1954 OSCA MT4 Spider

The OSCA Sports Racing MT-4 was powered by a four-cylinder, dual overhead cam engine that displaced 1.5-liters and offered 130 horsepower. OSCA (which translates to Officine Specialzate Costruzione Automoibli) were built in Bologna, Italy by the Maserati brothers from 1947, when they departed from the company that bore their name, until 1967, shortly following their retirement.

The cost for the 1.5-liter MT-4 sold for around $10,000, a considering sum at the time.

At the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1954, this OSCA was a giant killer. 60 cars started the race and only 25 finished the race. The race included Jaguars, 4.5-liter Ferraris, a 5.5-liter Cunning C-4R, a Cadillac-Allard and Lancia D24s which were favored to win. This was one of six OSCA's on hand and Briggs Cunningham entered it for drivers Stirling Moss and Bill Lloyd. Not only did it win the race outright in a stunning upset - five laps ahead of the 2nd place car - but also two other OSCAs finished 4th and 5th (behind a privately-entered 3.3-liter Lancia and 2.7-liter Austin Healey) to win the Index of Performance for the marque. Fewer than half the cars finished the race.

In the mid-1950s, enthusiast road tests indicated the OSCA's 120+ MPH performance could not be bettered by any car of any displacement class selling at a lower price.