Identify this Maserati: Classic Cars forum: Classic Motorsports Magazine

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July 20, 2008 3:32 p.m. MCarp22 New Reader

CM guys:

Dad spotted this at the PVGP and we were wondering just what the heck model it is:
July 20, 2008 9:05 p.m. mattmacklind PowerDork

Uh, thats mine, kind of a factory special I had commissioned back in the day.

Sorry, couldn't resist.
July 29, 2008 6:59 p.m. maseratiguy None

At first I thought it was a variation of the AG6S, but with 4 webbers it must be a closed version of the 450S.
July 29, 2008 7:54 p.m. TR3only New Reader

IF...IF, I wanted to just guess, I'd say it's a version of the 5000GT. The mechanical specs sound right, and this model was available with bodies from several different Italian coachbuilders.
July 29, 2008 7:56 p.m. TR3only New Reader

Oops, how about a version of the 450S race car? I really feel stupid abou tmy first guess.
July 30, 2008 7:30 a.m. formulasaab None

You're all guessing too far back in time...

It is a Tipo 151 (1963 I believe).

The history on this particular car is a bit fuzzy. Supposedly there were three built. Since Maserati were in the final throes of building racecars at this time, and there was no real "factory" team... They were all "customer" cars. Two of the cars were bought and run by the Cunningham team. Of those two, one is currently in a museum and the other was destroyed.

This car, purchased by the current owner sometime in the last few years in Belgium, has very little known history. It is one of those "ghost" cars that doesn't seem to show up in any race results or to have a clear line of ownership. The current owner believes it may have only been raced once and then "put away". Take that for what you will.

The car was a sight to behold. With the exhausts exiting out both sides, the sound was a little odd trackside (getting only half of the 12), but once it headed away from you, the note smoothed out and was very distinct in a field of cars with 4s and 6s. The impression standing next to this car was that it represented some of the best of what is largely missing from racecars today... the old "beauty = speed" concept when the designer's pen followed whatever he thought the wind wanted. With the Kamm tail and token rear window, it clearly had every intention of going forward fast with little respect for those behind.

On track, the driver was tentative, which on the Schenely Park course is honestly a good policy. Still, he deserves credit and mention for going out in the wet race on Sunday when many had packed it in or shied away from the fearsome reputation of the Schenely Park streets when wet. He may not have been fast, but he didn't prang it either. That's more than I can say for the winner of that race, a Series 2 Lotus 7 that came back with a straw filled crack in his right rear fender.

Yeah, I was there. That's how I know all this stuff. A few weeks ago, I'd have been as clueless as anyone else. I finished 8th in my race (Grp 3).
Aug. 26, 2008 2:39 p.m. formulasaab New Reader

Update to my comments above... I'm pretty sure that this was a replica.
Aug. 26, 2008 6:29 p.m. jbrownback None

you sure this isn't a Costin Maserati?
Sept. 4, 2008 2:17 p.m. Scott Lear Club Editor

You'll recognize the green Abarth Scorpione next to it on page 138 of the November issue in the SVRA member spotlight. They let that big V8 Maserati run with the small bore cars, I think, because it didn't really fit in anywhere else but it was too cool not to allow in the races.