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 |  | View more photos Spider Chassis Num: 1152 Engine Num: 1507 |
The early 1930s were a difficult time for world economics. The Great Depression strangled the life out of many prominent businesses. The onset of the Second World War would claim even more companies as production ceased in support of war efforts and several European factories were bombed during the war.
The Maserati brothers had created a prosperous business fueled by successful racing endeavors that made their marque legendary. Their luck changed during the 1930s and were forced to sell their factory in 1937 to Adolfo Orsi with one of the agreements of the contract stating that the brothers would work with the company for ten years. At the conclusion of the ten years, the brothers left to form a new company. Though the Maserati marque continued to thrive with help from the financial support of Orsi, the brothers a company of their own and the freedom it would bring. The new company they formed was called l'Officine Specialzate Costruzione Automobili Fratelli Maserati, or by its shortened name 'OSCA'.
When the brothers left the Maserati company, they also left the financial stability supplied by Orsi. With limited funds to construct a machine of the same caliber of their Maserati's, the brothers were forced to take a different approach and use more conventional methods of construction. The products they would produce were lightweight, reliable and small. They carried a sticker price well above what most individuals could afford. Their first model was the MT4, Maserati Tipo 4, constructed from tubular steel frame, clothed in aluminum, and powered by a four-cylinder engine. The front of the car was suspended in place by double wishbones and coil springs while the rear had a live axle and semi-elliptic leaf springs. Drum brakes could be found on a four corners. The engine drew its inspiration from the Maserati 6-cylinder unit, given single overhead camshafts, aluminum block and head, and mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. The first few MT4 models were powered by an engine that displaced 1090cc; subsequent examples had larger 1340cc, 1450cc and 1490cc units. The 1450cc unit was introduced in 1953 and the 1490cc twin-spark engine in 1954.
The MT4's were constructed as rolling chassis and were left to custom coachbuilders to create the bodies. As such, specifications varied greatly from vehicle to vehicle. The very first MT4 was given a cycle fender body and dubbed 'Siluro.' It was driven in its inaugural race by Franco Carnacchia at the 1948 Pescara Grand Prix. Luigi Villoresi drove it in its second outing where he emerged victorious beating the larger competition and claiming its first GP victory.
The victory at Napels in the hands of the very capable driver, Villoresi, did much to establish the OSCA marque and created a reputation that would help give the company the business they needed. Modifications and enhancements continued on the MT4 models. One of the first was to the engine, which received a larger displacement size bringing it to 1340cc. Near the beginning of 1950, the Maserati brothers introduced the MT4 2AD, which featured a new twin cam head. All but the first nine MT4 models created were outfitted with this improvement.
The OSCA MT4 models continued to rack up victories in Europe and the United States. In many cases they had little difficulties outpacing the other small displacement vehicles. In 1954 Stirling Moss and Bill Lloyd drove a MT4 to a very impressive overall victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring, beating the rest of the field of which many had much larger and more powerful engines.
The next evolution of the MT4 was the TN, meaning Tipo Nuovo, which appeared in 1955. It was built on a revised chassis that measured 2200mm and powered by a 1491cc engine. The bodies were built in similar style to the MT4 and construction continued until 1957.
It was on the rare occasion that OSCA built a car over two liters. Many of their MT4 machines were designed for either Formula Libre (F2) or sports car racing. The cars were fast and dominated many of the classes in which they competed. They raced well in such grueling races as the Targa Florio, LeMans, and the Mille Miglia. Their superior power-to-weight ratio often allowed them to outpace and outlast other more powerful competition.
The Maserati brothers had created a prosperous business fueled by successful racing endeavors that made their marque legendary. Their luck changed during the 1930s and were forced to sell their factory in 1937 to Adolfo Orsi with one of the agreements of the contract stating that the brothers would work with the company for ten years. At the conclusion of the ten years, the brothers left to form a new company. Though the Maserati marque continued to thrive with help from the financial support of Orsi, the brothers a company of their own and the freedom it would bring. The new company they formed was called l'Officine Specialzate Costruzione Automobili Fratelli Maserati, or by its shortened name 'OSCA'.
When the brothers left the Maserati company, they also left the financial stability supplied by Orsi. With limited funds to construct a machine of the same caliber of their Maserati's, the brothers were forced to take a different approach and use more conventional methods of construction. The products they would produce were lightweight, reliable and small. They carried a sticker price well above what most individuals could afford. Their first model was the MT4, Maserati Tipo 4, constructed from tubular steel frame, clothed in aluminum, and powered by a four-cylinder engine. The front of the car was suspended in place by double wishbones and coil springs while the rear had a live axle and semi-elliptic leaf springs. Drum brakes could be found on a four corners. The engine drew its inspiration from the Maserati 6-cylinder unit, given single overhead camshafts, aluminum block and head, and mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. The first few MT4 models were powered by an engine that displaced 1090cc; subsequent examples had larger 1340cc, 1450cc and 1490cc units. The 1450cc unit was introduced in 1953 and the 1490cc twin-spark engine in 1954.
The MT4's were constructed as rolling chassis and were left to custom coachbuilders to create the bodies. As such, specifications varied greatly from vehicle to vehicle. The very first MT4 was given a cycle fender body and dubbed 'Siluro.' It was driven in its inaugural race by Franco Carnacchia at the 1948 Pescara Grand Prix. Luigi Villoresi drove it in its second outing where he emerged victorious beating the larger competition and claiming its first GP victory.
The victory at Napels in the hands of the very capable driver, Villoresi, did much to establish the OSCA marque and created a reputation that would help give the company the business they needed. Modifications and enhancements continued on the MT4 models. One of the first was to the engine, which received a larger displacement size bringing it to 1340cc. Near the beginning of 1950, the Maserati brothers introduced the MT4 2AD, which featured a new twin cam head. All but the first nine MT4 models created were outfitted with this improvement.
The OSCA MT4 models continued to rack up victories in Europe and the United States. In many cases they had little difficulties outpacing the other small displacement vehicles. In 1954 Stirling Moss and Bill Lloyd drove a MT4 to a very impressive overall victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring, beating the rest of the field of which many had much larger and more powerful engines.
The next evolution of the MT4 was the TN, meaning Tipo Nuovo, which appeared in 1955. It was built on a revised chassis that measured 2200mm and powered by a 1491cc engine. The bodies were built in similar style to the MT4 and construction continued until 1957.
It was on the rare occasion that OSCA built a car over two liters. Many of their MT4 machines were designed for either Formula Libre (F2) or sports car racing. The cars were fast and dominated many of the classes in which they competed. They raced well in such grueling races as the Targa Florio, LeMans, and the Mille Miglia. Their superior power-to-weight ratio often allowed them to outpace and outlast other more powerful competition.
With racing in their blood, the Maserati brother's Ernesto, Ettore and Bindo had a slight addiction with designing and building the best. (And never knowing when a challenge was out of their reach.).
They Maserati name had been famous from 1926 to 1940 and followed a certain creed to develop a car to compete in the 1100 ccm racing class. Selling their business to Adolfo Orsi after their 10-year contract ended at Maserati, the brothers began their next venture.
Starting another race car company after World War II, the brothers came up with a new brand of Italian sports car with possibly the most difficult pronouncing name for a race car that became known as OSCA.
The MT-4 Officina Specializzata Costruzione Automobili Fratelli Maserati was produced in Bologna, Italy and sold between $325,000 and $375,000.
With less than 200 models made in 1947, sales were competitive and the OSCA became incredibly popular and desired by the elite.
Not originally in the design, the OSCA eventually became modified to accommodate a Simpson Special land-speed record engine. Winning ten records at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, this motor has remained in the OSCA since being fully restored.
The OSCA was designed with 4 cylinders, with a 1.092-litre engine.
Some car engines made by OSCA during 1951 from 1962 were entered in Formula One events and ranked first in the World Sportscar Championship.Elizabeth Johnson
They Maserati name had been famous from 1926 to 1940 and followed a certain creed to develop a car to compete in the 1100 ccm racing class. Selling their business to Adolfo Orsi after their 10-year contract ended at Maserati, the brothers began their next venture.
Starting another race car company after World War II, the brothers came up with a new brand of Italian sports car with possibly the most difficult pronouncing name for a race car that became known as OSCA.
The MT-4 Officina Specializzata Costruzione Automobili Fratelli Maserati was produced in Bologna, Italy and sold between $325,000 and $375,000.
With less than 200 models made in 1947, sales were competitive and the OSCA became incredibly popular and desired by the elite.
Not originally in the design, the OSCA eventually became modified to accommodate a Simpson Special land-speed record engine. Winning ten records at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, this motor has remained in the OSCA since being fully restored.
The OSCA was designed with 4 cylinders, with a 1.092-litre engine.
Some car engines made by OSCA during 1951 from 1962 were entered in Formula One events and ranked first in the World Sportscar Championship.Elizabeth Johnson
| Carrera PanamericanaThe Carrera Panamericana was raced from 1950 through 1954. It was held on open roads in Mexico that ran from a southern Mexican west-coast city towards Texas. The race was formed to celebrate the competition of the Panamerican Highway. It was a multi-staged race across the country that counted towards the World Sportscar Championship. The race saw entrants from factory teams, privateers, and amateurs. On average, only one-third of the entrants were able to finish the race. The race was canceled after the 1955 LeMans fatal disaster, where a car went into the crowd killing over 80 spectators. The fatal accident by Bill Vukovick at Indianapolis secured the decision to no longer run the race. The first cars to run the race had top speeds of around 100 mph. By 1954, the cars were easily running at 170 mph. The vehicles were not adequately designed to protect the drivers at speeds this great. Being run on open roads meant that many areas of the course could not be managed; live stock, people, obstacles, and a number of other scenarios could make their ways into the road and cause disaster. The decision to cancel the race was sad, but necessary. |
1954 Osca MT4 1500 Moretti |
|
| Year | 1954 |
| Make | Osca |
| Model | MT4 1500 Moretti |
| Body Style | Spider |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Body / Chassis | Tubular |
| Production Years for Series | 1948 - 1957 |
| Price | $9,500.00 |
| Weight | 1570 lbs | 712.2 kg |
| Combined MPG | 0.00 |
| Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown | |
| Chassis Number | 1152 |
| Engine Number | 1507 |
| Performance | |
| Top Speed | 124 mph | 199.5 km/h Similar top speeds |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | I |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 90.90 CU IN. | 1489.9 cc. | 1.5 L. |
| Valvetrain | DOHC |
| Horsepower | 135.00 HP (99.4 KW) @ 6600.00 RPM |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 11.6 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 90.0 BHP / Liter |
| Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Petrol |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 4 |
| Transmission | Manual |
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