Page 1 of 1 Before his untimely death in March of 1932, Alfieri Maserati was in the process of developing both a series of new engines and a revolutionary new chassis. Appropriately dubbed Trazione Anteriori (T.A.), the new chassis sported front wheel drive and independent front suspension. In anticipation of the new engine, it was equipped with the familar 2.5 litre eight cylinder engine used in the Type 26 models. This upcoming engine penned by Alfieri was also a straight eight, but of a new design and displacing nearly 3 litres. Sadly after his death the new drivetrain was abandoned, but the construction and development of the engine continued.
Developed in conjuction with a 1.5 litre four cylinder engine, with which shared many components, the new eight cylinder engine was state of the art and used exotic alloys throughout. Like its predecessors, it featured dual overhead camshafts driven gears from the crankshaft. To get the most out of the engine, a Roots-Type Supercharger was fitted in front of the engine. In its first application, the engine produced around 220 bhp. It was installed in a relatively conventional chassis with live axles all around and rear wheel drive through a four speed gearbox. Dubbed the 8C 3000, the Grand Prix racer was campaigned in the 1932 and 1933 seasons with a victory in the 1933 French Grand Prix at Montlhéry as a highlight.
Maserati only built two complete cars and two additional 8C 3000 engines. Around the second of the spare engines, a complete car was later built. Not entirely unsuccessful, it served as a stop-gap before the Ernesto Maserati designed, single seater Tipo 8CM debuted in 1933. It was built to the new 750 kg regulations for 1934, but retained the advanced eight cylinder engine drawn up by Alfieri, which eventually produced well over 280 bhp. It proved to be particularly popular with privateers and as a result was a sportive and commercial success for the remaining Maserati brothers. Page 1 of 1
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Before his untimely death in March of 1932, Alfieri Maserati was in the process of developing both a series of new engines and a revolutionary new chassis. Appropriately dubbed Trazione Anteriori (T.A.), the new chassis sported front wheel drive and independent front suspension. In anticipation of the new engine, it was equipped with the familar 2.5 litre eight cylinder engine used in the Type 26 models. This upcoming engine penned by Alfieri was also a straight eight, but of a new design and displacing nearly 3 litres. Sadly after his death the new drivetrain was abandoned, but the construction and development of the engine continued.