1963 OSCA 1600 GTS BERLINETTA COMPETIZIONE ALLEGERITA | Christie's 3/25/09 8:08 PM

78 6093

1963 OSCA 1600 GTS BERLINETTA COMPETIZIONE ALLEGERITA

Price Realized (Set Currency)

£71,900
($119,555)
Price includes buyer's premium

Estimate
£45,000 - £55,000
($74,826 - $91,454)

Sale Information
Sale 6093
Cars
29 March 1999
London, King Street

ENLARGE

Lot Description
1963 OSCA 1600 GTS BERLINETTA COMPETIZIONE ALLEGERITA
COACHWORK BY ZAGATO

Registration No.:ZA 887 KX (Italy)

Chassis No.: 0094
Engine No.:0094

Engine; four cylinders, twin overhead camshaft, twin Weber 42DCOE carburettors, 1568cc, 144bhp at 8000rpm; Gearbox: five
speed manual; Suspension: fully independent; Brakes: four-wheel disc; wheels: magnesium alloy disc. Left hand drive

"OSCA engines, either four or six cylinder twin overhead camshaft units, have always been noted for their smoothness and
cleanness". Denis Jenkinson, 1962.

In the 1930's, if a wealthy privateer racing driver needed a Grand Prix car of race winning potential, it was to the Northern Italy
workshops of the Maserati brothers that he made his way. Their cars were responsive, possibly brittle, but always asthetically
pleasing and on their day kept pace with single seaters from the major factory teams. The brothers sold the Maserati marque to
Orsi family interests in 1938, worked out their decade of service agreement, and at the first opportunity left to set up OSCA, a
new marque to return to what they knew best and loved most - building racing cars and high performance engines. There were
adventures in Grand Prix racing, but today much of the veneration accorded the OSCA marque is due to the dynamic little four-
cylinder, twin overhead camshaft, sports racers that made such an impact in 750cc, 1000cc and 1500ccc sports racing through
the 1950s. They won the 1100cc class in every Mille Miglia from 1950 until the final one in 1957. The 1500cc versions were a
major force in international events for years, one winning outright the 1954 Sebring Twelve Hours endurance race in Florida in
the hands of Stirling Moss.
Towards the end of their working lives the remaining Maserati brothers, now in their late sixties and early seventies, perhaps
more mellow in outlook, created a final and unexpected masterpiece. Their jewel like 1600 GT berlinetta was intended for fast
road use and powered by an uprated version of the OSCA engine the little company had developed with the great engineer
Aurelio Lampredi for the Fiat 1500. This high-revving unit was installed in an all-indepenedently-sprung tubular chassis with
disc brakes all round, for which Zagato provided a wind-cheating light alloy shell tautly wrapped around the mechanism and
occupants. The factory prepared at least two chassis for competition use with stiffened suspension and bodied with lowered
'double-bubble' roofline. This coupe was one of those, initially receiving an experimental two-litre engine before being fitted with
a competition 1600cc unit. The engine featured high compression pistons and special camshafts, whilst the carburettors were
upgraded to Weber 42 DCOE and a close ratio five-speed gearbox was supplied. Serious weight-saving measures included

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1963 OSCA 1600 GTS BERLINETTA COMPETIZIONE ALLEGERITA | Christie's 3/25/09 8:08 PM

upgraded to Weber 42 DCOE and a close ratio five-speed gearbox was supplied. Serious weight-saving measures included
lightweight Elektron alloy road wheels, Giulietta SZ-style lightweight seats and Plexiglass windows all round except for the
windscreen; the berlinetta was said to turn the scales at a mere 745 kg ready for use.

Late in 1963 0094 was sold to the distinguished Italian driver Alberto Luti, who campaigned it intensively in 1600 GT events with
good results, particularly in hillclimbs. There followed two more Italian owners, Nello Serfini of Rome and Gianmaria Favia of
Bologna. In 1975 0094 was exported to the USA and passed into the ownership of Howard T Ritter until 1988. The OSCA
returned to Italy at that time, where it underwent a painstaking nine year restoration under the direction of its knowledgeable
owner, a leading automobile historian. The restoration was recorded in great detail by photographs. Today it is to original factory
specification, immaculate, ready for fast road use or competition.

With well over 144bhp on tap from an engine that develops its maximum torque at an impressive 6000 rpm, its elegant Zagato
outline and an impeccable racing pedigree, this OSCA 1600 GT Competizione is a fascinating example of one of the rarest and
most exclusive of classic Italian marques. It has been suggested that it was probably the last racing car to have been worked on by
the Maserati brothers. Today it has covered some 600km since its restoration, and still requires running-in. Driven by a Christie's
representative, it handled well and impressed with its responsive powerplant. The coupe provides an unusual opportunity to
acquire one of the rarest and most competitive of historic sports-racing automobiles, a car with the potential to out-perform, at
much less cost, its great racing contemporary the Alfa Romeo TZ1.

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