53 replies to this topic

[dretceterini]

I am not old enough to know what factory literature was produced for OSCA. I am sure there was sales literature, but are there things like an "owners manual", "parts book", etc for the sports-racers such as the MT4?

Thanks,
Stu

and yes, if thse exist, I will pay "reasonable" fees for xerox copies....

[dretceterini]

I understand that Eoin Young has some OSCA stuff for sale, but the link I have doesn't work. Does anyone have the correct website address?

Thanks,
Stu

[Vitesse2]

http://www.eoinyoung.com/

works for me!

[dretceterini]

Thanks:

I had some obscure link through a web host..

stu

[dretceterini]

the concensus I have gotten so far is that OSCA never printed any owners books or parts books or service books...

As to sales literature; yes, but VERY expensive IF it can be found (except for the later 1500 and 1600s)

Stu

[dbw]

when i had my old 1600 gt zagato i was never able to find any literature on it....all it seemed to share with the fiat-osca's was the engine...and mine was set up for dual ignition..the chassis was twin tubes and fabricated suspension...it seemed a bit of a custom job to have any printed stuff done..at about the same time[mid '70's] some guy in the same city had the same car[with single plug engine] and a custom steel body that the name of the maker escapes me,but i remember seeing photos of the same body at a european show in an old scg....who was the body builder??

[dretceterini]

Fisore bodied some OSCAs in the 60s...

Stu

[Bjorn Kjer]

This being the only OSCA thread named OSCA , I thought.....


When OSCA did F1 and F2 in 50-53 , am I right they were white ?

If you have a white background , what colour for the text OSCA etc. ?

[2000 touring sp]

In general there is not mush written material about Osca, there where a beautiful Osca 1600 with Touring body at lake Come passed weekend. They produced a 12 cyl F1 engine back in 1951. That engine was split in one block and was used in F2 1952/53.
Some cars went to Brigs Cunningham in the States and was raced in his white collars with the stripes, but in general, they was Italian red judging from the black-white photos

[Bjorn Kjer]

Exactly there is my point, from my pics in b/w the formula cars of 51-52 looks white to me !

And Bjarke I am still interested in your LM57-65 pics , how about sending a photocopy ?

[2000 touring sp]

I am sorry i cant find out posting pictures in this forum,i certainly have tried



Here is a list of Osca production.
MT stands for Maserati Tipo, a little revenge from a company establish in 1947. The brothers had an agreement with Orsi, as part of the sales agreement for Maserati, they should stay as consultant for 10 years at Maserati. But the history about the Maserati brothers starts in the 20 at Diato and Isotta-Fraschini before the Brothers joined together and establish the Masserati Factory.
The following information, is from an article by Peter Collins, unfortunately there is no production quantity.

Tipo Produktion year

MT4 1100 1948-9
MT4 1350 1949.50
MT4 2AD 1100 1950-6
MT4 2AD 1350 1951-3
Tipo G4500 F1 1951
Tipo 2000 F2 1952-3
Tipo 20000S 1954-5
MT4 2AD 1450 1953-4
MT4 2AD 1500 1954-7
TN 1500 1954-7
S1500 1957
FS-372/F2S 1957-9
S 187 1956-8
S 187N 1959-60
S 950 1956
S 273 1957-9
S 498 DS 1959-60
SF 392 1960
F Junior 1959-61
1600 GT 1960-3
1600 SP 1963
1700 GT 1965-6

[Graham Gauld]

I visited the OSCA factory in 1957 and met the two remaining Maserati brothers. They certainly did not have any literature at that time or else they would have offered it. Like Doug Nye I am a bit sceptical about some of the collectors of historic racing cars around the world. Bearing in mind the above I had an amusing incident at Laguna Seca about ten years ago. I was wandering through the paddock and came across a white OSCA that looked familiar. It so happened I had a pre-production copy of my book "Modena Racing Memories" with me. I talked to the American owner who was very proud of the fact he had the ex-Louis Chiron car. I remarked that the body was not exactly correct but he assured me it was. So I produced the book and showed him a copy of the photo of the Chiron car I took in a dusty corner of the OSCA factory in 1957. He looked at it and said "....no that car isn't right". Even though I pointed out to him that the photo was taken in 1957 and now we were in 1994 perhaps my photo was a more authentic representation of the car when Chiron had it but I failed to convince him. So don't believe everything you are told or are shown

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by Bjørn Kjer
....from my pics in b/w the formula cars of 51-52 looks white to me !

Most likely light blue, French racing colours

[Bjorn Kjer]

Sounds right David , with Bayol and Chiron as drivers ! However I still believe their 4,5 liter F1 was white. What I also am after in this ,is that I have a part picture of a lorry wich looks very white (or light blue) with their F1-4500.

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by Bjørn Kjer
Sounds right David , with Bayol and Chiron as drivers ! However I still believe their 4,5 liter F1 was white. What I also am after in this ,is that I have a part picture of a lorry wich looks very white (or light blue) with their F1-4500.

Bira's 4.5 OSCA was blue and yellow
I'd be surprised if the works car wasn't red

[Bjorn Kjer]

OK ! Thanks David !

[karlcars]

I'm pretty sure the works OSCA 4.5-liter V12 was indeed red when it competed, which was not often.

The F2 six was not half that engine. It was related more closely to the in-line fours with two cylinders added.

Both are discussed in my new book for Haynes, "Red-Hot Rivals", which covers the rivalry between Ferrari and Maserati -- not fogetting the Maserati brothers -- from 1947 to 1967. Should be out later this year.

[Bjorn Kjer]

Karl , sounds exciting , will it be a historic book with the story behind or a picture book ?

When do we get to know more ?

[2000 touring sp]

It can maybe be interesting with some info regarding the last. Osca 1700 GT 1965-6 was the last from Osca, it was constructed under supervision by the well known Colombo. Unfortunately it didn't run with a Colombo Osca engine. But they used the Ford V4. To it is fully understandable that it became the last Osca from Italy

[Bjorn Kjer]

Hello , I am back again , the colourman!

I aggreed to the works F1 being red and the Bira blue and yellow.

Left over is the F2 from1952/53.

In 1953 Louis Chiron ,he being a monegasque, and entering a car himself for in 4 WC plus many NWC races, would not race a blue car , would he(?), Monacos nat.colours being white and red(wheels ?). So my pictures might be right with the near white colour ? I have a picture of Chirons OSCA(near swhite) number 26 (funny according to the black books he should have 27) rolling out besides a white (?)truck . I aggree it cannot be white as the white numbers is visible allthough not heavy. Imagine my surprise as I in another picture , this one in clear colour ,found the same truck ,showing a light cream colour. Perhaps his racer was light blue and his truck light cream ? Or were the OSCA also cream?

In 52 and 53 Eli Bayol entered many races with his OSCA under his name , I would guess that to be blue!

Comments or facts are welcome!

Edited by Bjørn Kjer, 21 August 2010 - 05:05.

[Bjorn Kjer]

And I meant the colourman is back !

[Bjorn Kjer]

I know that in general I put up qs much related to transporters , wich obviously are difficult!

But , that a rather simple question of a colour of a car from the WC of F1(F2) should keep the TNF speechless , really surprises me. I nearly feel that I am not just a transporter freak now! ???

I once had an OSCA book , but no colour pics! Lack of that seems to be the case for all ?? Rather peculiar , wouldnt you say?

[Graham Gauld]

Bjorn:
It is not peculiar at all.Remember back in the 1950s and'60s we did not live in an age where colour was printed in books to any great extent and it was usually pretty poor reproduction at that. As a result I constantly surprise myself when I see that I occasionally shot colour back in ther 1950's when I knew there was virtually no outlet for such photos at that time.
However, to keep you happy, here is a transporter which brought two Swedish OSCA's to Oulton Park for the British Empire Trophy around 1956/57

[Bjorn Kjer]

Yes, I understand , I too am surprised now and then when a colour pic pops up from that time, and thats what I had hoped for!

You however can put candlelight in my eyes and make me feel boyish(I have age). In 1955
raced an MT4 to 14th for "Ecurie Yankee" and Jacques Peron another for "Ecurie Bull Frog". The one below I see as a 54 model ,looking much as the Sebring 54 winner and the one on top should then be a new looking much the way they did in the years to come , to the end before OSCA had their exp.GT 1600 in 1962 at LM. The truck looks much like a Fiat 626 build from 38 to late 40s + i believe. Maserati had one of those in the before mentioned period, albeit with a box. I would then guess its OSCAs own truck having made a deal with the 2 drivers above for this race and perhaps others. Only question now , if I am right on the other infos, is who drove what car? Thanks Graham.
Much appriciated!

[Graham Gauld]

One of the OSCAs at Oulton Park was driven by the Swede John Fast but the car was owned by
by Karl Erik Karlson who also owned another OSCA. Both were 1100's, chassis nos 1163 and 1191 and I assume that the two cars were the two on the transporter.

[Rosemayer]

Osca parts link


www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/freeads_make/osca.htm

[kaydee]

Here is a colour photo of Alf Harvey's O.S.C.A. taken in the pits at the AGP meeting in October 1958 at Bathurst

[Sharman]

Talking about colour reproduction Graham, do you remember the "unreadable" efforts in Sports Car Illustrated?

[Graham Gauld]

Sharman:
I have tried to forget. This was the English version of the American Sports Cars Illustrated edited by Alfred Woolf and with correspondent Henri B Gentilhomme ( Henry Manney III moonlighting in a way to help his friend Alfred get the magazine going.) Mind you when Philip Hutchinson's magazine Sporting Motorist ( Previously published under the AutoCOurse banner) started to do colour it was an even greater disaster. The US Sports Cars Illustrated was in many ways a much better and more rounded magazine.

[Bjorn Kjer]

First of all , my PC is so slow and I write too fast and tend to forget misspellings,and the PC is well used that it forgets much of my writing, a better one will soon be underway. Sorry.

The 1955 was to be Ian Burgess 14th wich was the car no. He did not q for the final. The other finished 10th.

More search reveals that in 57 Silverstone Int. 1.5 race on 14/9 both John Fast in MT4 1500 1163 and A.Testut in MT4 finished. Also A.de Tomaso with F2/S 1500 1186 and P.Brolen was there. supposedly to have finished also. Gustav John Fast the entrant of John Fast . Sweden , P. Brolen also Sweden.

Further I found that on 28/9 Goodwood open P.Brolen finished.

The search was made on : wsrp.ic.cz under British Internationals

[Bjorn Kjer]

Here is threads I found on the TNF :

OSCA Special
Elie Bayol & Louis Chirons DNS-Swiss GP 1953 : Why ?
OSCA 2000S
Stirling Moss and the OSCA return to Sebring
OSCA Identification
OSCA at Monaco in 1958

Further I can tell that : wsrp.racing.com/chassis /osca has a long list and results .

[Graham Gauld]

Scanning a few pictures today. This might be of interest: Photograhed at the OSCA factory, September 1957.

[Bjorn Kjer]

I think it could be great if we could get some infos to the Swedes Fast ,Brolen and Karlsson about their explorations with OSCAs! Any Swedes out their who happen to know something as well?l

Good view Graham!

[Stefan Ornerdal]

Unfortunately I do not know anything about the Swedish OSCA, but Jon Fast is nowadays very much into railway modelling. He has written loads of articles for Swedish hobby-mags, maybe also a book or two.

Stefan
www.formula2.net
www.vargarna.nu

[SHRAEL]

hi as far as i know, Fast was driving the former LM and MM 1500 MT4tn in a few swedish events (including the 1956 GP). this is chassis 1163 - all this from the Orsini &Zagari book.
This is a sister car to a car i currently own #1169. they shared a OSCA in house body style sometimes labeld "the whale'.
if anyone has any pics of the Fast car in 1955-56-57 would be very helpfull.
elad

[Bjorn Kjer]

To all those that has not realized it yet , go to post 23 and click at the end of Graham Gaulds info , the "img" !

[Tomas Karlsson]

Jon Fast (*1933), half-brother to Gunnar Bengtsson, was one of the first Swedish drivers who tried to follow in Bonnier's footsteps for an international career. He had inherited some money and bought himself an Osca 1500 (1163) and went abroad in '57. He was also the Swedish Osca rep, but only managed to sell one car, to the motor cycle rider Per Brohlén (1182). According to Fast, Brohlén died in cancer shortly afterwards.
For '58 Fast got himself a new two-litre (1191) but after having blown the engine at Karlskoga in August, the career ended. There were no money left and he had to start thinking about getting a proper job. He eneded up in the graphic business and in the seventies he could afford himself a Ferrari Daytona which he raced with for some years.
The Swedish Oscas stayed in Sweden and at least two of them got Volvo engines!

When Fast went down to Italy in early 58 to collect the new car, he found that it had been delivered to Cabianca, so he borrowd a 950 for the first event at Prescott. But I haven't heard anything about an 1100. The transporter-picture at Oulton Park, could maybe be from early 1958, with the 950 car on top for the 1100 class and it is definitely the blue and yellow 1182 below.
The car on top isn't 1191 anyway.

I haven't heard about this Karl-Erik Karlsson before, so I suppose I will have to dig a little. I'll be back!

[Tomas Karlsson]

I can report that Fast haven't heard of any "Karl-Erik Karlsson" either. The only name he could think of was Karl-Erik Oskarsson who was the Rumi and Goggomobile-dealer in Gothenburg whom Fast got into partership with, so that he could start his Osca-import.
"But the cars were all mine...unfortunately".

The picture is from 1958 and, as I suspected, shows the 57 car and the borrowed 950cc. Both cars on Fast's old rebuilt Volvo breadvan.
"The 950 stood no chance in the British 1100 class."

[Bjorn Kjer]

Top Tomas , thank you very much!

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Bjørn Kjer
=To all those that has not realized it yet , go to post 23 and click at the end of Graham Gaulds info , the "img" !

Here it is...

[Bjorn Kjer]

Thanks Ray , unfortunately ,it wont get bigger ,but I have been able to do it otherwise than click on it! Tomorrw I hope to find out what kind of Volvo that would have been .

[David Beard]

[Bjorn Kjer]

Fine badge David ,I wouldnt mind seeing the whole car !

Jon Fast transporter : Volvo L201 , 5 tonner, 90 hp , build 1948-50 , 1003 expl.
Seems to be "big van" type , cut of behind the drivers seat , hence the "funny " cabin !

[David Beard]

Originally posted by Bjørn Kjer
Fine badge David ,I wouldnt mind seeing the whole car !

Sorry Bjørn, a little problem I have. Didn't take one. Much rather take photos of details...

[David Lawson]

Here's the rest of the OSCA

David

[Bjorn Kjer]

Beautifull pictures Davids ,

[Bjorn Kjer]

From 1952 to 1962 , 11 years there were 1 or more OSCAs at Le Mans , from 750 to 1500cc open sportscars and then in 62 the near 1600 Experimental GTs. I have been trying to find some specuifications , or rather measures on the cars from 1954 , the MT4, to 1961.
Has any of you at least the wheelbase of these models ? length , width and height would be nice too. But with WB and pictures I can to a great degree compare.

[Roger Clark]

The MT4 was used 1952-55. It had a wheelbase of 2200mm, front track 1200 mm, rear 1150mm.

The 1956, 57, 58, 59 60, 61, Tipo S had 2100mm wheelbase, front track 1145 mm, rear track 1130 mm

THe 1926 1600 GT had wheel base 2250 mm, front track 1270mm , rear track 1218 mm.

All information from OSCA by Orsini and Zagari.

[Bjorn Kjer]

Roger, thanks for the info , just what I looked for !

[Bjorn Kjer]

As my general plea for order doesnt work , I will try to help myself a bit :

Related threads :

Motor Racing magazine
Hans Tanner-OSCA Special
OSCA at Monaco 1958
Looking for info on OSCA
OSCA GT Sebring 1967
Louis Chiron