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Automotive Lifestyle
VINTAGE: Maserati Brothers’ Last Race Car
The OSCA 1600 SP was the final attempt by the famed competition builders to create a car to run in the Le Mans 24.
The only OSCA 1600 SP built by the Maserati brothers was shown at the Concorso Villa d'Este in Italy. (Photo: Wouter Mellisen)
For many decades, the Maserati brothers were at the forefront of Italian motor racing, first with the company bearing their own name and after World War II under the OSCA name.
The very last racing car produced by the then three remaining brothers was this OSCA 1600 SP. Using a brand new spaceframe chassis and a slippery body, this one-off was intended to run at Le Mans. Unfortunately by the time the car was ready, OSCA was absorbed by Agusta and the competition program shelved.
Never raced in period, the 1600 SP is now owned by a son of the Maserati brothers, who has cherished it for more than four decades. We caught up with him and his lovely car earlier this year at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, which has resulted in this rare look at the Maserati brothers' very last racing car.
Operating under the OSCA (Officine Specializzate Construzione Automobili) banner, the three remaining Maserati brothers faced many of the same problems in the second half of the 1950s as they had done two decades earlier.
Once again, the limited demand for racing cars threatened their company's existence. In an attempt to turn their fortunes around before the brothers were forced to close shop or sell their business again, they launched the all-new 1600 GT, OSCA's first production road car.
The “basic” version featured a 95 horsepower version of the 1.6-liter twin-cam engine, a live rear axle and a Fissore designed and built body. Considering the Maserati brothers' pre-occupation with racing, it was hardly surprising that a competition version was also offered. This sported a lightweight Zagato body, independent rear suspension and an engine tuned to 140 horsepower.
In all of its various guises, the OSCA 1600 GT proved to be a great success and it allowed the Maserati brothers to develop a new purpose-built racing car.
Dubbed the 1600 SP, for Sperimentale or Experimental, the new OSCA racer was powered by the same 140 horsepower engine used by the competition specification 1600 GTS.
Together with the four-speed gearbox, this was the only existing component used on the 1600 SP.
The drivetrain was mounted in an all-new, multi-tubular space-frame chassis. Suspension was independent through double wishbones on all four corners. Sizeable disc brakes provided the 1600 SP with plenty of stopping power.
The very last racing car produced by the then three remaining brothers was this OSCA 1600 SP. Using a brand new spaceframe chassis and a slippery body, this one-off was intended to run at Le Mans. Unfortunately by the time the car was ready, OSCA was absorbed by Agusta and the competition program shelved.
Never raced in period, the 1600 SP is now owned by a son of the Maserati brothers, who has cherished it for more than four decades. We caught up with him and his lovely car earlier this year at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, which has resulted in this rare look at the Maserati brothers' very last racing car.
Operating under the OSCA (Officine Specializzate Construzione Automobili) banner, the three remaining Maserati brothers faced many of the same problems in the second half of the 1950s as they had done two decades earlier.
Once again, the limited demand for racing cars threatened their company's existence. In an attempt to turn their fortunes around before the brothers were forced to close shop or sell their business again, they launched the all-new 1600 GT, OSCA's first production road car.
The “basic” version featured a 95 horsepower version of the 1.6-liter twin-cam engine, a live rear axle and a Fissore designed and built body. Considering the Maserati brothers' pre-occupation with racing, it was hardly surprising that a competition version was also offered. This sported a lightweight Zagato body, independent rear suspension and an engine tuned to 140 horsepower.
In all of its various guises, the OSCA 1600 GT proved to be a great success and it allowed the Maserati brothers to develop a new purpose-built racing car.
Dubbed the 1600 SP, for Sperimentale or Experimental, the new OSCA racer was powered by the same 140 horsepower engine used by the competition specification 1600 GTS.
Together with the four-speed gearbox, this was the only existing component used on the 1600 SP.
The drivetrain was mounted in an all-new, multi-tubular space-frame chassis. Suspension was independent through double wishbones on all four corners. Sizeable disc brakes provided the 1600 SP with plenty of stopping power.
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