by The extraordinary racing prototype OSI Silver Fox
At the annual car show near Lake Como in Italy, among exclusive models, a unique racing car was displayed—the 1967 OSI Silver Fox. This prototype featured an unusual design with two narrow hulls resembling a catamaran and was equipped with a modest 1.0-liter Renault Alpine engine. Despite its small displacement, the car could reach speeds of up to 250 km/h.
The vehicle’s design included three adjustable spoilers, allowing for aerodynamic tuning specific to each track. The driver’s cockpit was located in the right compartment to compensate for the weight of the engine mounted on the left. As experts noted:
“The Silver Fox looked more like a scientific experiment than a conventional racing car”
The fate of the unusual project
OSI, a company known for producing limited-edition cars for Alfa Romeo and Ford, had planned to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, the company ceased operations in 1968 without realizing its ambitions. The sole surviving Silver Fox prototype remains to this day and continues to appear at prestigious auto shows.
This prototype became a striking example of the experimental approach in 1960s automotive engineering. Its aerodynamic solutions were ahead of their time, and its unconventional layout remains a subject of study for motorsport historians. Today, the Silver Fox is valued not only as a rare exhibit but also as a symbol of bold engineering ideas from a bygone era.
