The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Hidden under the seat of every new Maserati 250F…Photo by Alessandro Gerelli
By Pete Vack
Today, for your edification and consideration, we offer you the following, a slightly irreverent look at a very real document. [Read more…] about 250 F Discussion Part 2: Owner’s Manual
Appearing in 1954 with the new Formula 1 regulations increasing the engine capacity to 2.5 liters, the Maserati 250F has a tubular chassis. With its simplicity and elegant line, it symbolizes motorsport in the 50s. Its track record will culminate with the world champion title of Juan Manuel Fangio in 1957. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Text by the Editor
We shall not bemoan progress nor ignore change nor think that things were better in the past.
But wasn’t the Maserati 250F the greatest car of the greatest period in Grand Prix racing?
We think so. With 37 Grand Prix victories* credited to the 250 F (37 to Ferrari as well but with three different models), raced by every champion and would be champion, the 250 F was at once primitive, perilous, passionate, powerful, prolific, and praiseworthy, not to mention beautiful. [Read more…] about The Maserati 250 F: Discussion and Review
Uncle Gerry Vack got the ball rolling by photographing 2079 in Paris, 1954.
Story by Pete Vack
We’ll call them Fantuzzis, for more than anyone else Medardo Fantuzzi inspired the coachwork of the A6GCS. Perhaps Ermanno Cozza, who was actually an employee at Maserati at the time, gives us the most accurate summation of who was responsible for the design. In his autobiography, Maserati at Heart, (Nada 2018) Cozza describes the phases of construction which involved drivers, mechanics, and designers. He wrote, “The most striking example was without doubt was the launch of the A6GCS/53, which debuted in that year’s Mille Miglia, winning its class with Emilio Giletti. The engine was a version of the A6GCM unit revised by Gioachino Columbo, while the bodywork built by Fantuzzi, was also fruit of an idea by Colombo.” (p43). (Not all of the A6GCS cars were constructed by Fantuzzi’s shop: Thirty three of the bodies were constructed at nearby Fiandri and Malagoli.)
The new Maserati was beautiful, purposeful, as curvy as Gina Lollabrigida and influenced several of our family members. We came up with five Fantuzzi A6GCS Maseratis connected to the Editor’s family. Rest assured that no one actually owned any examples of the real thing. But here’s our story anyway.
By Brandes Elitch
From the archives, October 21, 2014
In last week’s story we related how our hero discovered a Bugatti while in military service in France and brought it home to Florida. He towed it to California to begin restoration at the same time he was a graduate student at Stanford University. He then acquired a Lancia Aurelia Spider and joined Hayden Shepley’s American Lancia Club as member number 7. We pick up the story in 1970 after he has graduated, married and is living in Carmel Valley, California. [Read more…] about A Lifetime of Cars of a Lifetime, Part 2
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