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Chassis:
Chassis 2401 was the first 200S produced and one of only three or four that used a chassis built in-house; the subsequent chassis were built by specialists Gilco. As the model's prototype, 2401 served as a development car and a works racer. In its original form it was almost impossible to distinguish from the earlier 150S but a year later it received the very recognisable long-nose body it still wears to this day. As the car was continuously developed, it usually raced in a bare metal finish. To comply with the latest regulations, chassis 2401 was updated for a third and final time in 1957. Fitted with a full width screen and doors, it became one of the first or perhaps even the very first 200SI.
As a Maserati 200S, chassis 2401 made its debut in the May 1955 Napoli Grand Prix where it failed to finish. The car was next raced at Imola where it crashed and in the Targa Florio where it crashed again. Much needed development work was carried out over the following winter by works drivers Luigi Bellucci and Giuseppe Musso. With tweaks to the suspension, engine and body, Musso drove 2401 to its first victory, at Monza early in 1956. Bad luck returned, however, for the subsequent Giro di Sicilia and Mille Miglia, which led to retirements on both occasions. After these disappointing results, the car was fitted with long-nose body. A year after its difficult debut, chassis 2401 now managed to win the Napoli Grand Prix with Bellucci behind the wheel. He won again at the Circuito di Caserta a fortnight later.
After being damaged by Giuseppe Farina in the Gran Premio Supercortemaggiore at Monza, the car returned to the factory for repairs and the installation of a DeDion rear axle. Jean Behra was the next works driver out in 2401, scoring a victory and setting the fastest in the Bari Grand Prix. Fitted with a 1.5 litre, the car was next entered in a sports car race at the Nurburgring for Stirling Moss. He fought ferociously for the lead with Hans Hermann in a Porsche 550A but he eventually had to settle for second, despite setting the fastest lap of the race. Piero Taruffi then drove the car to a fine second in the Grand Prix di Pescara. Late in the 1956, the great Luigi Villoresi used chassis 2401 for his last ever race; the Grand Prix di Roma. Unfortunately, he left the road on the 17th lap, resulting in a premature end for his career and the race.
The 200S 'Prototipo' was returned to the factory for its final transformation, to 200SI specification. In this guise it debuted in the 1957 Caracas Grand Prix in Venezuela. Behra drove a fabulous race to finish third overall behind a larger engined Ferrari 860 Monza and Maserati 300S. He won the two-litre class. The car remained in the country as it was acquired by local racer Ettore Chimeri. He loaned the car to the works team for the Grand Prix of Cuba but it did not make it to the race as the engine seized after only a few laps in practice. With a repaired engine, chassis 2401 was raced in the area for several more years but with little success. It was eventually repatriated in 1963 by American Joel Finn and Englishman Joel Warth. They sold the car to legendary Texan engineer/racer Jim Hall, who in turn sold the car to Chris Drake. From 1979 to 2001 the important Maserati was displayed in the Kawaguchiko Motor Museum in Japan.
In 2001 the car as acquired by German historic racer Dr. Wolfgang Zweifler, who had the car returned to its final works configuration with the help of restorer Steve Hart. He raced the car extensively at various events before selling it the United States. Dr. Zweifler can be seen in action in our gallery at the Nurburgring in 2004. In the USA it again participated in all the major events like the Monterey Historic Races and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
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