Chassis No. 00119

Engine No. 00119

Founded in 1947 by the Maserati brothers in their hometown of Bologna, Italy, O.S.C.A. set out to produce purpose-built racing cars for the competitive Italian 1,100-cc racing class. Their first car, the MT4, featured a 1,092-cc engine producing 55 PS at 6,000 rpm, with an in-house designed block, alloy head, and two-seater cycle-fendered roadster bodywork. It debuted in 1948 at the Pescara Circuit, and the following month at the Grand Prix of Naples, it was piloted to victory by Luigi Villoresi. Continued success was found in 1954 when Stirling Moss and Bill Lloyd drove an O.S.C.A. MT4 to win the 12 Hours of Sebring for the Briggs Cunningham Team. In 1955, a more powerful 1,500-cc TN-engined MT4 chassis with a streamlined body, known as the "Simpson Special," set several records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Consistent results were seen by O.S.C.A. in the World Sportscar Championship as well, ranking 10th in 1953, 4th in 1954, 6th in 1957, 5th in 1958, and 4th in 1961.

Debuting in 1961, the 1600 marked the first ever road car from O.S.C.A., and featured a Aurelio Lampredi-designed 1.6-liter dual-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine, placed inside its tubular space-frame chassis. This chassis was clothed by Italy's famous coachbuilders, such as Zagato, Fissore, and Touring. When production of the 1600 ended in 1963, just 128 1600s had been produced, with the majority receiving Zagato bodies, while only 24 examples were dressed in Fissore coachwork.

Of the three 1600 Cabriolets produced, chassis number 119 was one of just two examples to feature the aluminum Fissore coachwork on the tubular space frame chassis. It made its grand public debut when it was shown on the Carrozzeria Fissore stand during the 1963 Salone dell'Automobile di Torino, finished in burgundy and equipped with optional hubcaps on the Amadori alloy wheels. Later in the car's life, it was imported to the United States, where it was part of the Larry H. Miller collection, followed by the noted David Vogel Uihlein Sr. collection. In 2006, the car ventured back across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom

with Hugh Taylor. Remaining under his care for six years, the car passed to its next steward in 2012 who commissioned a full mechanical overhaul of the car making it a delight to drive while maintaining its originality. Once this work was completed, the car passed to its current caretaker a renowned European collector in 2016.

As presented, the car remains in largely original condition and displays just 39,765 kilometers at cataloging, which are believed to be original. Included in two of the most well-regarded collections in the United States and one in the UK, the car has benefited from the stewardship of dedicated preservationists, culminating in its excellent presentation today. As a limited production model from Italy's golden age of sports cars, and as one of just three 1600 GT2 Fissore Cabriolets, its highly original condition would surely grant it entry to numerous concours events or would be an ideal touring car suited for pre-1965 historic driving events, just like the Maserati brothers intended.