Former sports car driver, Enzo Osella, managed the Abarth-Osella racing team from 1969 until the team Fiat took over control. Osella continued with his own sports cars for a short while before switching to Formula 2. As 1974 was coming to a close, the first F2 chassis, the FA, was introduced. The FA raced until the close of 1976, when financial problems forced the team to withdraw from competition. The team returned in 1979 with Eddie Cheever, the team won three races. In 1980, the Osella F1 car was introduced. The team would race in Formula 1 until the close of the 1980s, but with little success.

During Osella's career, they produced the F3A, their only F3 car. The F3A was used in the Italian and German Championship series, with their best result being 5th place for Marcello Rosei at Varano in April. The F3A, driven by Piero Necchi, was powered by a Toyota engine. Marcello Rosei and Jean-Jaques Witz's cars had Lancia engines.

by Dan Vaughan