Abarth 1300 Scorpione

The Abarth 1300 Scorpione was unveiled in 1970 and was to be Abarth’s last independently developed car, it was the tuned version of the Grand Prix. The body was made by Francis Lombardi. Equipped with a version of the Fiat 124s 1.2 litre engine, bored out by 2.5 mm for a total of 1280 cc, this model has 75 PS (55 kW) and only moderately more weight, ranging from 680 to 750 kg (1,500 to 1,650 lb) depending on the source. In a 1970 road test by Auto, Motor und Sport, the Scorpione reached 175.6 km/h (109.1 mph), close to the claimed 180 km/h (112 mph). There is also mention of a 982 cc Abarth 1000 OT-engined version of the Scorpione. The Abarth 1300 Scorpione had a special Abarth-made bell housing, to allow matching the 124 engine to the four-speed 850 gearbox. Abarth’s Mario Colucci also developed the 100 hp (75 kW) Scorpione SS. This powerful model was extensively re-engineered, with a coil-over front suspension, a reworked rear suspension, anti-sway bars front and rear, and all-wheel Girling disc brakes. Top speed is 115 mph (185 km/h). This model was foreshadowed by the “Scorpione S” of 1969, which had this higher developed chassis combined with the lower powered engine. With the rear-mounted heavier 124 engine weight distribution has a distinct rear bias (39/61), although this seems to have had only a modest effect on handling, limited to some front-end lift at higher speeds. After Abarth was taken over by Fiat in 1971, the Abarth 1300 Scorpione was quickly cancelled.