Everybody loves Maseratis. As a part of the troika of postwar exotics from Italy (together with Ferrari and Lamborghini), Maserati has produced a number of the most stunning, elegant, and mechanically attention-grabbing automobiles. Nonetheless, the Maserati Brothers declare one other model of their portfolio: OSCA. Our Choose of the Day is a 1954 OSCA MT4-2AD on the market on ClassicCars.com by a non-public vendor in Brookfield, Connecticut. (Click on the hyperlink to view the itemizing)  

The story begins in 1914 with 4 Maserati Brothers establishing their car firm. Nonetheless, Maserati as we all know it was by no means run by the brothers as a result of they (by now, there have been three) bought their shares to the Adolfo Orsi household in 1937 whereas persevering with to work for the corporate’s engineering division beneath contract. Nonetheless, after 10 years, the contract was up, liberating the brothers and permitting them to type a brand new firm.

Known as Officine Specializzate Construzione Automobili (O.S.C.A.), the fledgling firm produced the MT4 (Maserati Tipo 4 cilindri) as its first automotive in 1948. Initially a 1.1-liter 4, this engine went by way of a number of iterations within the ensuing years together with bumps as much as 1.5 liters. Because the engine developed, so did the physique, with coachbuilders dealing with the designs as a substitute of the OSCA manufacturing facility. Race or class wins beneath its belt included Sebring, Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Giro di Sicilia, and the Dolomite rally.

This 1954 OSCA MT4-2AD, chassis 1147, is one in every of roughly 70-80 MT4s constructed. That includes Spyder coachwork and the twin-cam replace (2 Alberi di Distribuzione) for the 1491cc 4, this MT4 additionally has the dual sparkplug replace providing a strong 120 horsepower. The American connection for this OSCA goes again to 1954, and it even was examined by Street & Observe in 1955. After a slew of homeowners on the West Coast, it ended up within the storage of John Hunholz, an fanatic who tried to undertake a restoration, nevertheless it ended up being a stillborn undertaking for 45 years.

Whereas OSCA didn’t handle to outlive the way in which Maserati did, it’s nonetheless a part of a scene of small Italian producers with sturdy engineering expertise. “The dual plug per cylinder head is fed gas by a pair of 39 DC03 weber carburetors. The right setup for this automotive,” says the vendor. Vehicles like this don’t come up on the market typically and they’re by no means low-cost — within the case of this MT4-2AD, it should price you $1,250,000. “It is a wonderful automotive for restoration,” provides the vendor. “Authentic chassis, unique physique, and unique engine.” So, be sure you have some change when you choose it up.

To view this itemizing on ClassicCars.com, see Choose of the Day.