The Pre 1975 F1 GP cars race was the occasion to see a squadron of Tecno F1 cars, this one, a PA123 of 1972, owned and driven by ‘Nanni’ Galli himself who drove that car in period.
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
For the 7th time, Monaco held the Historic Grand Prix on May 1st and 2nd. This author has been to almost every major vintage race event in the world, and believes that the Monaco Historic Grand Prix is an absolute must for every motosports fan. There are eight races, ranging from 1929 to 1984, and nowhere else can you be so close to the action. Surely more fun than the actual Grand Prix which takes place two weeks later. And the photos, please:
This Talbot T26GS of 1951 was on pole position at the 1952 Monaco GP.
Only once, in 1952, were sports cars admitted to race at Monaco because of the lack of single-seaters ready to race due to new regulations. That’s why we could see this Maserati A6GCS in action at Monaco …
and this 1952 Osca MT 4.
This 1949 Gordini T23S, driven by Englishman Eddie McGuire, did not take part in the 1952 Monaco Grand Prix but was on the grid at Le Mans the same year with Behra/Manzon.
1952 Ferrari 340 America spider Vignale of Michael Willms leads the OSCA MT4.
Tony Smith gets his P3 around with suitable bravado.
The only international victory of the Maserati V8Ri was the1936 Pau Grand Prix, driven by Etancelin. It would be outpaced by the Auto-Union and Mercedes of the time.
Julia De Baldanza, trying the shortest way with her 1929 Bugatti 35B.
Stephan Rettenmaier exiting ‘la Piscine’ (the swimming-pool corner) onboard of his 1937 Maserati 6CM.
A dicey start for Gigi Baulino and his 250 F, alongside an HWM-Alta F2.
Jos Koster with his Maserati 250 F s/n 2534, second and last of the ‘Piccolo’ models, with shortened and lightened chassis.
The 1959 JBW, constructed by and for Brian Naylor of England and equipped with a Maserati 250 S engine. The car took part to several GP in 1960 including Monaco (did not qualify) and the US Grand Prix at Riverside.
The Pre 1961 front engined Grand Prix cars grid saw Tony Smith on the first row with his 1960 Dino 246.
In the Pre 1966 rear engined GP class, a period dominated by British manufacturers, the sole Italian car entered was this ATS of 1964.
Italian touch in the British dominated Pre 1966 rear engined GP field was this 1959 Cooper T51 equipped with a 2.5 liter Maserati engine...
...and this Alfa-Romeo Conrero powered Cooper T51 of 1960.
Down to Loews corner (now Fairmont), the 1967 Ferrari 312 of Jean-François Decaux.
Another one of the Tecnos was this 1973 model driven by Chris Amon at that time. The Tecno cars were equipped with a flat 12 engine built in-house by the Pederzani brothers.
Ferrari 312 T of 1975 driven by Giancarlo Casoli.
“Lowes corner (now Fairmont)”? This is the Historics, this turn is Station Hairpin.
That Maserati A6GCS, it has the same body-work as the Fritz Koster car in the USA in the early 1950s. Is it the same one or were there more than one built that way?
Thanks! Another justification for my subscription
Yes, that’s the ex Koster/Ludvisgen Maserati 2039, and yes, in a historic sense, the corner is the Station Hairpin.
Ed.
The Tecno sounded fabulous at Monaco in 1973.