1961 OSCA 1600 GT

Jul 17

Written By Katelyn McSherry

The OSCA 1600 GT was the first road car built by the Maserati brothers. This particular 1600 GT was bodied by Touring Superleggera, only one of two to carry this coachwork. It was exhibited by OSCA at the 1961 Salone Internazionale dell’Automobile di Torino. Quite notable in the design is the distinctive concave rear window, in the shape of the sail of the praho, a fast Malaysian fishing boat. Now a part of the Lopresto Collection of Milan, Italy, this 1600 GT has been shown at the exclusive Concorso D’Eleganza Villa d’Este in 2008 and 2015, and Retromobile Salon in Paris, 2015. While the exterior and mechanicals have been comprehensively restored, the interior remains in completely original preserved condition.

Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili was founded in 1947 by Ernesto, Ettore and Bindo Maserati. The Maserati brothers had sold their shares of their namesake company to Adolfo Orsi ten years earlier. Through the 1950’s, OSCA focused solely on racing cars, creating their own aluminum-block engine design with twin cams. The cars were much more expensive compared to other small cars, but they were also extraordinarily fast, compared not just to small cars but to other sports cars in general.

The 1600 GT was the first road car built by the company, debuting at the 1961 Turin Motor Show. With the body built by Touring of Milan, the car incorporates a number of innovative design features including the concave rear window, which increased both visibility and aerodynamics. Another very unique feature included in the 1600 GT is an arm behind the front seats that allows the driver to easily access the spare tire. To save weight, the structure of the seats and the inside of the uprights are built from perforated metal, a clear reference to the brands successful racing cars. It is believed that just two 1600 GTs were bodied by Touring, and both still exist.

Lopresto Collection