OSCA MT4 Barchetta

[Tubolare Zagato]

Sometimes there are some cars making you think that perhaps there should have been a limit between cars and jewels! This car certainly belongs to the "jewels" category.


OSCA MT4 Barchetta, where MT4 stands for "Maserati Tipo 4".

{From www.carsfromitaly.com}
"Emerging in the spring of 1948, the first Osca was called the MT4 for Maserati tipo 4. It was a small open sports car powered by a 1092cc four-cylinder engine which had a compression ratio of 11.5:1 and produced 72bhp @ 6,000rpm. It started winning at Naples that summer driven by Villoresi. The following year the same engine had is capacity increased to 1342cc, the power going up to 90bhp @ 5,500rpm. These cars were a 'siluro' design (ie with exposed wheels covered by bicycle type mudguards).

1950 saw both the above engines getting a new cylinder-head with two camshafts, the car becoming known as the MT4-2AD (or TwinCam). The power outputs went up to 92bhp @ 6,600rpm and 100bhp @ 6,300rpm respectively. The car got a new bodywork with integrated wheelarches, which gradually changed with time. These cars were built from 1950 until 1956, and a small number also received coupé bodies from various carrozzeria including Frua, Michelotti and Vignale.

The capacity was again increased in 1953 when a 1453cc version, with 110bhp @ 6,200rpm, was also produced. The ultimate MT4 had to be the 1491cc version built in small numbers from 1954 to 1957. This utilised twin plugs as well as twin camshafts and produced 120bhp @ 6,300rpm. Externally the cars were basically the same as the smaller engined variants, almost all MT4 cars sharing the same 2200mm wheelbase (only the early sohc cars had a 100mm longer wheelbase).

The logical development of the MT4 saw the birth of the TN in 1955. A revised and modified chassis (the 2200mm wheelbase remained) was fitted with a new 1491cc dohc engine, now with 125bhp @ 6,300rpm. The bodywork followed the same style as the MT4. These cars were only built until 1957, although the engine was also used in some later MT4 cars."

[dretceterini]

Beautiful! This is a "second series" MT4...the earlier cars have the grille that is round, and the front isn't quite as streamlined looking. Without checking, I believe the coachwork on the car pictured is by Morelli.

The problem is, at the current rates of exchange, this is now a $300,000+ car!

[Tubolare Zagato]

Here, i must say that these pics were sent to me by the owner of this car who sells it. He has a great company and he sell some excellent classic sports cars.
Osca, Maserati, Lancia, Ferrari, Bandini, Stanguellini, Ermini, Volpini, Taraschi etc. Always in GREAT condition and ALWAYS ORIGINAL cars. His company is in Milan, Italy and his web site is:

www.angeloautocase.net

For more information about these great cars you can go at this web site or contact with his at his email: info@angeloautocase.it

[dretceterini]

For some reason, in today's world, OSCAs are worth more than double that of Stanguellinis and other similar "etceterini"

A decent OSCA is at least $200,000 and the most important Stanguellini in the world is worth only $100,000-$125,000.

Even a Cisitalia is only worth $100,000-$125,000 to someone in the US..INCLUDING shipping from Europe and US customs duties.

Something like a Zagato bodied Siata 208 or a Fiat 8V Zagato is worth about $250,000-$300,000, and a 208 spider is worth about $175,000 here in the US

"Etceterini" marques such as Camen, Taraschi, Nardi, Ala d'Oro, Moretti, Volpini, Roselli, Tinarelli, and others which are generally unknown in the US are generally worth only $40,000 to $75,000 for totally restored cars...sad, but true....

The prices of these cars are going up, and the exchange rate hurts potential US customers..as it has gone from 1 Euro=85 cents to 1 Euro=$1.30 in the last 2 to 3 years.

Stu

[Timo]

...for your viewing pleasure...this is chassis # 1169 of an MT-4 "LeMans" circa 1955. This particular car was restored locally here in the San Francisco Bay Area and it sat in the showroom at Fantasy Junction, Emoryville, Ca for a long time before it sold, which I believe was sometime in mid '03.

I'm sorry one of the pics is a little dark but the other is a nice view of the driver's seat/compartment. As you can see the car actually has a passenger seat as well but it is coverd with fixed, hard toneau for aerodynamic racing purposes ...hope you enjoy

[dretceterini]

Beautiful car; again, as 2nd series car with Morelli coachwork


Here is a link to a photo of a 1st series MT4

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/stusch...5c.jpg&.src=ph

[Timo]

dretceterini,

Thanks for the link showing the 1st series MT-4. All series of O.S.C.A.'s are really something to behold. You have quite a photo album of interesting/neat cars! BTW: Out of all the cars at FJ, including many Ferraris, I used to always really enjoy viewing that little O.S.C.A. Take care and happy motoring!

Timo

[dretceterini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timo dretceterini, Thanks for the link showing the 1st series MT-4. All series of O.S.C.A.'s are really something to behold. You have quite a photo album of interesting/neat cars! BTW: Out of all the cars at FJ, including many Ferraris, I used to always really enjoy viewing that little O.S.C.A. Take care and happy motoring! Timo