Abarth OT 2000 Coupé Periscopio
In 20 years time Coachbuild.com has become a leading resource on thousands of rare automotive masterpieces. And sometimes a specific model stands out and pops up in the market; an opportunity with a uniqueness and history that deserves special attention. Which we are happy to provide.
Enter: the Abarth OT 2000 “Periscopio”: The Ultimate Survivor of a Vanished Breed
Every once in a while, a car comes along that makes you wonder: “Wait… this actually exists?”. This is one of three. Not three hundred. Not thirty. Just three. In the world. And of those three, this one is by far the most original — a true survivor from Carlo Abarth’s legendary Scorpion dynasty.
This Abarth OT 2000 “Periscopio” isn’t just rare — it’s a passport into the sanctuaries of classic motorsport. Think Goodwood, Villa d’Este, Le Mans Classic — wherever you arrive in this car, the gates swing wide open. And rightly so. Because anyone who knows the story realizes: this is pure, unfiltered racing history.
How It All Began
In the 1960s, Abarth stood at a crossroads. Big manufacturers started building their own high-performance models, and Abarth had to pivot. The new direction? Racing cars. Purebred machines built solely for speed and agility. Enter the OT series — short for "Omologato Turismo" — lightweight beasts based loosely on Fiat platforms, but fundamentally re-engineered into something entirely different.
But the OT 2000 Was on Another Planet
Building on the success of the OT 1300 — already a fearsome machine — Abarth decided to go even wilder: a more powerful, more extreme, and infinitely rarer creation: the OT 2000. Bigger engine, more horsepower, wider track, better cooling, sleeker aerodynamics — and, visually, that iconic roof-mounted periscope designed to bring some fresh air into the boiling-hot cockpit during endurance races.
And this particular car?
Though no documented proof of the Henry Ford ownership is available, historic provenance analysis of all three Series 1 "Periscopios" indicates the likelihood that this car was delivered new in 1966 to none other than the Ford family. Yes, that Ford family.
There are few cars you can truly call living heritage. This is one of them. The Abarth OT 2000 Periscopio isn’t just a vintage racer, a classic, or a rare collectible. It’s all of these — and so much more.
What Makes This Example Unique?
- Out of the three ever built, this is the only one still in original condition, both inside and out.
- Full ownership history is known, accompanied by extensive documentation.
- Originally sold to the Ford family — the kind of provenance you normally only find in legends.
- Eligible for prestigious events: Concours d’Elegance, Tour Auto, Goodwood, and beyond.
This car is now offered for sale by Gallery Aaldering in The Netherlands.
INFO: https://www.coachbuild.com/index.php/marketplace/item/abarth-ot-2000-coupe-periscopio
