During the 1950s, Carrozzeria Lombardi made a living by building and selling a series of cars based on Fiat chassis, such as the 850. The company's most beautiful and sporty creation was the Lombardi Grand Prix, built on the Fiat 850 chassis. When introduced, they featured the 850's 843cc, four-cylinder engine producing 34 horsepower.

In the United States, vehicles with engine displacements under 50 cubic inches (819.35cc) were exempt from California's new smog regulations introduced in 1968. An enterprising Glendale, California, Fiat dealer, performance turner, and Abarth importer named John Rich decided to use this loophole to import and sell the Lombardi Grand Prix. He commissioned Turin-based firm O.T.A.S. to modify the Lombardi Grand Prix using a smaller high-compression 817-cc engine producing 52 horsepower.