Final Assembly Required: ’57 OSCA-Maserati Barchetta
The OSCA name is synonymous with major motorsports events such as the Mille Miglia on the international stage and the Sebring 12 Hours here in the states. A small company devoted to building competition-grade vehicles, OSCA traces its lineage back to a pair of brothers who helped form Maserai and left to build their own business of sports-car building. This 1957 example is a partially-completed restoration that needs finishing, and is listed here on eBay with bidding over $40K.
I had written this up a few days ago before the listing got pulled, and I’m sure a vehicle like this invites all sorts of offline offers and sale attempts. Making such a transaction more difficult is that the OSCA is currently located in a Belgium sports car shop, and the seller has a variety of explicit instructions regarding sale terms. The OSCA does need finishing, but it’s clear the open-top body has been completed as the paint shines new and there’s no evidence of lingering body damage or rust.
OSCA also saw success at events like the 24 Hours of LeMans, and the company did benefit from the engineering expertise of colleagues from Ferrari. Former Ferrari employee Aurelio Lampredi worked with the Maserati brothers to enhance the OSCA engine for competition duties, which adds to the impressive legacy of Italian brands that had a hand in OSCA’s competition successes. The Maserati brothers struck out on their own after refusing to build passenger cars, a sentiment that would oppose today’s SUV-building manufacturers like Porsche and Bentley.
The seller says that the OSCA needs finishing, but various piles of parts are shown which would suggest a straightforward project for any experts in 1950s-era Italian race cars. In fact, it’s surprising not to see this project buttoned up and sold as a completed car. More helpful than that, however, would be any history the seller can provide indicating this example spent time on any of the aforementioned race tracks, as its value would be enhanced significantly. A phone number is listed and calls are invited by the seller to discuss your bidding plans.
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Comments
A certain Rush song comes to mind…
“My uncle preserved for me an old machine
For fifty odd years
To keep it as new has been his dearest dream
I strip away the old debris
That hides a shining car
A brilliant red Barchetta
From a better vanished time
I fire up the willing engine
Responding with a roar
Tires spitting gravel
I commit my weekly crime”
That was the first thing that came to my mind too!
Me three!
Good to know there are some Rush fans out there.
Great minds my friend, great minds. Prost!
Wow, that’s some car! Hopefully, it will be put back together and driven/raced.
That’s the only thing that comes to mind when I hear the words “Red” and “Barchetta” in the same sentence.
I’m headed out to buy a lottery ticket. I know where $40K of my winnings is going.
This motor is not an factory OSCA, but a Fiat OSCA as is the 4 spd. trans.
Be aware. Also wrong steering wheel…electric fan? Be wary on this one.
Hello everybody,
I am an OSCA fan also but there is no more Ebay link !
Would you have the contact from the seller please ?
I am in France, it is easier for me :)
Ebay listing was removed. Sold?
Too bad it’s not a real OSCA engine – they were very potent for their size. I recall seeing a Bobsy-OSCA sports racer on a few occasions, and it was FAST – usually at or near the front of it’s class.