1958 O.S.C.A. TIPO S

Lot 29
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Estimation :
600000 - 700000 EUR
1958 O.S.C.A. TIPO S
Sold without title Chassis n°763 The most authentic Tipo S Perfectly documented track record and history Small Maserati”, noble and powerful mechanics Ex Luigi Chinetti then Ecurie Camoradi Inimitable patina In 1947, the Maserati brothers, who had left their own brand due to financial pro - blems, founded the Officina Specializzata Construzione Automobili, soon to be known by its sole acronym: Osca. The factory, located in San Lazzaro di Savena, on the outskirts of Bologna, would soon see the production of some of the most beautiful sports and racing cars of the 1950s. The primary objective is to design a small sports car capable of competing suc - cessfully in the most popular Italian class: the 1100 category. It is the very beautiful MT4, for Maserati Tipo 4 cilindri, presented in 1948, which was to meet the specifications successfully. The 1.092cc engine develops 72 hp and allows the very elegant barchetta to sign the first victory of a long series from its first outing, during the Grand Prix of Naples, driven by Luigi Villoresi. With an engine of 1.342cc, then 1.500cc, a double overhead camshaft cylinder head, and then dual ignition, the MT4, with more than 120 hp, raced in many categories and won several places of honour in the World Sports Car Championship: 10th in 1953, 4th in 1954, 6th in 1957, 5th in 1958 and 4th again in 1961. It is the most famous of the Osca because of its multiple class victories at the Mille Miglia, at Sebring with Stirling Moss first overall in 1954... while a 1500 beats 12 world speed records including the 10 km at 261.38 km/h. The Type S which succeeds it benefits in fact from an evolution of the MT4 chassis: the front axle is identical but the chassis is widened to lower the center of gravity. The main novelty is the redesigned engine, more compact, lighter, with more power per liter. It is still a 4-cylinder, double overhead camshaft engine with a 5-bea - ring crankshaft, with a cubic capacity of 750cc at 2 litres. The Tipo S 187 (unit displacement) which illus - trates these pages is exceptional in more than one way. Indeed, the 763 chassis still has its original engine, number 763 AL, matching numbers, a 750cc (now re-bored to 950cc), which has the particularity to benefit from a rare aluminum block (suffix AL). It was delivered new in October 1958 to Luigi Chinetti, the former driver turned Ferrari importer for the United States, who sold it in 1959 to Ecurire Camoradi (Casner Motor Racing Division), owned by the flamboyant American playboy Luscky Casner. In the traditional white livery with blue stripes, it was entered in the 12 Hours of Sebring (DNF), before being bought by a certain Gordon Heald in 1960. With this race car still in the running, he will still race until 1961, with notably a 3rd place in class at Watkins Glen at the end of 1961. It will remain in the same family until 2004, when it is imported in France. Pampered by its discreet owner, it could nevertheless be admired on several occasions during the Tour Auto, where its inimitable patina and its prestigious mechanics turned many heads. In this regard, we note that the car is already pre-registered for the Osca anniversary which will take place during the highly prized Mille Miglia. An unhoped-for ticket to the most beautiful race in the world, and to many other top events...
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