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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Maserati

Ludvigsen Tests the Birdcage

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Photo by Irv Dolin

What was it like to drive a Birdcage in 1961? Below, Karl Ludvigsen graphically describes the feel, the noise, and the technique of driving the Magnificent Front Engined Birdcage. This article, originally published in the April 1961 issue of “Car and Driver”, has been republished here with his express permission. Originally published in VeloceToday on November 4 2009.

By Karl Ludvigsen

When you click home the ignition key on the sketchy dash of a Birdcage, a strong red light burns deep within the broad, thumb-sized starter button. To me that light became a symbol of the vast power lurking with this apparently ramshackle piece of machinery, like glowing coals in the crater of a slumbering volcano.

If you’re not already familiar with the Maserati Tipo 61, better known as the Birdcage, be informed by a glance a the accompanying cutaway or at the Tech Report in SCI, April 1960. Its designer, Ing. Alfieri, broke with all the Italian traditions of chassis design and trimmed to a remarkable minimum, a step made possible bit the increasing significance of short, smooth course American races and the decreasing stature of great sports car classics like the Mille Miglia and Tourist Trophy. Only the Targa Florio remains to separate the Birdcages and Lotus Nineteens from real road going automobiles. [Read more…] about Ludvigsen Tests the Birdcage

Brandes Elitch & Hugues Vanhoolandt at Concorso Italiano

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Alfa intro at Concorso: The pundits are quick to dismiss Alfa’s return to the US, but they would be wise to observe what has happened at Maserati, which went from selling perhaps 2000 cars worldwide to now selling perhaps ten times that just in the US!


By Brandes Elitch
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Back in 1984, I got a call from a friend, Joe Duray, who had just found a Maserati 3500 for sale in the local paper. Back in those pre-Internet days, that was how you found things, along with going to swap meets and taking Hemmings Motor News. We went to look at it and he bought it. The car was unmolested and totally original. It ran, but had no brakes. [Read more…] about Brandes Elitch & Hugues Vanhoolandt at Concorso Italiano

Maseratis in Paris

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Bonhams: Maserati Mistral (sold for 110k euros) and Bora (sold for 91k euros)

Maseratis at Retromobile, 2014

Captions and Photo by Alessandro Gerelli

Retromobile 2014 was a huge success with more than 90,000 visitors in five days. A major factor contributing to this success was the very high level of the cars that could be seen, both in the exhibition itself and in the auctions that are held during the opening.

Italian cars have attracted the attention of everybody, but this year the presence of Maserati was of particular interest. [Read more…] about Maseratis in Paris

Selected Maserati 8CMs

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Maserati 8CM

Maserati 8CM 3013 at Monaco.

Story by Pete Vack
Photos of Selected 8CM Maseratis by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Ernesto, Bindo and Ettore were only half of a remarkable set of six sons born to Rudolfo and Carolina Maserati in Voghera, a small town outside of Piacenza. A seventh son, named Alfieri, was also born but died shortly after birth. The remaining six were all gifted, intelligent and industrious.

Mario Maserati was born in 1890, but unlike his brothers, was never interested in automobiles, and eventually became a painter. Carlo, born in 1881, was fascinated by the new internal combustion engine, and set the stage for his younger brothers. As a young man, Carlo worked for both Fiat and Isotta Fraschini. Carlo died when only thirty, but his interest in things mechanical had passed on to Alfieri, (who was given the same name as the baby who had died earlier). Bindo was born in 1883, Ettore came along in 1894 and Ernesto in 1898.

Maserati supported their racing by producing spark plugs and contact points.

Alfieri, Ernesto and Ettore established the Societa Anonima Officine Alfieri Maserati in 1914, and although the initial intent was to prepare Isotta Fraschinis for racing, the timing dictated that they make spark plugs for the war effort. After the hostilities, the brothers returned to the modification of Isottas, which eventually led to the manufacture of a car of their own design and construction. By 1926, the first Maserati, the Tipo 26, was ready for the track. Alfieri, the mainstay and inspiration, died in 1932, and Bindo stepped in to assist his brothers in running the business.

Pre War Racing Cars
The Tipo 26 was followed by a series of cars with a variety of cylinders and displacements. The 8C 1100, 1500, 2500, and 3000 were similar cars with different displacements. The 4CM (4 cylinders, Monoposto), was built in small numbers with 1100, 1500, and 2500 cc. The Tipo V4 was a four liter 16 cylinder and the Tipo V-5 was a supercharged V-16, of 5 liters. A six cylinder engine, (6CM) was used in 1934. Four V-8 cars were built for the 1935 season.
[Read more…] about Selected Maserati 8CMs

TC by Maserati via Chrysler

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The TC by Maserati had open headlamps which meant you didn’t have to worry about headlight covers failing to open like you do on the LeBaron. The hardtop was always painted body color and if you can get a hardtop with a car today, take it as it’s roughly 10% of the car’s value.

The TC by Maserati had open headlamps which meant you didn’t have to worry about headlight covers not opening like you do on the LeBaron. The hardtop was always painted body color and if you can get a hardtop with a car, take it, as it’s roughly 10% of the car’s value.


Wherein a top Detroit executive spends millions
to complement his Italian heritage…

By Wallace Wyss

Photos of the TC by Maserati courtesy of Beverly Hills Motorcars in San Diego California.

Most people are proud of their heritage. Lido “Lee” Iacocca was extremely proud of being born in Italy, although he grew up in America.

He became one of America’s top auto executives, first coming to the public’s attention in the ’60s when the new Mustang was rolled out. At one point he had his picture on the cover of TIME magazine along with the Mustang. Though the Mustang was a bang-up success (selling 22,000 units the first day!), all this publicity focused on him really teed off his boss, Henry Ford II, grandson of the first Henry Ford.

So one day HFII (nicknamed “Deuce”) summoned Iacocca to his top floor office and summarily fired him.

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Oldtimer Grand Prix, 2012

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Maserati 250F sculpture got our attention.

Photos and Captions by Alessandro Gerelli

Since we are celebrating our tenth anniversary this year, we thought it might be nice to list all the articles about the Nurburgring Oldtimer event filed by Alessandro Gerelli in the past decade. It’s an interesting walk through the famous paddock and one can get a sense of how much or how little vintage racing, European style, has changed over the years. Above and below, Gerelli’s photos from this year’s Oldtimer Grand Prix. [Read more…] about Oldtimer Grand Prix, 2012

Hugues Vanhoolandt at Goodwood Festival

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Maserati 8CM enjoying life.

By Hugues Vanhoolandt

This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed’s main theme was ‘Young Guns – Born to Win’, celebrating drivers, riders, designers and engineers of motor sport. Alain Prost was in particular honored by a display of the F1 cars he drove.

Other highlights were the celebration of Lotus 60th anniversary and a display of cars from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s collection (see our report next week).

But there was a lot happening for VeloceToday fans, so let’s see what was out there on the French and Italian sides.

Alpine-

For the 50th birthday of the famous Alpine, the Renault Collection brought to Goodwood this 1800 S version, driven by Jean Ragnotti, ex-works Renault Rally (and sportscar) driver.

Alpine-a110-50

Alpine A110-50, the successor? (see VT of 5th July)

Although busy with its F1 and Le Mans programs, Renault entered this little R5 in the 1978 Monte Carlo Rally where it took 2nd and 3rd overall with Ragnotti and Frequelin.

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Vanhoolandt at Monaco

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While Graham Gauld brought us insights and personal stories from the pits at this year’s Historics, Hugues Vanhoolandt delivered his usual outstanding imagery from around the circuit. Below, twenty top shots for our readers.

Gordinis

Two early Gordinis. Number 16 is the very first Gordini single-seater,

Lancia Marino

The Lancia Marino, built by Marino Brandoli who drove it at the 1957 GP of Naples, Italy, here driven by ex-F1 driver Beppe Gabbiani. See Graham’s article for more information.

Tec Mec

Tec Mec 250F was the ultimate evolution of the Maserati 250F. But it was immediately outpaced by the rear engined cars, its only outing being the 1959 US Grand Prix.

Maserati A6gcm

The Maserati A6 GCM (M for monoposto) was not accepted that year at the Monaco Grand Prix as it was reserved for Sports Cars. But they took part in the F1 World Drivers Championship, and did very well.

Maserati

Julia De Baldanza battling at the ‘Swimming Pool’ corner with a Cooper T41.

Grid C commemorates the 1952 Monaco Grand Prix in which Ferraris took the five first places. Three 166 MM Touring barchettas like this one were at the start.

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Ferrari’s Birthplace Now a Museum

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Alessandro Gerelli captures the old and the new.

Photos by Alessandro Gerelli

We’re sure everyone has seen the news about the opening of the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari. We are also sure that no one covers it better than VeloceToday. No PR here, but a good many insights from the Man himself.

ferrari-museum

The workshop next to the new Museum building: ‘My brother and I shared a room over the workshop and were awakened in the morning by the ringing of the hammers. My father Alfredo…made gangways and sheds for the State Railways.’—Enzo Ferrari

The photo is at the entrance of the old buiding and reads 'I am the one who dreamt of being Ferrari.' The yellow museum poster reads 'If you can dream it, you can do it.'

The Ferrari house has been completely restructured and adapted as an art gallery. Enzo Ferrari’s activities during his life are displayed via multimedia with video, documents and car displays. A very futuristic building has been built side by side to the old house: the new structure, when seen from above, looks like the bonnet of a car in yellow, the color of Modena. The new building was designed by Jan Kaplichy, who unfortunately died in 2009 without seeing the final result of his genius. It was completed by Andrea Morgante of the Shiro Studio. Photo courtesy Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari.

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Graham Gauld, By The Way

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Walter Baumer Monza_Tests_1937-545

Bäumer at the wheel of the Mercedes when he had his driver test at Monza, 1937.

Graham Gauld talks to Maserati 300S author Walter Bäumer

Two years ago Walter Bäumer Jr. launched his tome on Maserati and in particular to the Tipo  300S and since then he has been working on an equally complicated book on the Maserati A6G 2000 Zagato models. However,If you are of a certain age the name Walter Bäumer might mean something to you for there was a Walter Bäumer who raced for Mercedes-Benz in 1938. He was the author’s uncle.

 
Young Walter is a very amusing and affable enthusiast who specializes in Maserati history (www.internationalMASERATIresearch.com) but about a year ago we talked a bit about his family and particularly his uncle.
[Read more…] about Graham Gauld, By The Way

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