This prototype from 1967 looks like a sci-fi prop and just came out of storage
Published on Jun 09, 2025 at 10:16 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jun 06, 2025 at 12:22 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The one-of-one 1967 OSI Silver Fox looks like something from a sci-fi flick, but its aerodynamic design helped it hit some impressive speeds.
The Silver Fox, which looks a bit like a catamaran on wheels, was designed and built to race at Le Mans.
Its creator, Officine Stampaggi Industriali (OSI), debuted the prototype Turin Motor Show in 1967.
Now, it’s owned by a private collector, but it was recently pulled out and put on display at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
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OSI was established in 1960 and made a name for itself by creating custom builds based on cars made by Alfa Romeo, Ford, and Fiat.
In the mid-1960s, the company decided it wanted to get involved with racing and began working on a project to create a racing car to compete at Le Mans and smash world records – and so, the OSI Silver Fox was born.
The car has an unusual twin-hull design with a central cockpit and three large spoilers, basically making it a wing on wheels.
It’s powered by a 1.0-liter Renault Alpine four-cylinder engine that was mounted on the left side of the car.
Now, that engine might not sound like much, but coupled with the car’s aerodynamic design, it was enough to reach some impressive speeds.
The OSI Silver Fox has a top speed of 155mph (249km/h), which might not sound particularly impressive in 2025, but back in 1967, it was not to be sniffed at.
Unfortunately, although the car was built to take part in the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans race, it never made it to the iconic event.
OSI ended up going bankrupt in late 1967, which, of course, left any plans of the Silver Fox going to Le Mans dead in the water. Ouch.
However, all was not lost for the futuristic-looking vehicle.
It, thankfully, wasn’t scrapped and is now owned by French racing driver Paul-Emile Bessade.
These days, the Silver Fox has been lovingly restored and, although it spends most of its time safely stashed away in storage, it does get brought out to attend motor events around the world, like the Goodwood Festival of Speed or the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
