Obscure Italian Makers & Models - Lombardi -OTAS 850s-1300Abarth

Before I begin I am going to put a disclaimer:

I do not regard myself as an expert in any particular marque what I am trying to do is provide references for cars where there is either little in the way of information or some confusion regarding their orgins and history

My Ultimate gaol is help people get information - a lot of people on my web site have not used the search off line enquiry email - and I regularly see this when I lookup to see what subjects of inquiry punters are looking for.

The main emphasis of the site may appear to be the new magazines reviews to bring the punters in but this was not main intention ultimately its to get the 34 years of indexing on line but alas one is not made of the folding stuff....!
we Digress LOL...

Subject -The First Challenge
Lombardi GP -Otas 850S -1300 Abarth

This is a good one to choose as there is a lot of confusion on this car (I'm confused myself!) -This car was sold in different markets under a variety of names, Engines were Fiat based and it was built around Fiat 850 mechanical's some even had the bigger more powerful Abarth 1300cc engines and these are highly prized There is even a few were believed to have been sold in the UK powered by a Hillman Imp engine and these have since been powered by a Fiat version
2 Racing versions by Abarth and sold as 1300R were also produced

Another area on confusion is how many were Right Hand Drive - Some experts have said 2 some 6 but How do you account for the batch that were sent to Australia in 1971 and South Africa and these are Right Hand Drive Markets. In the case of Australia its is illegal to drive a new car in Australia that is Left hand Drive when it is new and one of these came up for sale in Unique Cars Australia recently, so there are survivors!

First of all Who were Lombardi?
Lombardi was small Italian coach-building company that begin around late 1949 (if you know different email me) One of their first designs was Debuted at Geneva Show in 1950 this been
a Fiat 1400 1950 2 door but a full 6 seater and it is mentioned in report on the show on 24th March 1950 Autocar (GB) Page 336 Vol 95 Issue # 2839.

Lombardi in the late 19 50s did design on Fiat 600 and made it into a 4 door sedan in 1957 there is photo as part of a report on Turin Show as 20th March 1957 The Motor (GB) Page 216 - They also in 1950s produced many Lancia Limousines for the Italian Government

Lombardi in the 50s had a business customising existing cars production cars and a feature was done by Gordon Wilkins in 1959 with the Subject Alfa Romeo Giulietta 4 door Ti by Lombardi this car shown had a longer boot; part of a feature on after market coach builders see June 1959 Wheels (Aus) V12 #1 Page 38

in 1960s they did the coach building of Fiat 2300 Long wheel base made for President Tito in Yugoslavia in 1966 as this car turned up for sale in France on see December 2000 Thoroughbred & Classic Cars Page 91 Issue #327

However there most successful car was Lombardi GP 850s

Lombardi OTAS GP 850S

This car first debuted and displayed at Geneva Show in 1968 see 21st March 1968 Autocar Page 54 Volume 128 Issue # 3762 for a photo as part of a report on the event

History of the Car Development References

I found little from magazines on this particular car - the only two I know as this stage was brief history on OTAS given in June 2001 Auto Italia (GB) on Page 63-64 Issue #58 as part of a feature on an Abarth example Taking part at the FESTIVAL STORICO DELLA VELOCITA Monza 2001 historic race part of a report by Peter Collins

Sept 1983 Thoroughbred & Classic Cars Page 98+ looking at one of few RHD British cars (Not reviewed by me)

(as I Still wading through a great deal of magazines as we speak.... they could be more in my piles...)
There may be others but more then likely in Italian....

Where were cars sold outside Italy?

In Europe in general particularly Belgium as there appears to be a big Abarth following there, In Germany and there may have even been sold in Cyprus as one turned up in a poor state there in 1998
Outside Europe - There was the all important market of the USA
They were sold in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia

What were they sold as?

In Europe as the Lombardi Grand Prix Coupe
In South Africa in two names as the Fiat 125 OTS Scorpion and Fiat 125 OTS Scorpion S for the bigger Abarth 1.3S
In the United Kingdom Lombardi Grand Prix 850S
In the US as Fiat 820 Grand Prix and by an account of x US dealer in a letter with following information: -Automobiles of Italy in Tulsa;Oklahoma who had 2 in his showroom 1970;standard car was called a Tugre also had a prototype Targa top version of the Abarth car that was later rolled;Scrapped?;Source Anatoly Arutinoff see April 1991 Classic & Sportscar (GB) Page 24 Volume 10 Issue #1

Right Hand Drive Models (abrev . RHD)

These Appear to have been sold in United Kingdom, Australia & South Africa

First a Look at the British ones -

One was featured as press photo in Autocar which strangely had no supporting information this one of the unique to Britain Hillman Imp engines models that was proposed it was a full A4 Colour photo of one in Left hand drive Orange with black interior see 20 March 1969 Autocar (GB) Page 45 Volume 130 Issue #3814 although a proper preview was done earlier looking at the car at variety of angles on 3rd October 1968 Autocar Page 16 Volume 129 Issue 3790 and the UK main distributor was given as a Greek living in Britain called F Demetriou Group Queensway London -it was believed 6 were sold as Right Hand Drive

One of the 6 turned up for sale in 1983 in poor tatty condition see November 1983 Thoroughbred & Classic Cars (GB) Page 103

a Former owner of one of these was a letter by Tony Higginbottom wrote in about owning one; photo included see April-May 1981 Alternative Cars (GB) Page 6

and one RHD was featured (with some history given but I have not previewed this issue) see September 1983 Thoroughbred & Classic Cars (GB) Page 98+

Although in 1977 the figure 6 in UK could be disputed (they might not all be RHD) 15 was given by a seller selling a 1970 model see October 1977 Thoroughbred & Classic Cars (GB) Page 58

That there were Left hand drive models in the UK is confirmed as barn find discovered in 1990
by Philip Blake of East Anglia car that was first reg UK 1971 but is older x Europe -LHD -is a Abarth or a Grand Prix - but fitted with non original engine Fiat/Seat Unit 1100cc see December 1990 Classic & Sportscars Page 29 Volume 9 Issue #10

The Australian Ones

In the course of my reviewing and indexing I have not found any information on these cars I did remember seeing an Advert for few been available by the sole distributor in Australia around April 1971 Wheels issue but for some reason I did not record the 1/2 A4 black & white advert!
The Question is how many were sold in Australia?

A Figure was 20 was quoted by a seller selling one see March 1995 Australian Classic Car Page 134 Issue #20 car had Australia Registration plate PT-450

Although in 2001 6 Right Hand Drive was quoted as one turned up for sale asking 14950 pounds in restored condition model given as a 850 Sport ; with the tel 00618 86786874

The South African ones

I have seen no information on these cars apart from references to the cars been tested new

Road Tests / Driving Impressions -

Who Road Tested Them (English Speaking Road Tests)

South Africa

FIAT 125 OTAS SCORPION AUG69 CAR TODAY (ZA) (not reviewed by me)
FIAT 125 OTAS SCORPION S NOV70 CAR TODAY (ZA) (not reviewed by me)

now in 2003 Car Today were selling reprinted Tests for a few Rand and this was link to connect now since not valid.

www.cartoday.com/carmag/content/carmag06.shtml

In 2006-2007 I tried in vain 6-7 times to contact the magazine for the updated link but they were not replying ( pity their site is market leader on the Internet and they were the first Car magazine to be featured on the web but their contact details is poor! (So if there are any South Africans out there we need your help...)

United States of America

Fiat 820 Grand Prix fitted with 817cc 4spm Driving Impression
Feb 1971 Sportscar Graphic Page 26-29 Volume 11 Issue #2
Are there any others?


Non English Road Test (Again not reviewed by me)

Lombardi Grand Prix Abarth 1970 1970 Auto Motor und Sport #22 in German

Are there any more : email me julian.walls@xtra.co.nz

Cheers Julian

to be continued.....