Details
1954 O.S.C.A. MASERATI 2000S
Registration No. Not UK registered
Chassis No. 2005-S
Engine No. 2200
Red with black interior.
Engine: Maserati six cylinder, twin overhead camshafts, twin plugs per cylinder, 160bhp, 1,985cc; Gearbox: four speed manual, transaxle; Brakes: four wheel drum; Suspension: front, independent, double wishbone with coil springs; rear, quarter elliptic leaf springs with De Dion rear axle and torsion bars. Left hand drive.
The history of Maserati is world renowned, but the early post-war years of the Maserati brothers is less familiar, although equally important. The three remarkable brothers, Ernesto, Ettore and Bindo, had sold their successful racing car business to wealthy industrialist Adolfo Orsi in 1938, but had been retained on a ten year contract, at the end of which they started a similar business in Bologna as Officine Specializzate per la Construzione di Automobile-Fratelli Maserati SpA, abbreviated to O.S.C.A.
Osca's scored a large number of class successes in Continental events, including Le Mans and the Mille Miglia. Their greatest success, however, was probably achieved by Stirling Moss and Bill Lloyd in the 1954 Sebring Twelve Hour Race, which they won with a Briggs Cunningham entered car at an average speed of 73.65mph. In his book, Moss sums up the car "...I was incredibly impressed by what turned out to be a real little thoroughbred of a car. It was powerful and well-balanced and very nimble...you could drive it as hard as you liked, slinging it sideways was no trouble".
The 2000S OSCA was built in 1954 and featured a 2 litre, twin overhead camshaft engine developing 160bhp at 6300rpm. The chassis construction was very similar to the Formula 2 single seater racing cars, which in turn resembled the Formula 1 car with a tubular ladder design chassis frame and front suspension featuring double wishbones and coil springs. The rear suspension used a De Dion rear transaxle with the tube passing behind the unit four speed gearbox and final drive. Tubular radius arms and quarter elliptic rear springs were also used at the rear, and the cars featured hydraulic drum brakes all round.
This 2000S is one of only five produced and one of only three fitted with all-enveloping barchetta bodywork by Morelli, the other two being originally supplied in monoposto form. The early racing history is extensive, being raced by the Sgorbati brothers when new. It is recorded as being placed 4th overall in the Giro Dell' Umbria (1/6/54) driven by Sgorbati. He also raced in the Grand Prix Autodromo Di Imola (20/5/54) and won the Twelve Hour Race of Messina (24/7/54) outright (see photograph). Further entries were Circuito di Semigallia on 8/8/54, the Tourist Trophy in Belfast (11/9/54) and the Coppa D'Oro di Siracusa (17/10/54). The Sgorbati brothers then sold the car to Argentina in 1965,and it is recorded as having been entered on the 1000km of Buenos Aires on 20th January 1957, driven by Arrietta-Guymarey. The car retired from the race, perhaps with a blown engine, as the car was subsequently fitted with a contemporary Maserati 2 litre twin overhead camshaft engine. This is believed to have taken place about 30 years ago and the engine is reputed to have been brand new, never having been fitted into any other car. The car was then laid up and in more recent years was re-discovered in Argentina by the current owner. The body had been separated from the chassis, although by good fortune it was discovered nearby and the two were reunited. Photographs of the body and chassis, as found, are included in the file of history.
A sympathetic restoration was undertaken, again documented with various photographs, and the condition today is very good throughout. The bodywork is stamped with the chassis number in various places and is finished in traditional red, the interior seats being trimmed in black vinyl. The chassis is rebuilt and painted light grey and the car somes complete with numerous crown wheel and pinions, enabling rapid changes of the rear axle ratios, and various OSCA engine spares including a six cylinder crankshaft, connecting rods, etc.
Mechanically, it is described by the owner as running and driving well with excellent performance; indeed, it successfully completed the Mille Miglia retrospective in 1994. It is in free circulation in the EC.
A very rare, powerful and exciting sports racing car, sold with FIA papers.
Registration No. Not UK registered
Chassis No. 2005-S
Engine No. 2200
Red with black interior.
Engine: Maserati six cylinder, twin overhead camshafts, twin plugs per cylinder, 160bhp, 1,985cc; Gearbox: four speed manual, transaxle; Brakes: four wheel drum; Suspension: front, independent, double wishbone with coil springs; rear, quarter elliptic leaf springs with De Dion rear axle and torsion bars. Left hand drive.
The history of Maserati is world renowned, but the early post-war years of the Maserati brothers is less familiar, although equally important. The three remarkable brothers, Ernesto, Ettore and Bindo, had sold their successful racing car business to wealthy industrialist Adolfo Orsi in 1938, but had been retained on a ten year contract, at the end of which they started a similar business in Bologna as Officine Specializzate per la Construzione di Automobile-Fratelli Maserati SpA, abbreviated to O.S.C.A.
Osca's scored a large number of class successes in Continental events, including Le Mans and the Mille Miglia. Their greatest success, however, was probably achieved by Stirling Moss and Bill Lloyd in the 1954 Sebring Twelve Hour Race, which they won with a Briggs Cunningham entered car at an average speed of 73.65mph. In his book, Moss sums up the car "...I was incredibly impressed by what turned out to be a real little thoroughbred of a car. It was powerful and well-balanced and very nimble...you could drive it as hard as you liked, slinging it sideways was no trouble".
The 2000S OSCA was built in 1954 and featured a 2 litre, twin overhead camshaft engine developing 160bhp at 6300rpm. The chassis construction was very similar to the Formula 2 single seater racing cars, which in turn resembled the Formula 1 car with a tubular ladder design chassis frame and front suspension featuring double wishbones and coil springs. The rear suspension used a De Dion rear transaxle with the tube passing behind the unit four speed gearbox and final drive. Tubular radius arms and quarter elliptic rear springs were also used at the rear, and the cars featured hydraulic drum brakes all round.
This 2000S is one of only five produced and one of only three fitted with all-enveloping barchetta bodywork by Morelli, the other two being originally supplied in monoposto form. The early racing history is extensive, being raced by the Sgorbati brothers when new. It is recorded as being placed 4th overall in the Giro Dell' Umbria (1/6/54) driven by Sgorbati. He also raced in the Grand Prix Autodromo Di Imola (20/5/54) and won the Twelve Hour Race of Messina (24/7/54) outright (see photograph). Further entries were Circuito di Semigallia on 8/8/54, the Tourist Trophy in Belfast (11/9/54) and the Coppa D'Oro di Siracusa (17/10/54). The Sgorbati brothers then sold the car to Argentina in 1965,and it is recorded as having been entered on the 1000km of Buenos Aires on 20th January 1957, driven by Arrietta-Guymarey. The car retired from the race, perhaps with a blown engine, as the car was subsequently fitted with a contemporary Maserati 2 litre twin overhead camshaft engine. This is believed to have taken place about 30 years ago and the engine is reputed to have been brand new, never having been fitted into any other car. The car was then laid up and in more recent years was re-discovered in Argentina by the current owner. The body had been separated from the chassis, although by good fortune it was discovered nearby and the two were reunited. Photographs of the body and chassis, as found, are included in the file of history.
A sympathetic restoration was undertaken, again documented with various photographs, and the condition today is very good throughout. The bodywork is stamped with the chassis number in various places and is finished in traditional red, the interior seats being trimmed in black vinyl. The chassis is rebuilt and painted light grey and the car somes complete with numerous crown wheel and pinions, enabling rapid changes of the rear axle ratios, and various OSCA engine spares including a six cylinder crankshaft, connecting rods, etc.
Mechanically, it is described by the owner as running and driving well with excellent performance; indeed, it successfully completed the Mille Miglia retrospective in 1994. It is in free circulation in the EC.
A very rare, powerful and exciting sports racing car, sold with FIA papers.