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Maserati
Tipo 150S |
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Tipo 150S Gallery |
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Specifications |
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| In 1953 seeking to capitalise on the success of the 8CTF at Indianapolis and the growing interest in sports cars in the US the thought of a road-going version of a 1500 cc car was initially considered and developed. (Orsini & Zagari suggest that a prototype road going GT version was built in 1955 and possibly numbered - #1651). The further development of this car however was quickly overtaken by the prospect of a sports (racing) car to compete against Porsche and OSCA in this category. The 150S sports car intended for commercial racing clients utilised a tubular trellis frame of mixed oval and round tubes and a De Dion axle the new Maserati front suspension. The second alternative was selected by Alfieri and subject to testing by clients. Beginning with the fourth car produced there was a revision that lead to an increase in the wheelbase by 100 mm and a revision of the rear suspension. Behra having blitzed the field of mainly Porsches at Nurburgring in August, 1955 showed the potential of the car, which aroused further client interest. The review of the car for 1956, saw greater emphasis on aerodynamics as the rounded lines of the first car gave way to a more angular form with narrow and perpendicular sides, high and somewhat truncated tail and a long low front end with a flat bottom - this, with the exception of three cars, was the work of Fantuzzi. Due to the pressures of racing a large number of other types, the 150S was somewhat neglected as it was regarded as 'customer car'. A GT road-going spyder version of the car (see below) was built in 1957 using the 150S engine on a lower compression in a 200S frame. | |||||
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| Maserati Tipo 150S | |||||
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Tipo 150S (#1651) A series of photographs of this car taken at Mille Miglia 2000 by Bjoern Schmidt. courtesy of Barchetta | ||||
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Tipo 150S (#1651) This car has an interesting history - the chassis no. #1651 being attributed (with some uncertainty) to a prototype 150S GT by Orsini & Zagari. Research by Barchetta shows that the car was built however with a two litre engine. | ||||
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Tipo 150S (#1651) It is probable, based on the account in Orsini & Zagari that this was the first prototype vehicle with the new tuublar chassis which based on their own account was given an A6GCS motor. | ||||
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 Tipo
150S (#1651) |
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Tipo
150S (#1651) |
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Tipo
150S (#1651) |
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Tipo
150S (#1659) Built in 1955 and sold as a US customer car - seen here at
Mille Miglia 2000 Bjoern Schmidt courtesy Barchetta |
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Tipo
150S (#1659) at Mille Miglia 2000 Bjoern Schmidt courtesy Barchetta |
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Tipo
150S (#1659) at Mille Miglia 2000 Bjoern Schmidt courtesy Barchetta |
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Tipo 150S
(#1664). Built in 1956 and driven by Cornet and Mugin at Le Mans in
1956. Rebodied in 1998, originally red. Andreas Birner,
courtesy Barchetta
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Tipo 150S
(#1664) The photographs of Andreas Birner were taken at the Ferrari
Maserati Challenge at Nuerburgring in 1999 |
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Tipo
150S (#1664) was built in 1956 |
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Tipo
150S (#1664) |
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Tipo
150S (#1664) |
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Tipo 150S (#1659),
built in 1955 and sold to the USA. Bjoern Schmidt courtesy
of Barchetta
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Tipo
150S Spyder built in 1957 and apart from the GT prototype built in 1955 is
the only road-going 150S built. Photographs of car as presented for
sale. |
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Tipo
150S Spyder built in 1957 |
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Tipo
150S Spyder built in 1957 |
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