Text and photos by Jörg Valentin –
When I saw this car for the first time in a photo, I decided that I must have one. But where to find one for sale? There are only about 120 examples worldwide. So, I started my search and by luck I found, in an online forum, a notice that an OSI was for sale.
This entry was posted in the wrong category and so, apparently, nobody except me had read this post.
I contacted the seller in Germany and was able to buy my OSI. The car arrived in Switzerland a few weeks later by truck, and I was very happy. The condition was, however, not very good as it is with most OSIs.
Due to the design, the cars rust in almost all places. A simple restoration was not possible, as there are no spare parts for this car.
So I decided to perform a frame off, nut and bolt restoration. This was an enormous effort with many parts being made by hand.
After about 2800 hours of work and two years, the OSI was finished.
The result can be seen in the photos here. It is probably the most beautiful OSI in the world and was at the Concours de Exklusiv.
Most people do not know what the car is. Wherever I go, I am approached by people who want to know what it is and most think it is a Ferrari, Maserati or some other Italian car. The Italian genes cannot be hidden.
If this OSI had a Ferrari, Maserati or another powerful 12-cylinder engine, it would be worth millions. But it remains a simple vehicle.
This Ford OSI 20m TS Coupe has the body number 156, produced in November 1966, an older model.
See more photos in the slide shows at the end.
OSI Summary by Mike Gulett
Sergio Sartorelli was the designer of the beautiful Ford OSI 20m TS Coupe which is based on the German Ford Taunus 20m. Sartorelli also designed the Type 3 based Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 34.
OSI (Officine Stampaggi Industriali), in business from 1960 to 1967, was intended to be a design branch of Ghia and was founded by Luigi Segre (the former president of Ghia) and Arrigo Olivetti from the Fergat company.
Approximately 2,200 Ford OSI 20m TS Coupes were made with less than 10% of those surviving.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
If you have an interesting car, or story, you want to share with My Car Quest readers then contact Mike Gulett by email – click here.
Colors of the Ford OSI 20m TS Coupe
Technical Summary of the Ford OSI 20m TS Coupe
More photos are in the slides show below.
After Restoration
During Restoration
Before Restoration
This was first posted in January 2017.
Well done. I too have one and they must be seen in person to fully appreciate.
I also am fortunate enough to own one of these and am looking forward to doing the restoration on mine as well…
The good news for me is mine is a very solid car.
Richard and Jim,
Wow! – we have nearly 3% of the OSI owners right here!
I have become very attracted to this rare car. Another reader who bought my Iso Rivolta a few years ago also had an OSI.
Hey Mike,
I have one as well in Indiana….are you in the US?
Really nice restoration job. I saw two at the Best of France an Italy show in Van Nuys California. Very cool car.
Neat cars always wanted one of these, but most were so rusted it didn’t make sense. There is a well restored black OSI running around called the Black Mamba. It has a Ford 302 with four downdraft Webers for 400 HP. It’s mated to a Tremec 5 speed and a 8″ rear end. It was on Bring a trailer last August.
A guy with a Rivolta in Menlo Park bought it. Says it screams!
I understand fixing this car properly, but if I were doing it I would do what someone had done to a Ford Capri I once owned, (And wished I still did) they put a 5 litre small block Windsor motor in it and a Toyota 5 spd. gear box and it was an absolute beast. The South Africans had a 5 litre version and I saw a yellow one in Mona Vale Sydney perfectly restored and ready for the Targa Tasmania with a 500 HP Windsor motor and the guy who owned it said the only thing holding him back was the requirement that he had to use tyers no wider than 225 or he would be all over the leading Porches…mine had about 250 HP or a bit better was lowered and had low Yokahama 225s and it was crazy fast and very awesome sounding especially gearing down.
Again I understand what you have done…but starting from scratch, if you are going to spend all that money, were you not tempted to upgrade?
Beautiful Car.
Great article, wonderful restoration!!
WOW, I NEVER THOUGH I WOULD EVER SEE ANYTHING ON THIS CAR AGAIN. I HAD ONE OF THESE CARS ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. I HAD ONLY SEEN ONE OTHER, I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING IN ENGLISH ON IT. WHEN I PUT IT UP FOR SALE, A GERMAN MAN CONTACTED ME, AND SENT A GERMAN CAR MAGAZINE WITH AN ARTICLE ABOUT THESE CARS, IN GERMAN. I DON’T SPEAK OR READ GERMAN. BUT AT LEST IT HAD A FEW PICS. THAT LITTLE CAR EVEN HAD STAINLESS BUMPERS AND A HEATED REAR WINDOW, THAT COMPLIMENTED THE LEATHER SEATS AND WOODEN DASH. I WAS GOING TO PUT A MUSTANG HORSE EMBLEM ON THE GRILL, TAKE IT TO SOME CAR SHOWS, AND PASS IT OFF AS A PROTOTYPE MUSTANG FAST BACK. THERE IS ALWAYS A, CAR CLOWN, IN THE CROWD THAT WILL SAY….OH, I KNOW ALL ABOUT THOSE CARS,. I USED TO OWN ONE. RIIIIIIGHT.
I HAD ONE OF THESE. ONLY SAW ONE OTHER, EVER. COULD NOT FIND ANY INFO IN ENGLISH ON IT. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE BODY WAS MADE IN ITALY AND THEN THEY SENT IT TO GERMANY TO HAVE, OPAL GERMAN V6 AND RUNNING GEAR PUT INTO IT. OSI, MEANS; OFFICINE STAMPAGI INDUSTRIALI. IT CAME WITH ALL LEATHER SEATS, WOODEN DASH, STAINLESS STEEL BUMPERS AND HEATED REAR WINDOW, 4 ON THE FLOOR. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AND EASY RESTO. I GOT ALL THE METAL DONE, RED OXIDE PRIMED’ AND SOLD IT . IT WAS ORIGINALLY RED EXTERIOR WITH RED LEATHER. SHOULDA FINISHED IT MYSELF. TOO MANY PROJECTS. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
I WAS GONNA FIX IT ALL UP, PUT A MUSTANG HORSE ON THE GRILL, AND TELL PEOPLE IT WAS A PROTOTYPE FAST BACK MUSTANG. AND YOU CAN BE SURE, SOME IDIOT WOULD SAY, OH YA I REMEMBER READING ALL ABOUT THAT CAR.
Hello,
I’m looking for an ford OSI to restore. I live in Sweden but no problem if car is abroad. Please contact me if you have a car for sale and for a resonable price. Most important is that the car should not be disassembled totally. Call 0046703431149 BR Fredrik
YEAH , I HAD ONE, ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO. I GOT ALL PREPPED FOR PAINT BUT DIDN’T FINISH IT. BIG MISTAKE. OH WELLLLL.
Is anyone still looking?
I know of one.
0044 07389727196
If any one is intrested i have one for sale. in need of restoration will makew a fantastic ford osi
my number is uk 07802642339
I USED TO OWN ONE. COULD NOT GET ANY INFORMATION ON IT, EXCEPT FOR ONE GENTLEMEN, WHO SENT ME A GERMAN ARTICLE ON ONE. BODY MADE IN ITALY BY, OFICEN STOPAGI INDUSTRIALI, THEN THE BODY WAS SENT TO GERMANY WHERE THEY PUT IN ALL THE RUNNING GEAR WHICH WAS A; 2 LITER CAPRI FORD V6, 4 SPD TRANCE, STAINLESS BUMPERS, AND HEATED REAR WINDOW, WITH WOOD DASH AND LEATHER SEATS, NICE LITTLE CAR,
Hi everyone, I own an OSI since 1996. At this time now there are about 400 OSI (in the 90s and 2000s it was said „only 200 survived“) still known as „alive“. If you owners would be so nice to send me or the German OSI-IG (www.osi-ig.de) your VIN we can add your car to the register of our member Thomas who keeps track (mostly with pictures) of all known OSIs. I love this beautiful car! Thanks too all. Best greetings from Germany, Stevie
Hi, Great post on the restoration of a beautiful car! I am in the USA (Denver, Colorado) and looking for one to purchase & import to the US. Driver, I can work on, and keep on the road. Not a “trailer queen” or “basket case” (unless the price is right!) Thank you, Brian cell 3036253198 conawaybc@gmail.com
SORRY, I SOLD MINE ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, ITS A RARE CAR BUT NEAT. I WAS GOING TO PUT A MUSTANG BADGE ON THE GRILL AND TELL PEOPLE IT WAS A PROTO TYPE MUSTANG.
GOOD LUCK. BUT YOU MAY LOOK FOR ONE IN EUROPE.