Abarth Fiat 850 1964-1966

Motorpedia Abarth Fiat 850 1964-1966
Fiat 850 1964-1966 Featured Image

Pictured: Fiat-Abarth OT 1600 Mostro

Abarth produced several tuned versions of the Berlina, Coupé, and Spider, with ever increasing displacements. These belonged to the OT series of Abarth cars—standing for Omologata Turismo or "touring homologated", which also included two-seater sports racing cars.

  • Fiat-Abarth OT 850 (model 101): Abarth's first 850 derivative, introduced in July 1964. Its Tipo 201 engine was the regular saloon's 847 cc inline-four brought from 34 PS (25 kW; 34 bhp) to 44 PS (32 kW; 43 bhp); top speed went up accordingly from 120 km/h (75 mph) to 130 km/h (81 mph). The OT 850 could be distinguished from the standard Fiat model by its Abarth badging, an asymmetric front ornament with the Abarth shield on the right hand side and the "Fiat Abarth" script on a red field on the left, and wheels with cooling slots. From October of the same year it became available in two guises: OT 850 Oltre 130 ("Over 130"), almost unchanged from the initial model, and OT 850 Oltre 150, with a 53 PS (39 kW; 52 bhp) engine, front disc brakes and a 150 km/h (93 mph) top speed.
  • Fiat-Abarth OT 1000: introduced in October 1964. Engine displacement increased to 982 cc, it produced 61 PS (45 kW; 60 bhp) and 79 N·m (58 lb·ft) of torque. Front brakes were changed to disks.
  • Fiat-Abarth OT 1000 Coupé and Spider: introduced in October 1965. Compared with the saloon version, the engine was a more powerful Tipo 202 producing 62 PS (46 kW; 61 bhp) and 79 N·m (58 lb·ft) of torque. Top speed was 155 km/h (96 mph) for the coupé and 160 km/h (99 mph) for the spider. The coupé was facelifted in November 1968 concurrently with the regular Fiat 850 Coupé, receiving a full-width grille and twin round tail lamps.
  • Fiat-Abarth OTR 1000: launched alongside the OT 1000 Coupé, and based on the 850 Coupé bodyshell as well. Its type 200 engine had an all-new Abarth-designed cylinder head with valves arrnaged in a V instead of parallel—hence the R in the name, standing for Radiale, radial. The combustion chambers were shaped as two spherical caps, one around each valve; there was a inlet duct per cylinder, each fed by one choke of the two twin Solex carburettors. Abarth claimed an output of 74 PS (54 kW; 73 bhp) at 6,500 rpm and a top speed of 172 km/h (107 mph) for the road version. The OTR was set apart from the OT 1000 Coupé by a rectangular front grille bearing the Abarth badge, needed for the front mounted radiator.
At the 1965 Turin Motor Show Bertone showed on its stand an one-off OTR 1000 berlinetta, based on the 850 Spider but with a fixed roof and a front radiator opening. Suffering the competition of less expensive and less complex OT models, production of the OTR 1000 ended with the arrival of the restyled 850 Coupé in 1968.
  • Fiat-Abarth OTS 1000: introduced in April 1966. OTR 1000 bodyshell, but standard head OT 1000 engine with output upped to 68 PS (50 kW; 67 bhp) and top speed to 160 km/h (99 mph). FIA homologated it in the GT class in 1966. Abarth later developed several modifications, including a new inlet manifold for two twin-choke Solex carburettors. This gave birth to the OTSS 1000 or OT 1000 SS. Both OTS and OTSS were restyled in November 1968 like the OT 1000.
  • Fiat-Abarth OT 1300: November 1966 launch. Visually identical to the OTR 1000 save for the widened wheels, it used a Fiat 124-derived engine displacing 1,280 cc. Engine power was 74 PS (54 kW; 73 bhp) and top speed 172 km/h (107 mph), both the same as on the OTR 1000, but thanks to the simpler engine the car was cheaper. Restyled in 1968 together with the 1.0-litre OTs.
  • Fiat-Abarth OT 1600 Mostro (model 136/C): extreme variant based on the 850 saloon body, unveiled at the October 1964 Turin Motor Show and nicknamed Mostro, monster. It was fitted with a Tipo 236 1,592 cc twin cam, twin spark engine from the Fiat-Abarth 1600 Sport racing car. The 1.6-litre put out 155 PS (114 kW; 153 bhp) and top speed was 220 km/h (137 mph). The rear wings were greatly enlarged to clear wide rear alloy wheels.
  • Fiat-Abarth OT 2000: introduced in February 1966, it was based on the 850 Coupé but powered by a two-litre engine. It differed visually from the 850 Coupé in having a barred grill between the headlights, a split front bumper flanking a spare wheel which projected forward below the grille, widened front and rear tracks and wings, and a vented front bonnet. The 1,946 cc twin cam four-cylinder produced 185 PS (136 kW; 182 bhp) and could propel the car to 240 km/h (149 mph). Three examples were produced.