There have been few cars that have captured the public imagination more than the Maserati 300S particularly if you had the pleasure of watching them do their stuff at Albert Park Lake in the 50's. Perhaps better remembered by some was the classic Maserati F1 car of the day the Maserati 250F, which in the 1956 Australian Grand Prix dominated the major placings with Moss and Behra 1^st and 2^nd with Reg Hunt and Stan Jones in 4^th and 5^th. Peter Whitehead in the Ferrari Super Sqalo with the Tipo 860 3.4 litre motor managed to split the Maseratis finishing in third place.

Whilst the classic beauty of the 250F was acclaimed by all, it was the 300S with its sports car appearance that captured the imagination of most enthusiasts. In this period the 300S was widely campaigned in Australia by such notables as Bib Stillwell and Bob Jane. However, back to the story ...

Reg Hunt purchased the Maserati 300S in question on May 3, 1976. The car (Chassis # 3063) was built in 1956 and was an original factory race car driven by Luigi Musso and Sergio Mantovani. In fact Reg bought the car from Mantovani at the villa of Count Johnny Lorani in Bergamo. It was perhaps the beginning of the fly-drive holidays - Reg bought the car and then drove it from Monte Carlo across France to London before shipping it back to Australia.

In 1980-81 the car was thoroughly stripped and checked here in Australia by Otto Stone and Ermano Lotti - Ermano coming from Modena where he had helped build the car in 1956.

Whilst resisting many offers for the car over the years, Reg finally succumbed following the entreaties of his old friend Martin Chisholm in the UK. With the arrangements finalised by early January, the Maserati 300S was air freighted to New York City and subsequently delivered to Martin Rosen who lives in upper New York State in the US in the second week of January, 2000.

The Reg Hunt Maserati 300S was one of only 29 built between 1954 and 1958. Powered by an in-line six, with twin plugs and weber carburettors the car developed 280bhp @ 7000 rpm and could be launched to a top speed of 175 mph from its three litre motor. By Maserati standards, at that time, it was almost a production car, given the number produced, due entirely of course to its competitiveness and subsequent popularity. Many examples went to the USA where both Cunningham and Parravano had three car teams. Maserati 300S #3063 will be in good company!

Ever the businessman Reg managed to get the car air-freighted to New York for about 10% of what he was originally quoted. Reg reports that on the cars arrival in New York, Martin Rosen subsequently rang him almost immediately to report: "Its unbelievable, I just cant believe how good it is". No doubt. Rosen admitted that when Reg told him that the car was close to perfect: "I just didnt believe you. Most of the cars we see over here are usually no where as good as they are represented to be. But this car is unbelievable. You cant believe how fortunate I feel to own it." For  someone as meticulous as Reg Hunt the car was as you would expect, faultless and prepared in absolutely concours condition, complete with new rubber. The venerable Maserati 300S #3063 has probably never been in better condition.