If you are looking for a rare sixties Italian sporting GT that has all the maintenance benefits of easily available Ford parts then you really can't go wrong with an OSI 20M TS 2. 3 Coupé.
This is a good and very usable example of the rare and attractive four-seat grand tourer built in limited numbers by the Italian Coachbuilder OSI (Officine Stampaggi Industriali), who started life as the manufacturing arm of the Ghia design studio. It was sold as an official Ford model in Europe and uses the familiar 2. 3 litre ‘Cologne’ V6 engine and running gear from the German P7 Taunus 20M. Being based on a large-ish saloon it provides plenty of space for 4 adults and their luggage, rare in such a pretty car.
I imported this example (Chassis No. HB02741) to the UK in 2014 from long term ownership in Italy with the help of a marque specialist. One of around 200 surviving examples, it is UK registered with V5C and age related license plate. The original Italian Logbook, number plates and ownership history are with the car.
The engine fires up easily and is running well. It hasn't needed anything but oil changes since it was mechanically re-commissioned when imported to the UK. A new old stock Abarth exhaust system and electronic ignition were fitted in 2014, otherwise the car is stock. The rest of the drivetrain is in equally good condition with everything working as it should.
The bodywork and paint were restored some years ago and are still in very good condition, the Italian climate and good quality garage storage since it was imported have helped here. The exterior brightwork is excellent overall, except for some slight scuff marks on the rear bumper. The interior has had some restoration work done in the past but would benefit from a little more to bring it up to the same standard as the rest of the car.
I’ve driven the OSI on several Classic Car Tour events covering up to 300 miles per day with no reliability issues. The odometer currently reads 2850 KM. The mileage is unverified, but based on condition I’d estimate the total distance covered to be 102, 850 KM or 64, 250 miles.
For me, the OSI 20M TS captures the spirit of a golden era in the sixties when Italian designers and coachbuilders were at the top of their game, in a way few cars in its price range can match. The beautiful coupe bodywork was designed by Sergio Sartorelli, one of the leading Italian designers of the era and built in small volumes at OSI. It features many intricate styling details that you simply don't find on mass production models. These details never cease to delight and give you a real appreciation of the skill of both the designer and the coach-builder. Either driving along or standing still the OSI has a soulful individuality that most mass produced models would struggle to match.
A hidden gem among the better known Italian makes and models of the sixties, the OSI arguably offers the best of both worlds. It has the flamboyant style and road presence of an exotic coachbuilt GT together with the maintenance benefits of easily available Ford parts.
