1971 OTAS Grand Prix Coupe LHD

We drive an ‘exotic’ whose engine size is just 817cc

Story by Chris Rees

OBSCURATICURIOSITIES FROM THE AMAZING WORLD OF ITALIAN CARS

If the car on this page looks familiar, you might recognise it as the Francis Lombardi Grand Prix – a car we featured back in March 2018. But this isn’t quite a Lombardi – it is in fact an OTAS 820 Tigre. If you’ve never heard of OTAS, we’re not surprised.

Officina Transformazione Automobili Sportive was a very short-lived marque co-created in Turin by coachbuilder Francis Lombardi and Franco Giannini (son of the famous engine tuner, Domenico Giannini). OTAS was created specifically to exploit a loophole in US laws.

At the time, engines of less than 50 cubic inches (819cc) were exempt from US emissions rules. Since the Fiat 850’s 843cc engine exceeded this capacity, OTAS engineered it down to just 817cc. To compensate for the loss of cubic inches, the engine was given a hotter camshaft, higher compression ratio, and Abarth headers and exhaust, enough for a quoted 65hp (to US standards – more like 52hp in reality).

The car was marketed as the OTAS 820 Tigre by the US Abarth importer, John Rich, whose business – Siata International of Newark, New Jersey – was the sole distributor. Perhaps 100 cars were exported to the US between 1969 and 1971, including a ‘Monza’ version launched at the 1970 New York Motor Show with a central roll-over structure and removable targa roof.

Which makes it very surprising that an example has come up for sale in Manchester, England – and of course we couldn’t resist going to see it. Imported here from the US in 2010, chassis number 14 has been repainted in a very bright shade of green (it was originally red). The non-original wire wheels should, in our view, be changed for something more in keeping with the car.

Getting into the cabin is highly amusing because the car sits so low. Headroom is tight but once you’re installed in the slender seat, your legs are stretched almost straight out. The flocked dashboard and bespoke instruments are simplicity themselves, although the aftermarket graphic equaliser looks a bit odd – and seems superfluous given the vocal soundtrack of the engine. Most of the car’s bodywork is in steel; only the rear panel and pop-up headlamp shells are glassfibre. The OTAS weighs barely 600kg, so its 817cc engine actually delivers quite sprightly performance, up to a max of about 90mph. The Fiat 850 Berlina platform is standard, including its suspension and front disc brakes/rear drums. The ride is very hard – possibly because of over-inflated tyres on our test drive – but the handling is very sweet indeed.

This must surely be the only OTAS in the UK and almost certainly the only one in Europe. While it needs a few jobs doing, it’s UK registered, road legal and can be used straightaway. If you’re interested, it’s currently up for sale via Specialized Vehicle Solutions (svs-ltd.com) priced at £22,950.