If Only . . . The OSCA GTs Had Been Made For Longer

Officine Alfieri Maserati SA ceased to be in the ownership of the family of that name in 1937.  From that date the Marque belonged to Adolfo Orsi.  After WWII the Maserati brothers set up a new business, Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili, ‘OSCA.’

During the late 1940s and 1950s, OSCA was focused on the production of cars for competition use.  From its initial model, the MT4 (1948), through to the SF 372 and 750 S types, (1959-60), OSCAs were barchettas.  In the latter era OSCA engines were utilised in De Tomaso Formula 1 cars. 

With the new decade, OSCA turned its attention to the fashionable, burgeoning GT market, making cars of this type from 1960 to 1967 when, by then owned by Domenico Augusta, the Marque became defunct.  The 1600 (1568 cc) GTs became available in 1961, after some initial 1500s (in both coupe and spider form) had been introduced in 1959. 

OSCA 1600 GTs were available in 5 performance versions – GT (95 bhp), GT2 (105 bhp), GTS (138 bhp), GTV (125 bhp), and SP (140 bhp), with bodywork by 4 carrozzieri – Zagato, Fissore, Boneschi and Touring.  With the customary caution advisable regarding the veracity of data from the era, it is believed that 128 1600s were built, of which, 98 were by Zagato, 24 by Fissore, 4 by Boneschi and 2 by Touring. Michelotti also created 3 proposals on the 1500/1600, and it has been suggested that one of these was an anticipation of the form developed for the Lancia Fulvia Coupe.

1600 GT

#0078.  Bodywork is by Zagato featuring the Carrozziere’s signature dual hump roof with light alloy panels over tubular frame construction.  Characteristically Zagato, the car was light, at 835 kgs, facilitating a 9.2 secs 0-60 mph time on the basic engine’s 95 bhp:

Courtesy of Ruote da Sogno

The chassis plate for this car shows the standard layout and extent of information:

Courtesy of Ruote da Sogno


OSCA was able to incorporate its own branded engine as a result of an arrangement with Fiat.  The Maserati brothers had in 1957 been contracted to develop a higher performance power unit for Fiat’s Spider.  The resulting bialbero motor was built by Fiat in Turin, with a proportion subsequently, in very basic form, being shipped to OSCA.  At its San Lazzaro di Savena base OSCA ‘finished’ these units for use in GTs.  The OSCA ‘enhancements’ – examples being forged reciprocating components, alloy heads/sump and uprated lubrication circuit - resulted in an engine of better all round quality and capable of considerably greater power outputs. 

The standard rear badge was mounted on the boot lid, above the number plate panel, and a Zagato ‘Z’ was applied to the front wings, just forward of the indicator repeater lenses:

Courtesy of The Classic Motor Hub

Courtesy of The Classic Motor Hub


On the Touring version, in addition to the Carrozziere’s Superleggera script, model badges are mounted on both the upper face and the rear surface of the back panel, (to the right of the number plate):

Courtesy of Ultimatecarpage.com

#0019 is a Touring model:

Courtesy of Ultimatecarpage.com


The Boneschi version is represented by #0072:

Courtesy of Carrozzieri-Italiani.com

Distinctly angular, this is referred to with the supplementary model designation, ‘Swift.’  It was the work of Rodolfo Bonetto, a designer of considerable repute and responsible for several celebrated models of the Maserati and Lancia marques.  I believe that #0011 and #0018 also were Swifts. 

1600 GT2

#0097 is the chassis number assigned to this 1963 GT2 Zagato.  It is powered by the 105 bhp engine version:

Courtesy of Supercars.net

The car was subject to a thorough body/interior/mechanical restoration just before the millennium – the results being good enough to secure multiple concours honours.  It made £162,400 when sold by RM Sotheby’s in 2012. 

Detail aspects of this car in 40 excellent photographs can be seen at https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/listing/o-s-c-a/1600/1600-gt2/1963/286665 

There was a variant rear badge for this model:


A Fissore example of the GT2 is chassis #0103:

Courtesy of Bonham's

1600 GTS

The GTS designation indicates an engine initially rated at 138 bhp.  This version featured twin 42DCOE Webers with maximum power generated at 8000 rpm.  This example in chassis #0094, delivered in 1963:

Courtesy of Christie's


Notable on this car are the faired headlamps, indicative of a competizione variant.  Indeed the Christie’s lot notes accompanying the car’s sale in 1999 include reference to race/hillclimb use by its first owner, Alberto Luti.

#0036 clearly demonstrates that the GTS was an overtly competizione variant – it was prepared for the 1962 running of the Le Mans 24 Hours.  It is featured in a superbly illustrated article: http://classicmotorhub.com/showroom/osca-1600-gts-zagato-le-mans-car/  Driven by Americans, John Bentley and John Gordon, the car was retired after only 13 laps with an engine failure.  (A sister car, #0007, shared by George Arents and Jose Behra was also a DNF, though it ran 227 laps before succumbing to gearbox failure.)

Courtesy of Petrolicious.com

The car benefits from the twin spark head version of the engine:

Courtesy of VeloceToday.com

Also cited – I believe in error – as a GT2, this car is notable for having a simple roof line without the characteristic ‘double bubble’ form. 

1600 GTV

This Zagato-bodied 1961 example is chassis #006.  Weighing 862 kgs, and with 125 bhp on tap, it boasted an 0-60 mph time of 8.4 secs:

Courtesy of Conceptcarz.com

On this example of the 1568 cc engine, both cam covers feature the OSCA name prominently; (whilst those on some engines are plain.):

Courtesy of Conceptcarz.com

Also seen on some engines is a small plate mounted on the right-hand bank cam cover, this example being found on #0140:

Courtesy of Ultimatecarpage.com

1600 SP

Unfortunately, OSCA built only a single example of this model - #0140.  Its introduction in 1963 coincided with the company’s change of ownership, (to Augusta), and an early decision within the new regime was to can the Automobili Osca ‘works’ racing programme for which the SP was created.  It utilised the GTS engine – with a little uprating, to 140 bhp – but featured a revised and upgraded chassis and suspension/braking configuration.  As specified, it clearly had considerable potential to improve on the GTSs’ performance at the previous year’s Le Mans, but the intended entry for the event was withdrawn.  The body was developed within the OSCA Officine itself, though there was obvious Zagato influence, notably in the ‘look’ of the Kamm tail as also seen on Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ.  #0140 has survived, having been for many years within the Maserati family’s ownership.

Courtesy of Ultimatecarpage.com





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