Tag Archives: osca

Bertone-Bodied FIat-OSCA

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1959 Fiat-OSCA 1500 Aerodynamica Berlinetta by Bertone

Offered by Bonhams | Newport, Rhode Island | October 2024

Photo – Bonhams

The Maserati brothers founded OSCA in 1947 and went on to build sports cars and prototypes. But the secret sauce was their tiny little four-cylinder engine, which Fiat would end up using under license. You could get a Fiat 1500 with an OSCA engine. They built just under 3,100 configured as such.

Most of them wore pretty typical-looking bodies (for the period) from Pininfarina. But because this was Italy in the 1950s, there was always the option of coachbuilding. In this case, Franco Scaglione penned the design, with Bertone carrying out the construction. Only two cars were ever fitted with this body, and this was the only one with an OSCA engine.

The 1.5-liter inline-four was capable of 104 horsepower, and this car is freshly restored. It now has an estimate of $400,000-$500,000. More info can be found here.

OSCA 1600 Cabriolet

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1963 OSCA 1600 GT2 Cabriolet by Fissore

Offered by Bonhams | Monaco | May 2024

Photo – Bonhams

OSCA was founded by the Maserati brothers and produced some pretty cool cars during its short existence between 1947 and 1967. Around 1960 they introduced the 1600, which was a home-grown car powered by OSCA’s own 1.6-liter version of Lampredi’s Fiat inline-four.

Between 1960 and 1963, the company would build just 128 1600 GT models. This is one of only three cabriolets, and only two of those three had a tubular chassis. In this car, the OSCA inline-four made 105 horsepower.

This car was on Fissore’s stand at the 1963 Turin Motor Show, and it spent decades at a time across multiple collections in the U.S. and Europe. It now carries an estimate of $370,000-$430,000. More info can be found here.

OSCA Tipo S-187

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1959 OSCA Tipo S-187

Offered by Gooding & Company | Amelia Island, Florida | March 2-3, 2023

Photo – Gooding & Company

O.S.C.A. was kind of like “Maserati Take II.” It was founded by the Maserati Brothers when they left their own company in 1947, and it remained around through 1967. The S-187 was introduced in 1956.

It’s powered by a 747cc DOHC inline-four, which has been bored to 846cc in this car. Output is estimated at 75 horsepower. It’s a tiny 1950s sports racer, and it helped its first owner capture the 1959 SCCA National Championship. It remained active in SCCA competition through 1965.

It also won regional SCCA championships from 1961 through 1963. The car was later stored in a dismantled state. Recent work included a repaint in 2018. The pre-sale estimate is $500,000-$600,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

OSCA 1600 Zagato

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1961 OSCA 1600 GT by Zagato

Offered by Gooding & Company | Amelia Island, Florida | March 8, 2019

Photo – Gooding & Company

Very few racing teams or race cars builders have managed to survive for extended periods of time without producing road cars to fund their racing fun. Ferrari had to do it. So why not the Maserati brothers on their second go-round, this time with OSCA?

The 1600 GT was designed from the outset as a road car, unlike earlier models such as the MT4. It is powered by a 1.6-liter DOHC inline-four that makes 125 horsepower. The body carries Zagato’s “double bubble” design language and is made of aluminum so that 125 horsepower doesn’t have to cart around all that much weight.

Only 60 examples of the 1600 GT were sold, and only 31 are thought to still exist. The current owner has spent over $300k since 2012 getting it into the shape it’s in. Looking at it from an ROI perspective, it’s not that great of an investment, considering the wide estimate is from $350,000-$500,000. But ROI is certainly not what it’s all about with these cars. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $489,000.

OSCA MT4 by Morelli

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1955 OSCA MT4-2AD 1350 by Morelli

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Paris, France | February 6, 2019

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

OSCA was founded by a couple of the Maserati brothers after they left the company that bore their name. In existence for only 20 years (1947-1967), the company produced mainly sports racing cars, some of which just happened to be road legal – but road cars were not their primary concern.

The MT4 was actually their first product, going on sale in 1947. Different engine sizes were used and many of them sported different bodies. For example, here is a Frua-bodied car with a 1.5-liter engine. The car you see here is powered by a 1.3-liter straight-four.

OSCA built 72 examples of the MT4 from 1947-1963, a long time in race-car-land, which should say something about how good they were. The original body was an aluminum structure hand-built by the car’s original owner. It was ruined in an accident during the 1959 Targa Florio, and this Morelli coachwork was fitted in 1959.

This Italian racer has Targa Florio race history. What more do you want? It should bring between $1,250,000-$1,500,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

OSCA 2000 S

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1954 OSCA 2000 S by Morelli

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Paris, France | February 7, 2018

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Here’s a somewhat beefy-looking Italian sports car from the 1950s. Built by the Maserati brothers, this car features what is perhaps the largest engine stuffed into any OSCA automobile: a 2.0-liter straight-six making 165 horsepower.

While it might look like a small, Italian sports car from the 1950s, this particular car has some serious race cred. It’s first owner won the 1954 12 Hours of Messina race with this chassis before selling it to an Argentinian. It raced in South America at the 1000km of Buenos Aires and remained on that continent until it was discovered in the 1980s.

The original engine was never located, but a comparable six-cylinder lifted from a Maserati was installed and the restoration was completed in 2003. Only five 2.0-liter OSCAs (four of this model) were built and this is one of three carrying open bodywork by Morelli. It should bring between $1,050,000-$1,175,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM in Paris.

Update: Sold $970,994.

OSCA 1600 GT

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1961 OSCA 1600 GT Coupe by Touring

Offered by Gooding & Company | Pebble Beach, California | August 18-19, 2017

Photo – Gooding & Company

We’ve featured a few cars from OSCA over the years, seemingly all of them race cars. In addition to their racers, the company (which was originally founded by the Maserati brothers after they abdicated their positions at the company that still bears their name), also built gorgeous little GTs like this.

The 1600 GT was one of a few road-going models built by OSCA. Introduced in 1960, it was constructed in limited quantities through 1963. Because OSCA was primarily a racing car manufacturer, they took the 1600 GT to the track as well. This early example is powered by a 123 horsepower, 1.6-liter straight-four. This was the mid-range (or GTV-spec) engine. There were 105 horsepower and 140 horsepower versions available also.

Recently repainted in beautiful Celeste Chiaro, this is one of two examples bodied by Carrozzeria Touring and is one of just 128 1600 GTs built in total. It is expected to bring between $325,000-$375,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $341,000.

OSCA MT4 1500

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1954 OSCA MT4 1500 by Frua

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Paris, France | February 8, 2017

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

This pretty little sports car was built by Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili-Fratelli Maserati S.p.A. – or OSCA, for short. You’ll also notice the name “Maserati” in there, as OSCA was founded by three Maserati brothers after leaving the company bearing their name.

The MT4 was OSCA’s first automobile, introduced in 1947 with a 1.1-liter engine. Engine sizes grew with time and the MT4 was available well into the 1950s. This 1954 “1500” example is powered by a 135 horsepower, 1.5-liter straight-four. The very racy body was by Frua – and the racy part was intentional: an MT4 won the 1954 12 Hours of Sebring. The competition history for this particular car includes:

  • 1954 Mille Miglia – 10th (with Giulio Cabianca)
  • 1954 Targa Florio – DNF (with Cabianca)
  • 1954 Carrera Panamericana – DNF (with Roberto Mieres)

This car’s history sort of went cold after 1955 before reappearing in 1987 and the current owners acquired it in 2003. A five-year restoration followed, as did appearances in a few historic races – races it is still eligible for. It is one of just 72 OSCA MT4s ever built and you can read more about it here. Click here to see the rest of RM’s lineup.

Update: Not sold.

OSCA S-273

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1959 OSCA Tipo S-273

Offered by Gooding & Company | Amelia Island, Florida | March 11, 2016

Photo - Gooding & Company

Photo – Gooding & Company

O.S.C.A. was founded by the Maserati brothers after they left the company that bore their name. The company, whose initials stood for Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili – Fratelli Maserati S.pA., was set up in Bologna in 1947 and lasted through 1967. They built mostly racing cars although some road cars were available as well.

The S-273 originally came with a 1.1-liter four but this car had an engine swap before delivery to its first owner, Briggs Cunningham. The new engine is a 860cc straight-four making 75 horsepower (down 20 from the original). This was a Cunningham team car and as such competed in the following race:

  • 1960 12 Hours of Sebring – 56th, DNF (with Denise McCluggage and Marianne Windridge)

That was the final race for this car under Cunningham’s flag (it had earlier appearances in regional events). It then went to a privateer who continued to use it. It has been restored to its original Cunningham livery with the 860cc engine. This is a model that saw low production numbers and it should bring between $650,000-$800,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

Update: Sold, Gooding & Company, Pebble Beach 2016, $605,000.

Update: Not sold, Gooding & Company, Pebble Beach 2019.

OSCA 750 S

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1960 OSCA 750 S

Offered by RM Auctions | Phoenix, Arizona | January 17, 2013

1960 OSCA 750 S

After the Maserati brothers had sold their stake in the company that bore their name, they set up shop just out of town as Officine Specializzate Costruzioni Automobili – Fratelli Maserati SpA. – or OSCA. The company built race cars and a few road cars until it closed up in 1967.

OSCA threw itself into the spotlight after Stirling Moss and Bill Lloyd won the 1954 12 Hours of Sebring in one of their cars. A few years later in 1957, OSCA would introduce the 750 S – a light and nimble little race car.

The engine in this car is an 850cc straight-four making 75 horsepower. This was the last one built and it was purchased by race car driver John Bentley. The competition history for this car includes:

  • 1960 12 Hours of Sebring – 12th (1st in class) with John Bentley and Jack Gordon
  • 1962 12 Hours of Sebring – 23rd (1st in class) with Bentley and Gordon
  • 1963 SCCA Northeast Division Championship

Bentley raced this thing at just about any track he could, piling on miles at SCCA events all over the East Coast. The restoration was completed in 1984 and the car has been cared for and used in historic events since. Yes, it’s an older restoration – but that just makes it easier to take it out on the track. This is one of 18 750 S models built and it is expected to sell for between $600,000-$800,000. You can read more here and check out more from RM here.

Update: Sold $660,000.