Wednesday 10th July 2024

INSIDE OSCA: The Bolognese Miracle That Amazed The World  Book review by Peter Baker

It might be that I’ve just taken ownership of my first Maserati, or it could just be my love of everything Italian, but this book pulls all the right strings. It concerns, in some depth, how the three Maserati brothers, Bindo, Ettore and Ernesto, after losing their trademark brand, created a small, though beautifully shaped, series of sports cars under the banner of OSCA (Officina Specializzate Costruzione Automobili) in 1947 that, although seemingly underpowered, were quite capable of taking on the world’s best.

Stirling Moss, after driving one to victory at Sebring in 1954, loved his OSCA and was still racing his own example aged 80. I was privileged to see him drive it for the last time in 2009 at Goodwood Revival.

Opening chapters deal with historical fact, before the book relaxes by way of personal antidotes. I give you Mauro Fantuzzi, whose father and uncle had worked at Maserati. Mauro, aged 14, joined the Maserati brothers in 1956, and was the last man to leave when the doors closed in 1967. My favourite image? There are so many. But, having to choose, I’ll go for Bruno Venezian’s OSCA MT4 1100 on its way to the Mille Miglia in 1953, being towed by a Lancia Aurelia Berlina. Or, the black and white photo of Pedro and Ricardo Rodriguez, aged just 19 and 17, testing in preparation for the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ricardo died driving a Rob Walker Lotus in 1962, while his brother was killed just a year after I saw him winning in a Porsche 917 at Brands Hatch. Ah, memories.

Sadly, this book will never sell in quantity, but those who buy it will be transported back to a time where passion oozed from every Modena back street workshop. Eleven out of 10. And thoroughly recommended.

INSIDE OSCA: The Bolognese Miracle That Amazed The World 
Written by Carlo Cavicchi. Photographs by Walter Breveglieri
ISBN 978-1-910505-91-5
Published by Evro Publishing
Price £95.00