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1956 OSCA MT4 Coupe Morelli


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#1 AntonyC

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Posted 05 January 2012 - 22:24

A very small number of OSCA MT4 Coupes were made over the period 1950-1956 in several designs, mostly completely different , for a total of 5/7 cars including re-bodies. Vignale were the most common suppliers , but one was supplied by Morelli in 1956 to the American driver James Simpson Jr. He raced OSCAs as well as Ferraris between 1951 and 1954, as well as paying for the OSCA record breaker at Bonneville in 1955. Anybody have any photos/info regarding this , or pictures of Simpson ?

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#2 Tim Murray

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Posted 05 January 2012 - 23:09

I think this may be the car discussed in an earlier thread:

Looking for info on OSCA #1176 Morelli Coupe/Devin

Edited by Tim Murray, 06 January 2012 - 07:00.


#3 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 06 January 2012 - 06:41

Found this link:

http://www.findagrav...mp;GRid=6639370

Vince H.

#4 AntonyC

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Posted 06 January 2012 - 11:30

I think this may be the car discussed in an earlier thread:

Looking for info on OSCA #1176 Morelli Coupe/Devin

It is ...however, four and more years have passed, and I wanted to re-introduce the topic in the hope that somebody has some more info. His racing career was short , but rather successful including fourth overall at Sebring in 1954. As your earlier poster said, it seems very strange that nothing is really known about him , except that he died very young , in 1960 , barely fifty-five years old.

#5 TDC

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Posted 21 February 2012 - 00:34

It is ...however, four and more years have passed, and I wanted to re-introduce the topic in the hope that somebody has some more info. His racing career was short , but rather successful including fourth overall at Sebring in 1954. As your earlier poster said, it seems very strange that nothing is really known about him , except that he died very young , in 1960 , barely fifty-five years old.


Antony, how do you know about Simpson's age and when he died, I'm curious? Is the James Simpson mentioned in the findagrave link the OSCA driver? That citation says nothing about his racing, nor have I ever seen anything about him being in politics before. I'd very much like to know more about Simpson, including his actual birth and death dates.

Thanks, TC

#6 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 21 February 2012 - 06:49

Antony, how do you know about Simpson's age and when he died, I'm curious? Is the James Simpson mentioned in the findagrave link the OSCA driver? That citation says nothing about his racing, nor have I ever seen anything about him being in politics before. I'd very much like to know more about Simpson, including his actual birth and death dates.

Thanks, TC


From The New London, Conn., Evening Day, Monday March 8, 1954:

"...Still another OSCA was fourth (at Sebring), driven by ex-Congressman James Simpson and George Colby of Wadsworth, Ill..."

Vince H.


#7 TDC

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Posted 21 February 2012 - 18:07

From The New London, Conn., Evening Day, Monday March 8, 1954:

"...Still another OSCA was fourth (at Sebring), driven by ex-Congressman James Simpson and George Colby of Wadsworth, Ill..."

Vince H.


Ah, excellent. That would seem to connect the findagrave individual. Good work. And thanks, TC

#8 AntonyC

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Posted 25 February 2012 - 17:02

Ah, excellent. That would seem to connect the findagrave individual. Good work. And thanks, TC

Yes, I got the confirmation of his death from his youngest son, he was in fact only 55 odd when he died in 1960. The link to Congressman I had guessed from the Wikepedia link , but is now confirmed by Vince's find , well done ! TC and Vince, I really have not a lot on Simpson...strange, as he raced Ferraris and OSCAs over a short (51/54) period very well , also running at Le Mans in '54....It seems very odd that so little is known about him , as he was one of the OSCA "gang" of Cunningham/Fronteras/Kimberley in Chicago/East Coast , Marshall Lewis being their main mechanic and sometime driver (he co-drove the OSCA record-breaker at Bonneville with Tony Bettenhauser as Simpson had apparently broken his leg falling off a horse shortly before !!) These fellows apparently swapped their cars a lot, especially when Simpson was unable to race due to...political duties |??
Anyway , Vince and TC , any other info apart from a few pix on Cliff Reuter's excellent site ??