | approximately 30 |
Sources differ on the dates (1968 or 1970 debut, 1971 or 1972 end of production), on the power (74 or 75 PS) and on the weight. The figures were not cross-checked with a factory document.
History of the 1300 Scorpione
The Scorpione used a Fiat 850 as its base, rebodied by Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi of Vercelli with electrically raised and lowered headlights. It was sold under several names, among them the Lombardi Grand Prix and OTAS 820 Grand Prix, and the Abarth version came with the larger 1,280 cc engine tuned from the Fiat 124 unit. Fiat took over Abarth in 1971 and cancelled the project shortly afterwards, which is why the Scorpione is described as Abarth’s last independently developed car.
The car was sold in small numbers: Sports Car Market puts the total at about 30, with roughly four believed to be in the United States.
Versions
- Scorpione S (“Esse”): the standard car with the lower-powered engine; one source dates it to 1969.
- Scorpione SS (“Esse Esse”): re-engineered by Mario Colucci with coil-over front suspension, anti-roll bars, Girling disc brakes on all four wheels and about 100 hp.
- 982 cc version: mentioned with the engine of the Abarth 1000 OT.
More Abarth cars of the 1960s are in our Abarth collection, for example the Abarth OT series and the Abarth 1000.
Abarth 1300 Scorpione questions and answers
When was the Abarth 1300 Scorpione built?
From 1968 until 1971 or 1972, depending on the source.
Who built the body?
Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi of Vercelli, on a Fiat 850 base.
How many were made?
About 30, according to Sports Car Market.
What engine does it have?
A 1,280 cc four-cylinder derived from the Fiat 124 engine, with about 74–75 PS (100 hp in the SS).
Why did production end?
Fiat took over Abarth in 1971 and cancelled the project.
Sources
- Abarth 1300 Scorpione, Carrozzieri Italiani: coachbuilder, engine, versions
- 1968 Abarth Scorpione 1300S, Sports Car Market: debut, production, names
- Abarth 1300 Scorpione, UltimateSpecs: dimensions, weight, power
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