The Alfa Romeo 4C is back from the dead. Well, at least partly. This Abarth Classiche 1300 OT does not wear an Alfa Romeo badge, but is actually a re-bodied and reconstructed 4C with an eye on the past.
Limited to just five examples, the Classiche 1300 OT is part of Stellantis' “Reloaded by Creators” project that aims to reinterpret beloved cars from its past in a modern form. This time, the model is a Fiat-Abarth OT 1300 race car from 1965. We'll put the new and old side by side below so you can critique the Abarth's performance.
One of the most distinctive features of the original car was the large scoop above the roof, which was intended to cool the cabin during racing, and Abarth has made a small attempt to recreate it with a small scoop above the roof. Its hood features a scoop that somewhat resembles the original one, and you can see similar inspiration present in the taillights. All that said, this restructuring isn't really enough to make you forget that it's actually just an Alfa Romeo 4C underneath. You may remember a similar attempt made a few years ago with the Abarth 1000 SP which used the same formula, but was based instead on the 4C Spider.
Technical details are practically non-existent for the new Classiche 1300 OT, but we suspect it's powered by the same 1.7-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the 4C and shifts via a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. We don't know the curb weight, but Abarth says its entire body is now made of carbon fibre, so it will likely be lighter than the standard 4C. If we're lucky, Abarth has done some retuning of the powertrain and suspension to differentiate how it drives compared to the 4C.
If you want one of these creations, Abarth says orders are open now, but remember, only five will ever be built.