OSCA

And while I'm playing around with small 50's Italian sports cars, this is an OSCA whose picture I found on VeloceToday.com, a very enthusiastic site for vintage Italian cars. OSCA was the product of the Maserati brothers and represented their smaller engine racing cars. Most of these had a nice little 1350 cc DOHC 4 cylinder. These cars came slightly before the Porsche 550 Spyder and, although they had a smaller engine, were often competitive with the German car. As pretty as the 550 is, I would also have to say that the OSCA was prettier, IMHO.

Now there are 550 replicas today. Its too bad there aren't replicas of this car, or alternatively (in honor of Mr. Bastow who loves coupes) of the OSCA Berlinetta bodied by Vignale. Another very pretty car.