Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
The OSCA MT4 1350 Vignale designed by Michelotti.
The OSCA MT4 1350 Vignale underwent a remarkable transformation under the stewardship of owner Luigi Villoresi. Originally configured as a siluro, Villoresi enlisted the expertise of Vignale to rebody it as a Berlinetta in 1951, based on a design by the esteemed Giovanni Michelotti. Its racing pedigree was established early on, with Villoresi piloting the original iteration to a commendable 4th overall placement in the rigorous 1949 Pescara 500km race. Prior to the reconfiguration, Villoresi opted to enhance its performance by having the factory install an 83hp, 1350cc MT4 2AD engine and a ZF 5-speed transmission. The car’s competitive spirit endured beyond Villoresi’s ownership, as it exchanged hands and continued to grace the racetrack. In 1953, American racer John du Puy took the wheel, showcasing its capabilities at prestigious events such as the Internationaler Bergrekord and the Grosser Bergpreis Freiburg-Schauinsland hillclimb, where it secured a respectable 9th place finish. Racing under the start number 122, the car’s association with Emmanuel von Graffenried adds a layer of intrigue to its history, hinting at a broader narrative of camaraderie and competition among racing contemporaries. Du Puy further cemented its legacy with appearances at the XVI. Grosser Preis von Deutschland and the Bern hillclimb. Despite the murkiness surrounding its later years, the OSCA MT4 1350 Vignale remains a testament to the enduring allure of vintage racing, embodying the spirit of innovation, performance, and camaraderie that defines motorsport’s golden era.
The story of Carrozzeria Vignale represents one of the many somewhat forgotten success stories born against the backdrop of an Italy that was torn apart by the Second World War and which, starting from the end of the 1950s, was able to recover enough to know a real miracle. economical just a few years later.
