1000 ots in California

[400trip]

Hello, All!
It's time for me to restore my project car, a 1967 Fiat Abarth 1000 OTS coupe.
Here's the story, it was bought in Garden Grove by my friend in 1971 from a used car lot, the original motor was replaced by a 124/1300 conversion done by PBS.
He drove it a while, took his honeymoon in it, it blew a head gasket, he had it fixed, blew it again, and he parked it in 1974...
I bought it in 1987, and I am now just getting around to fixing it (house, two kids, etc...)
My question is, how do I know it isn't just an 850 coupe that had been modified at one time to resemble an OTS?
It does have all the Abarth equipment, badges, steering wheel, oil guages (100MPH speedo), widened steel wheels, and it even has those neat "fiem" headlights.
Is there any badges to look for?
The vin is 100gs066204
Im probably going to keep it a 124/1300, seeing the bellhousing fits the 124 motor now, and the rarity of a real 1000 OTS motor...
Any help is appreciated!
I need help posting pics...
Thanks!
Chris Brown
Irvine, CA.

[guy moerenhout]

hallo Chris ,just push additional options and you can ad photos .Normale there are no abarth sign on body but can I see your dasbord and instruments ?

[400trip]

Thanks, guy...ill take some pics today, my computer is new, still trying to master it!

[400trip]

Heres the dash...

[400trip]

oil guages

[400trip]

And the radiator shroud

[400trip]

And finally, the main dials...

[guy moerenhout]

Yes ,you are lucky to find this car .Also the Maserati instruments are there (was option).Make it that it  dive and you will have fun.For me morethan a 600 base car .

[400trip]

Thanks for the encourgement!
So those oil guages were used by Maserati?
I've learned alot on this sight already...
I've got a long way to go, but I won't give up!
Chris
P.S., is it supposed to have only a driver's seatbelt?

[guy moerenhout]

I think it was in 1965 that all europa car have fittings for safetybelts on front and rear(I think) From 1968 all have homologation papers and more rules for this .This instruments where also in Ferrarri and offer like a option by Abarth

[grant gauld]

Chris,
        From what I can see,the details are all correct for an OTS.Its one of my favourite cars.I have a complete genuine OTS motor that took years to find (not so hard to replicate though).Without beating a dead horse check my car out on youtube,"OTS Melbourne".
 I have only known of about 5 genuine factory OTS or OTSS over the years.A rare car indeed.
 Grant
ps the oTs rear panel badge is totally unique and the engine bay never had an Abarth plate.Paperwork is often the best proof of originality.

[evannice]

Hi Chris,

Cool car!  I'm right in your neighborhood and I think we spoke by phone last year.  Check your private messages, I'd like to have a look at the car.  I have learned a lot about the 1000 OT OTS OTR and 1300/124 in the past 3 years.

Eric Van Nice

[400trip]

Grant,
I've watched the video about 1000 times!!!LOL!!
Eric, I remember!
Don't you have a totally restored white 124/1300?
I'd love to get your input on my car!
I first bought it around 1987, and about two weeks after I got it home, I was walking my neighborhood, and there was this flatbed truck just parked in the neighborhood, and on it was two 1000 Fiats!
Both were red, one was an OT, the other an OTS like mine (coulda been a twin, except this one had the american sealed beam headlights).
Both had the nice Abarth sump hanging below the rear bumper!
Here I was, congratulating myself for finding such a rare car, and then I find two more in my own neighborhood!
I wrote a note, and stuck it on the truck, but never got a reply.
The were in pretty good shape, I wish I got a photo!
Id like to return it to a real 1000, or get the 1300/124 stuff, but I have a long way to go before I have the money to make that decision!
It is SUPER encouraging that you guys are out there to cheer me on!
The more I work on it, the more motivated I get!
Chris Brown
Irvine, CA.

[400trip]

I just re-read the posts, seems like it might be kinda stupid of me to run a non-original motor in the car, What?
Chris

[grant gauld]

Chris,
         In my opinion,YES ! return it to original.Eric did a fantastic job doing this and this is also where its value will be in the future.
 Remember the block must have the fake oil filter 'lump' on the exhaust side of the block,NOT like the motor on eBay at the moment.
 Grant