The Catamaran Racer: The Story of the OSI Silver Fox

Design Odyssey - In the world of design, inspiration often comes from the most unexpected places. From the curve of a seashell to the wings of a bird, engineers and artists alike have long borrowed ideas from nature to craft something extraordinary. But among all those moments when imagination met mechanics, few stories are as daring—or as visually striking—as that of a racing car that looked more like a sleek catamaran slicing through the ocean than a machine meant to conquer the racetrack. Its name was the OSI Silver Fox, a creation that turned heads, challenged conventions, and remains one of the most fascinating experiments in automotive history.

The 1967 OSI Silver Fox racing car prototype built by Officina Stampaggio Industriale SpA. (OSI) in 1967 to compete the 24 Hours of Le Mans. (Picture from: OldConceptCars)

Born in Italy during the restless 1960s—a decade when speed, style, and innovation were all running at full throttle—the OSI Silver Fox was the brainchild of Officina Stampaggio Industriale SpA, better known simply as OSI. The company, known for its bold spirit and willingness to venture beyond the familiar, decided to bring to life a radical idea proposed by one of Italy’s most inventive minds: Piero Taruffi. Taruffi, a seasoned racer and engineer, had long been obsessed with aerodynamics and had previously toyed with the concept of twin-hulled cars. His earlier experiments, such as the 1953 Pegaso Z-102 “Bisiluro” and the 1955 Bisiluro Damolnar, hinted at his belief that car design could borrow principles from the nautical world.

The OSI Silver Fox, a 1967 racing car prototype built by Officina Stampaggio Industriale SpA (OSI), features a narrow central cabin positioned between its twin slender hulls, giving the driver a cockpit-like view that emphasizes the car’s unique catamaran-inspired layout. (Picture from: Carscoops)

By 1967, Taruffi’s dream took on a tangible form through OSI’s talented designer Sergio Sartorelli, who translated the catamaran-inspired vision into sketches that looked like something out of science fiction. The Silver Fox made its first public appearance at the Turin Motor Show that same year, leaving the crowd both puzzled and mesmerized. Its split-body design—essentially two slim fuselages connected by a central cockpit—was unlike anything else on four wheels. The layout wasn’t just about looks; it was a calculated experiment in airflow management, intended to minimize drag and boost stability at high speeds.

The 1967 OSI Silver Fox inspired by Tarf Bisiluro racing car is designed, built and piloted by Piero Taruffi, the Italian driver who won the Mille Miglia in 1957. (Picture from: OldConceptCars)

At its core, the Silver Fox was a technical curiosity. Beneath its unconventional silhouette sat a modest but efficient 1,000cc Renault-Alpine four-cylinder engine, positioned behind the left seat. Across from it, in the right hull, was space for the spare wheel and supporting mechanical components. The central void between the two halves wasn’t wasted space either—it housed a trio of aerodynamic wings, each serving a different purpose. The front wing helped keep the car planted on the track, the middle wing stabilized airflow during motion, and the rear one incorporated braking mechanisms. Together, they formed a symphony of balance, precision, and creativity, proving that beauty in engineering often lies in the details unseen by the casual observer.

The OSI Silver Fox racing car prototype has a strange body-shaped that resembled more to a nautical vehicle was introduced to the 1967 Turin Motorshow. (Picture from: Carscoops)

What made the OSI Silver Fox so intriguing wasn’t only its design, but also the boldness of its ambition. The car wasn’t built as a showpiece; it was intended to compete in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the most grueling and prestigious endurance races in the world. OSI envisioned it as their statement to the automotive world—a symbol of Italian ingenuity and a potential game-changer on the international racing stage.  

The 1967 OSI Silver Fox racing car prototype has a strange body-shaped that resemble more to a nautical vehicle and featured three wing-shaped to furnish an aerodynamic support. (Picture from: OldConceptCars)

To prepare for this challenge, a prototype was tested in the wind tunnel of the Polytechnic University of Turin in mid-1966, where engineers fine-tuned its shape for optimal aerodynamic performance. Everything pointed toward a future where the Silver Fox might rewrite racing norms. Yet, fate had other plans. Just as momentum was building, OSI faced financial troubles that cut the project short. By the end of 1968, the company was bankrupt, and the Silver Fox—this daring embodiment of creativity and courage—never got the chance to roar down the Le Mans circuit. 

The 1967 OSI Silver Fox racing car prototype was equipped by a Renault Alpine engine to four cylinders of 1000 cc., positioned behind the seats on the left side. (Picture from: Mad4Wheels)

What remained was a single, haunting question whispered among enthusiasts and historians: where did the Silver Fox go? According one credible source, the car is in private ownership (it had been noted in earlier accounts as belonging to French racing driver Paul‑Émile Bessade) and was brought out for display and even demonstration runs. Currently, it appeared at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Lake Como, Italy in May 2025.

Today, the OSI Silver Fox is remembered less as a failed racer and more as a timeless symbol of visionary thinking. In an era obsessed with uniformity and mass production, it reminds us that true innovation often lives at the edges of imagination—where cars can look like boats, and where function dares to flirt with art. It’s a story that continues to resonate, not just because of what the Silver Fox achieved, but because of what it tried to be: a fearless experiment born from the belief that speed could take on any shape, even that of a catamaran on wheels. *** [EKA [08092020][07032022] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARSTYLING.RU | THEPETROLSHOP.COM | OLDCONCEPTCARS | MAD4WHEELS | CARSCOOPS | AUTOEVOLUTION ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.