[Auto] Happy birthday, OZ! The complete story of the most famous rim manufacturer

[itan.mx]

The history of the OZ brand, emblematic and strongly representative of the automotive world, began on January 4, 1971, giving birth to the common passion for automobiles of two friends and co-workers at the same time.

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It all happened behind a gas station in Rossano Veneto, a small village in the province of Vicenza, where Silvano Oselladore and Pietro Zen (whose initials define the OZ brand name), decided to create the design of the first light alloy wheel, designed at the time for a po[CENSORED]r car, the Mini Cooper.

This was the first step in its 50 years, a step that preceded a constant and consistent evolution for the OZ brand and its premium products. 5 decades in which it was possible to anticipate the needs of the consumer market, but especially the trends of the automotive industry in terms of design.

This common obsession with research and innovation has propelled the company in just a few years since its inception to a specific segment of motor sports and motor racing, soon positioning itself as a world leader in motorsport, attracting to rally enthusiasts around the world.

OZ has thus become synonymous with the winning attitude, the numbers speaking for themselves.

With a presence in Formula 1 in 1985 and the WRC Rally in 1988, OZ boasts over 200 titles, climbing the podium with drivers and legendary racing teams, including: Scuderia Ferrari, Mercedes AMG Petronas, Red Bull Racing, Renault Sport F1 Team, Haas F1 and Sauber Alfa Romeo F1 Team in F1, Ford World Rally Team and Citroen Total World Rally Team in WRC, Audi Sport in DTM, Le Mans and many others.

Motorsport's success was a catalyst for growth and notoriety in the aftermarket, in the premium segment of high-tech rims, where the company stood out and consolidated its leading position in design, innovation and technology.

For 50 years, OZ has been collaborating with the most exclusive and recognized car brands in the world, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Aston Martin, Lotus and McLaren.

These partnerships have given rise to exclusive high-tech rim projects, which today have become reference exhibits in the OZ rim museum (located at the headquarters in San Martino di Lupari, Padua province).

We refer to models that have made history and left an indelible mark in the minds of car enthusiasts: Lamborghini Countach, Ferrari Testarossa, Lotus Esprit, McLaren F1 LM, Bugatti Veyron, Pagani Zonda and Mercedes-Benz SLR