1958 OSCA Sport 750 TN #42
Pilots: A. de Tomaso, C. Davis
Team: Automobili O.S.C.A.
Race: 11th overall (1st in S750 class) at Le Mans in 1958
Spark - S5085 (resin)
Published 10/17/25
In 1937, the Adolfo Orsi family bought the Maserati brand. Even so, the Maserati brothers Ernesto, Ettore and Bindo continued working for Orsi in engineering roles. However, when their contract expired in 1947, the brothers opted to leave Maserati. They then founded OSCA (Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili – Fratelli Maserati S.p.A), in San Lazzaro di Savena, Bologna. The Maserati fratelli had one business objective: to develop a 1100 cm³ car to race in Italian 1.1 races. At the time, 1.1 racing was very popular in Italy, and they thought the market needed a good 1.1 racecar. The first car to leave their Bologna factory in 1948 was the MT4 (for Maserati Tipo 4 cilindri). Powered by an in-house designed 1092 cm³ inline-4 that delivered 40 kW (54 hp). The MT4 proved to be a hit, and OSCA built a total of 77 chassis from 1948 and 1956.
Astonishingly, all design, engineering and development work was done in house and single-handedly by Ernesto Maserati. And just as flabbergasting, they refused to make civilian versions of their cars. That translated into a less profitable business model. Nonetheless, with the good results of the MT4, OSCA further developed the car. They enlarged the engine to 1.5 liters and added twin-spark ignition, releasing in 1955 the MT4 TN. The TN in the name was for Tipo Nuovo, or “new model”, and was OSCA’s response to Porsche’s 550A Spyder. The in-house designed body also evolved, becoming slicker, with clam-shell opening for easier maintenance. In terms of chassis, OSCA produced an asymmetric unit, with the driver seat lower than the other side, improving drag. Even though OSCA once ruled the sub-1.5 rooster, by the end of the 50s Porsche became a serious threat.
Subsequently, to continue being competitive in the sub-1.1 classes, in 1956 OSCA introduced a new 750 cm³ engine. Called Tipo S 187 (each cylinder displaced 187 cm³), this new DOHC inline-4 delivered 51 kW (70 hp). For this new engine OSCA built a very light-weight body, and called the car Sport 750. They took it to La Sarthe in 1956, yet the sole factory car only completed four laps. The following year they were back and things improved: the Sport 750 #46 finished in 19th. With the positive result of 1957, for the 1958 24 Heures du Mans OSCA arrived with a two-car works team. Moreover, one of them was the Sport 750 TN, an evolved version of the Sport 750. And that year things worked out: the Sport 750 TN #42 finished in 11th overall and first in the S 1.1 class.
The Maserati brothers were quite good at engineering, with their cars dominating the sub-1.1 scene in the early 1950s. However, they were not exactly savvy businessmen, and in 1967 they had to close shop. At La Sarthe, the brand’s participation was modest, with that sole class win in 1958. Even so, it was a car of a more “romantic” era, when things were much simpler.
As a model, however, the 750 Sport TN #42 is far from simple. Spark did a fantastic job, and it really looks the part. Nonetheless, despite being a GREAT model, this is an obscure car. With that, I bet this one is only for nut cases. Like me.