1952 OSCA MT4 Vignale Berlinetta Le Mans 52 # 1120 Todays article is devoted to a rare model that reproduces a car little known: the OSCA MT4 1952 with chassis number # 1120 and body Berlinetta by Vignale . early 30s the brothers Ettore , Bindo and Ernesto Maserati had built a thriving business that fed that gave them fame racing successes. But the economic crisis of 1929 joined the pre-war global climate began to affect their business, and in 1937 were forced to sell the brand Maserati to Adolfo Orsi , giving financial estabilidada brand in exchange for the brothers continue to work in it over a period of 10 years. Over the 10 years the brothers decided to leave Maserati to create your own brand, lOfficine Costruzioni Specializzate Automobili Fratelli Maserati ( OSCA ), founded in Bologna in 1947. abandoner Al Maserati also lost the financial support provided by Orsi , having to operate with too limited to try to build a sports car similar to his caliber resources Maseratis . That forced the brothers to rethink the way they build cars, parts and opting for conventional construction methods. Therefore upgraded to build small, lightweight and an apparent mechanical simplicity cars in practice towards more reliable. s first OSCA was the MT4 ( Maserati Tipo 4 cilindri ), a sports car with tubular chassis, aluminum bodywork and integrated 4-cylinder engine of 1090cc (inspired by the six-cylinder Maserati , but based on a block of 4 cylinders FIAT to which he altered the race and head of cylinders) coupled to a four-speed gearbox. Gradually increasing engine capacity would go first in 1949 to 1342cc, 1450cc in 1953 and then in 1954 1490CC The MT4 were built only as rolling chassis which were sent to coachbuilders ( Pietro Frua , Michelotti , Vignale ) to provide them with body and finishes. Therefore there is great disparity of styles, body and finishes between MT4 produced from barchettas competition to berlinettas luxury. The first MT4 had a torpedo shape for which he received the nickname Catfish . His first appearance was in the circuits on the Grand Prix of Pescara 1948 piloted by Franco Carnacchia . But in his second competition, the Grand Prix of Naples with Luigi Villoresi as a pilot, and got his first victory in the GP championship. This victory of an OSCA to larger and more powerful rivals was what brought the brand fame and reputation necessary to attract customers and have thus gradually be introducing resources to successive improvements in MT4 . In the following years he won many victories, both in Europe and in the United States, in some of the toughest competitions like the Targa Florio , Le Mans and the Mille Miglia , often beating his rivals with bigger and more powerful engines. The key was always in the power to weight ratio and a preoccupation with the agility and maneuverability of the car, making them all very effective in circuits. production of MT4 lasted until 1957, being replaced by the OSCA 750S . The quality of the engine Twin Cam OSCA made FIAT to notice them and to sign an agreement has been since 1959 which the 1200 FIAT coupe and convertible could ride a motor OSCA . In 1963 the Fiat 1300/1500 also had an engine OSCA as an option, but in 1966 FIAT did not renew the agreement because it already had its own engine Twin Cam for the Fiat 124 . Three years before the brothers Maserati would sell the brand to Count Domenico Augusta , brand owner MV Augusta , who kept producing small sports under the brand OSCA from 1963 to 1967 when the brand finally disappeared. Of all the OSCA MT4 built some of the most beautiful are bodied by Vignale . In 1952 only four units MT4 were sent to coachbuilder Vignale to give them body (three berlinettas and barchetta ). Of the four the most radical aspect corresponds to the chassis # 1120 . This chassis, equipped with 1342cc engine, was purchased by Dr. Mario Damonte , a successful chemical Turin commissioned Vignale to build a coupe body type with the idea of participating in Le Mans . Vignale built her a beautiful body berlinetta but with radical forms for front wheel arches designed to allow better motor ventilation and front drum brakes. Almost the entire surface of the front was dominated by air intakes to the point that the headlights are one of the few obstacles to air on the front. The body embraces the front wheels just above, but exposes the back, allowing better circulation of air from the engine and brakes out. The cars interior was minimalist, designed for racing. The windshield had three limpiaprabrisas, the normal two plus a third that ran from the ceiling to ensure the most sweeping possible glass area. To improve ventilation inside the cabin a vent circular rear window was installed. The carrorecia was painted in two colors. The car participated in Le Mans in 1952 in the category of 1500cc (with a 1342cc engine only), the first OSCA compete in as mythical race. At the wheel of the car was the Dr. Damonte , accompanied by a co-driver only know it was called Martial . Despite the large dynamic qualities of the car broke the clutch area Arnage , and pilot and copilot had to push the car a little over two miles back to the pits. When trying to fix the clutch saw it was not repairable and had to abandon the race, to despair of Dr. Damonte . s car was upgraded to participate in Le Mans the following year. The most visible change was a new, more conventional front headlights with fully collected by the shape of the carrocería.También the engine was changed to one of 1092cc to participate in the 1100cc category. This time the body was simply polished aluminum, without any coat of paint, just with the added competition numbers. Again the own Dr. Damonte was included as one of the pilots, being the passenger Pierre Louis Dreyfus Helde . This time the OSCA managed to finish the race in the No. 18 overall. During many years this MT4 with chassis number # 1120 remained unchanged, but over time began to take its toll on him. Finally I became quite an ambitious restoration, in which the original 1952 front recovered and completion of the interior, making it an improved berlinetta luxury. The body is painted in blue. The restored car has participated in a race for classic cars. In recent years it has become owned by a Japanese collector.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 20:16:04 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015