1950 OSCA MT4 Vignale Berlinetta
One of the ideal Italian sports cars was the OSCA MT4. It was developed by the Maserati brothers after selling their company due to financial restrictions. Despite loosing the factory, and the right to use their own name, they remained resilient and exercised their talent under the name OSCA.
OSCA products were small, lightweight, reliable and expensive. In fact, they rarely built a car over two liters. Their first car, the MT4 was thier most prolific. It was developed for both Formula Libre (F2) and sports car racing.
On the track, the MT4 dominated the classes in which it ran, including the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio and Le Mans.
Driving for Cunningham, an MT4 driven by Lloyd Cunningham Stirling Moss took a glorious victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Chassis No. 1153 -One of Three Vignale Berlinettas
Delivered new by the factory to the 1955 Turin Motor show stand, this striking all alloy coupe caught the eye of its first French owner, Monsieur J.C. Abreu. In all, OSCA supplied only four original Berlinettas ex-works, three with Vignale (chassis 1120,1136 and 1153) and one with Frua (chassis 1113) coachwork, all however apart from chassis 1153 with less powerful engines having smaller cubic capacity.
Fine details on this exquisite car include rare OSCA and Vignale badging, king size Jaeger instrumentation, the original horn button in the steering wheel, and Marchal lights. It has factory fitted luggage (with the original keys), a plexiglas rear screen, custom made rear lights, an alloy filler cap in the boot, original tool bag and kit (with the chassis no. stamped on it).
Chassis 1153 is undoubtedly one of, if not the most original surviving OSCAs in the world today. The car is the way it left the factory and only the patina of age would distinguish it from a new car. It is believed that the car has its original first coat of black and the dark red leather interior and carpeting is original too. The mileage of approximately 10,000kms is believed to be correct.Christie’s has for sale Chassis No. 1153 at their upcoming Rétromobile auction in Paris. The car will be sold on 7:00 pm 12/2/05 with an estimate price of 450 000 t o 576 000 USD.
In Detail
| built at | Turin, Italy |
| price $ | $ $10 000 USD |
| engine | 2AD Inline-4 |
| position | Front Longitudinal |
| valvetrain | DOHC |
| fuel feed | Twin Weber Carburetors |
| displacement | 1490 cc / 90.9 in³ |
| bore | 78 mm / 3.07 in |
| stroke | 78 mm / 3.07 in |
| compression | 8.8:1 |
| power | 82.0 kw / 115 bhp @ 6200 rpm |
| specific output | 77.18 bhp per litre |
| body / frame | Aluminum over Steel Tube Frame |
| front tires | 5.0/5.50-15 |
| rear tires | 5.0/5.50-15 |
| front brakes | Drums |
| rear brakes | Drums |
| f suspension | Unequal Wishbones w/Helicoidal Springs, Telescopic Shocks, Roll-Bar |
| r suspension | Live Axle w/Longitudinal Leaf Springs, Telescopic Shock Absorbers |
| wheelbase | 2200 mm / 86.6 in |
| front track | 1199 mm / 47.2 in |
| rear track | 1151 mm / 45.3 in |
| transmission | 4-speed ZF manual |
Story by Richard Owen for Supercars.net
