Suggestion of a collaboration between Abarth and Simca emerged in the early-1960s, following the commercial success of the Simca 1000.

Simca sought to develop a car suitable for competitive racing so they too could enjoy the success that other manufacturers experienced when fielding competition variants of their production offerings.

The decision was taken to use the Simca 1000 as a base for a GT car, with Abarth hired for their input in the design process, and the 1300 was born.

Abarth used the tried-and-tested Bialbero 1,288-cc twin-cam four- cylinder engine, mated with the Simca 1000 four-speed gearbox and the Simca 1000’s floor pan, steering and suspension.

For the body, Abarth’s Mario Coluccio was given the task of styling, and the nearby Odoardo Beccari would be contracted to build the bodies.

The fruits of this Franco-Italian project would stun the racing world in 1962.

Upon its launch in 1962 the 1300 scored nine major victories; this same year it was granted FIA Homologa...