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1961 Fiat 1500S

Spyder by Pininfarina
Chassis number: 118S 006560
Engine number: 118.000 002763

In 1955, Fiat introduced a Spider Roadster on the 1100-cubic centimeter chassis. In 1959, the design was updated with a smaller version of the Ferrari 250 Pininfarina Cabriolet. The Maserati brothers were contracted to manufacture their MT4 racing engine under license, and a twin-cam 1500 cubic-centimeter version gave the new car a top speed of 100 mph.

Pininfarina handled the assembly of the 1500S and 1600S versions through the model's run, but the cars always wore Fiat badges. It is believed that 3,089 of the 34,211 Fiat Spiders and Coupes built in this period were twin-cam OSCA-powered. The 1959-1962 versions can be identified by their hood scoop.

This example wears an older restoration. The odometer shows just 43,000 miles. The car is believed to have been imported to Miami, and years later, it found its way up to Ontario, Canada. Mark Motors in Ottawa bought the Spider from an estate sale, and they would own it twice in the course of 20 years.

The engine is a dual overhead cam 1491cc unit offering 75 horsepower. At all four corners are hydraulic disc brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

Officine Specializzate per la Costruzione Automobili Fratelli Maserati (OSCA) was founded after World War II by the three surviving Maserati brothers. The small OSCA company built limited edition competition cars intended for racing and never made more than 30 cars in a single years. Their first offering was introduced in 1948 and dubbed the MT4 (Maserati Tipo 4). It was a small siluro with a 1,092cc overhead-camshaft engine which propelled the car to competition success while in the hands of Luigi Villoresi.

The OSCA engine later grew to 1,491cc and given twin-cam cylinder heads. FIAT later used the engine for its range-topping sports cars, while OSCA began producing its own GT cars.

From 1959 through 1966, Fiat produced the 1500S and 1600S Spiders. Wearing a design by Pininfarina, it had a striking resemblance to the Ferrari 250 PF Cabriolet. Power was sourced from the Maserati brothers MT4 racing engine, which gave the new car the performance to match its elegant looks. Approximately 3,089 of the 34,211 Fiat Spiders and coupes were built in this period with the twin-cam OSCA powered engine. The 1959-1962 1500S is distinguishable by its hood scoop.

by Dan Vaughan