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Maserati
Tipo 150S |
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| Brief History: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 emerged of a road-going version of a 1500 cc car and a sports car to compete against Porsche and OSCA in this category. Drawing on the experience of Massimino with the 4CF2 engine (which had been developed in 1952-53 and was a 4 OHV 2.0 litre light alloy motor developed as a test bed for Formula 2) a similarly configured engine with 2OHV and dual ignition was developed running on alcohol with a high compression of 11.5:1. The test engine was completed in October 1954 and used to power the boat of Liborio Guidotti to several world records. Using the free time prior to the 1955 racing season the frame of a road-going GT version was developed, then abandoned in favour or the sports (racing) car. The sports car intended for commercial racing clients utilised a tubular trellis frame of mixed oval and round tubes and then two alternatives were considered: the first involving a rigid axle and the A6GCS front suspension (on which a 4 cylinder 200S engine was mounted), the second a De Dion axle a 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 and saw the gearbox in unit with the engine. A four speed box using Porsche synchronisers was used at first (from 1956 it used a 5 speed group with a ZF self blocking differential). The 1955 bodies were made by Fiandri and were similar to the 300S and were large and round. 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 version of the car was built in 1957 using the 150S engine on a lower compression in a 200S frame with A6GCS rear axle, clutch and gearbox with wheel hubs from the A6G/54 and a body by Fantuzzi - it like its prototype forbear was placed in a corner at the factory. Later the engine of the 150S, with a redesigned head and increased compression went on to power the Cooper Maserati in the 1960 Pau GP for Masten Gregory and others including Lotus and Emeryson. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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