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ABOUT
O.S.C.A. FRATELLI MASERATI
In 1937 the Maserati brothers sold their
company to industrialist Adolfo Orsi. Not long
after the war was over, they decided their real
interests lay in racing, and together they
formed OSCA--short for the rather more
cumbersome Officina Specializzata
Costruzione Automobili Maserati wich was
found on 1. December 1947.
A variety of racing endeavors followed--
including an ambitious V12 Formula One
project--but OSCAs shone in the smaller
displacement classes. Frequent competitors in
important races throughout Europe and
America, they were driven by such notable
pilots as Stirling Moss, Luigi Villoresi, and
Prince Behra.
While producing a wide variety of two-seat
racing cars--all clothed by local coachbuilders--
OSCA was approached by Fiat to develop a
larger version of OSCA's existing twin-cam
engine for use in the 1500S sports car. Shortly
afterward, OSCA decided to offer a street car
and the natural engine choice was a 1,600-cc
version of the engine developed for Fiat.
The job of designing the coachwork fell to
Zagato. Two versions were built: a normal roof
design, as well as one of the prettiest cars of
the era, the so-called double bubble coupes.
While certainly a dramatic styling element, the
roof-top bubbles were also practical, adding
inches of headroom and incorporating vents at
the rear to keep cabin temperatures down
during races.
These cars, with their thoroughbred racing
engines and nimble chassis, were among the
best-looking road/race cars of their time. Even
if they hadn't been created by some of the
better-known and most talented automotive
engineers who ever lived, OSCA sports racers
would rank high in the lists of the best post-
war sports cars.
Building small-bore sports racers in the 750-cc,
1,100-cc, 1,500-cc, and two-liter classes, OSCAs
began winning almost immediately. The high
point is without a doubt the MT4 roadster,
which achieved an overall victory in the 1954
12 Hours of Sebring race driven by Stirling
Moss and Bill Lloyd.
Many well-known drivers did extremely well
with the light, fast cars, which became the
most successful 1,500-cc racers ever built.
Today they easily bring nearly $500,000 as gilt-
edged vintage racers and guaranteed event
rides. OSCAs were clothed by the leading
Italian carrozzerie and most looked as good as
they went.
No one ever accused the Maserati brothers of
not knowing how to build great cars--they just
never figured out how to make it a business. It
seemed quite logical to use the money from
the Fiat engine deal to make a proper road car
to sell in some numbers.
But as so often happens with small
manufacturers, the timing wasn't quite right.
Since OSCA was best at racing, it made sense
that the new 1600 GT would also take to the
track to enhance its reputation in the
showroom. The 1600 GT was bodied by five
different coachbuilders, with the most
attractive and numerous being that of Zagato.
With four-wheel disc brakes, fully independent
suspension, strong and light ladder tube
frame, a smooth, flexible engine, and clothed
in the iconic "double bubble" body, it should
have been everything needed for success in
racing and on the road.
Unfortunately, problems with homologation
for both the track and street meant that
deliveries were delayed almost two years.
Although over a hundred examples were built,
it never achieved the competition results
expected and drove the company to the brink
of closure.