1300 Scorpione

Under the angular rear bodywork, the machine utilized a heavily modified floor pan and chassis adapted from the everyday Fiat 850 sedan. To transform the economy platform into a legitimate track threat, Abarth swapped the standard engine for a much more potent, rear mounted 1.3 liter inline four cylinder power plant sourced from the Fiat 124 series. Reworked with high compression pistons, an upgraded camshaft, and a free flowing exhaust system, the engine produced 75 horsepower in standard form, with top tier SS iterations pushing the limits even further. Paired with a four speed manual transmission, the featherweight 1,480 pound coupe delivered exceptionally lively acceleration and surgical handling, easily rocketing to a top speed of 112 mph.

The engineering was celebrated for its clever, competition minded layout, utilizing an independent suspension design with a transverse leaf spring up front and semi trailing arms in the rear to ensure incredible cornering agility. Because the vehicle positioned its engine entirely behind the rear axle, it demanded a skilled driver to master its unique pendulum dynamics, rewarding precise steering inputs with immense grip on winding European circuits. The car initially captured the imagination of racing privateers at its Geneva Motor Show unveiling, but its production lifespan was cut abruptly short when Fiat assumed total control of Abarth operations in 1971, instantly halting further development and factory support. With only around thirty units originally estimated to have been constructed, the Scorpione remains a legendary, highly endangered milestone in automotive history, defining the final chapter of independent tuning wizardry from the legendary house of the scorpion.