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Thread: Maserati Racing Cars History

  1. #1
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    Maserati Racing Cars History

    1926-1932 Maserati Tipo 26. The Tipo 26 was the first Alfieri Maserati's self-developed car after he had left the Diatto company which he worked and raced for through 1922-1926. The car was presented in 1926, which gave it the name, and suddenly won the first race it attended - 1926 Targa Florio (1st in Voiturette class - up to 1500cc - and 9th in absolute) driven by Alfieri Maserati himself. Tipo 26 had straight 8 supercharged 1492,9cc engine capable of 120-128hp @ 5300-6000rpm, 3-speed gearbox and 2-seat aluminium body. The first-ever Maserati weighed 720-780kg depending on a version. Thanks to it Tipo 26 could run 180-200kmh. 11 cars were made, counting all its evolutions.

    1-2. Maserati Tipo 26 at 1926 Targa Florio. Alfieri Maserati at the wheel.
    3. Maserati Tipo 26 at 1926 Bologna-Lojano race driven by Alfieri's brother Ernesto Maserati.
    4. Maserati Tipo 26 in 1926. Presumably (judging on a car numbers) the same event as the two first pictures.
    5-6. Some strange (at least for me) version of Tipo 26 with different rear end (much longer and missing two spare wheels - looks more like Tipo 26B, but with vertical grille) and headlamps. Believing shorey.net, it is from 1926, too. Don't have some additional information, tho.
    Last edited by faksta; 11-23-2007 at 09:42 AM.

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    1927-1930 Maserati Tipo 26B. After the international formula failed, Alfieri put a 2000cc engine to his Tipo 26 chassis. This was a beginning of a new Tipo 26B appeared in 1927 and debuted at 1927 Targa Florio (3rd place, Alfieri Maserati). The idea of the engine was quite the same - 8-cylinder straight supercharged unit. But instead of Tipo 26's 128hp it now offered 155hp @ 5300rpm, thanks to increased displacement (1980,5cc instead of 1492,9). Needless to say, Tipo 26B was heavier than the predecessor, but nevertheless top speed grew up to 210kmh. Also, a new car received a 4-speed gearbox. 6 cars were built and 2 more engines.

    1-2. 1927 Maserati Tipo 26B.
    3. Maserati Tipo 26B at 1928 Targa Florio (Diego de Sterlich, NC).
    4. Tipo 26B at 1930 Targa Florio (Luigi Arcagneli, DNF).
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by faksta; 11-23-2007 at 09:58 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by faksta View Post
    5-6. Some strange (at least for me) version of Tipo 26 with different rear end (much longer and missing two spare wheels - looks more like Tipo 26B, but with vertical grille) and headlamps. Believing shorey.net, it is from 1926, too. Don't have some additional information, tho.
    It might be a later version, they continuously developed the 26. The 26B with that shape has the friction dampers protrude into the bodypanel in front of the radiator.
    Last edited by Wouter Melissen; 11-23-2007 at 09:56 AM.
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    1928 Maserati Tipo 26MM. For Mille Miglia specially Alfieri made shortened version of Tipo 26 with the same 1500cc engine. Wheelbase now equalled 2580mm (2650mm before). Besides the wheelbase, some other major changes were inclined, such as strengthened suspension, increased fuel tank, lights, electric starter, fenders, fold-down top and running boards. Also the 26MM possessed a slightly modified body with wings above the wheels. Due to alkl those modifications, the car lost some speed (180kmh) and got some extra weight (840kg). 2 cars produced, one of which was modified in 1932 and received a 1752cc engine. According to statictics, both of them entered a 1928 Mille Miglia together with one Tipo 26B MM. One Tipo 26MM should have been driven by Pietro Brunori and U.Attili, but they didn't even start the race. And another car, driven by Carlo Tonini and Luigi Parenti finished 23rd.

    1. Maserati Tipo 26MM (1928 Mille Miglia, presumably C.Tonini - L.Parenti).
    2. Tipo 26MM running the 1932 Pontedecimo-Giovi hill climb competition.
    3. Tipo 26MM blueprint.
    Last edited by faksta; 11-23-2007 at 10:33 AM.

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    1928-1929 Maserati Tipo 26B MM. Alongside with Tipo 26MM four Migle Miglia cars were developed from 26B modification using the same 2 liter engine. The four Tipo 26B MM, as they were named, suffered the same changes as two 26MM cars. Maximum speed felt down to 200kmh, and weight raised to 840kg. Somehow only one of the four cars entered 1928 Mille Miglia. Driven by Ettore Maserati and Aymo Maggi it didn't finish. Next year saw the similar situation - the only started Maserati (Ettore Maserati - Baconin Borzacchini) didn't see the finish (moreover, some sources say that the modified #37 car was not a 26B MM, but a 26R 30, though 26R was a Grand Prix car, like 26 and 26B, and thus couldn't meet Mille Miglia regulations ).

    1-2. Maserati Tipo 26B MM at 1929 Mille Miglia driven by Ettore Maserati and Baconin Borzacchini.

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    1928 Maserati Tipo 26R. Being developed for a new formula with weight limited between 550 and 750 kg the 720kg 26R was derived from 26B car using modified chassis and a new 1690,7cc engine (140hp @ 6500rpm). Gearbox became 3-speed again, and the 2580mm wheelbase was just like being applied to MM cars. That time Maserati was the only Italian team to meet the new regulations, and that lead to some success in racing for 26R modification. Only 2 26R cars were made during 1928 season, but they also competed some time after the year of production.

    1. Clemente Biondetti driving 26R at Real Premio of Rome in 1931.
    Last edited by faksta; 11-23-2007 at 11:35 AM.

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    1929-1930 Maserati Tipo 26C. Usage of a new 1078,6cc engine straightly developed from Tipo 26's 1,5-litre unit and a lightweight Tipo 26R's chassis lead to a new car named Tipo 26C (also known as 8C 1100 - 8 cylinders, 1100cc, 'Corsa'). 26C in fact was not a succesful car, because of the weight. Alongside with 26C Sport 4 cars were made.

    1. Maserati Tipo 26C driven by Baconin Borzacchini hits the road at 1930 Vittorio Veneto - Cansiglio.
    2. Diego de Sterlich in Maserati 26C leads Mario Lepori's Bugatti T35C during 1929 Monaco Grand Prix.

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    1929-1930 Maserati Tipo 26C Sport. Tipo 26C Sport was a modification of Tipo 26C prepared for such events as Mille Miglia. Unlike its Grand Prix relative, the Sport was much more succesful and brought Alfieri a victory in 1930 Real Premio of Rome and in 1931 Mille Miglia for Beppe Tuffanelli.

    1. 1929-1930 Maserati Tipo 26C Sport (8C 1100).
    Attached Images Attached Images

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    1929-1930 Maserati Tipo V4. The Tipo V4 appeared in 1929 and made its debut at Monza with Alfieri Maserati. The major idea of the V4 was a brand-new 22,5 degrees V16 supercharged engine. With significant 3961cc and 280-305hp @ 5500rpm it became the most powerful Maserati that time. The name reflected an idea - 'V' stood for V16, and '4' meant 4-liter engine. Reaching 260kmh, the car had to set up good results on tracks. And it did - driving the V4 in 1929 Baconin Borzacchini finished second in Circuito de Alessandria and in Tripoli Grand Prix. But the real success came with a land speed racord set up by Borzacchini on September 28, 1929. The V4 driven by him made 10km distance in 246.069kmh (153mph).
    1930 saw the V4 prepared for Indianapolis 500 race. For that one race a 3-step gearbox was applied to a car instead of commonly used 4-step transmission. The odds should have been for Maserati in that race, but magneto problems kicked Borzacchini off the race after just 3 laps... Despite this, later this year he won Tripoli Grand Prix and Pontedecimo-Giovi hill climb and Ernesto Maserati finished first in 1931 Real Premio of Rome.
    Of the two cars built, the one described above was a Grand Prix racing version, and the other car designed by Zagato was a sport version named V4 Zagato Grand Sport (or V4 Sport Zagato) made in 1930. Besides, the third, Castagna-bodied car was promised to be built, but somehow it didn't happen.

    Some additional information and pictures of restored Tipo V4 and V4 Zagato Grand Sport could be seen here: Maserati Enthusiasts' Page.

    1-2. 1929-1930 Maserati Tipo V4.
    3. 1929 Maserati Tipo V4 with Baconin Borzacchini at the wheel.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by faksta; 11-24-2007 at 05:03 AM.

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    1930-1931 Maserati Tipo 26M (8C 2500). In 1930 Maserati developed a new 8-cylinder inline 2500cc supercharged engine and applied it to a new Grand Prix car - Tipo 26M. A new 185hp car won the first race it attended - 1930 Real Premio of Rome in the hands of Luigi Arcangeli. Later that year came victories in Coppa Ciano (Luigi Fagioli), Coppa Acerbo (Achille Varzi), Monza, Pescara and Spanish Grand Prix (Varzi again). In 1931 Tipo 26M won the Italian Grand Prix held at Monza again together with Luigi Fagioli. The last victory recorded to Tipo 26M's list was a 1934 Grand Prix de L'Albigeois - Team Whitney Straight's driver Rupert Featherstonehaugh finished first starting from the second line. 9 cars made.

    1-3. Maserati Tipo 26M as produced in 1930-1931.
    4. A new 2500cc engine standing in Tipo 26M.
    5. Maserati Tipo 26M on track in 1930.
    6. 1931 Targa Florio. Two Maserati 26M cars: #12 Rene Dreyfus passes Clemente Biondetti's car, which suffered an accident during the race.
    Last edited by faksta; 11-24-2007 at 05:38 AM. Reason: Sorry about 'Zagato' and 'Castagna' - looked the wrong direction :p Read about them below.

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    1930-1932 Maserati Tipo 26M Sport. Just like with Tipo 26 and Tipo 26B, Alfieri Maserati decided to make an endurance version of Tipo 26M and called it Tipo 26M Sport. Among 6 cars made during 1930-1931 three were based on sporting frames, one of which Castagna used for its four-seat version. Zagato's Tipo 26M Grand Sport became one of the first market targeted Maserati cars and had an attractive two-seat sport body. Two last cars were aimed to endurance racing in England and had four seats from the very beginning.

    1. 1930-1932 Maserati Tipo 26M Sport. Not quite sure, but think it's the above Zagato version.
    2. Maserati Tipo 26M Sport at Principle de Piedmonte Circuit in 1930 with Luigi Villoresi driving.

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    1931-1932 Maserati 8C 2800. The new 2,8-liter Maserati appeared as a result of company's success in 1930 - the decision was made by Alfieri to hold the advantage and to make a new, more powerful car for the 1931 season. The new engine was actually a developed 2,5-liter one, but now it provided 205hp, and not 185 like the previous year. In 1931 8C 2800 driven by Fagioli won French Grand Prix at Montlhery and Italian Grand Prix at Monza (see Tipo 26M also - it's rather hard to diversify their records, as the chassis numbers were, as I realized, the same - just new engines were mounted on them). About 5 8C 2800's were made and some of them ran 1932 season because of Alfieri's death.

    1. Maserati 8C 2800 (1931-1932).
    2. 8C 2800 during some 1931 season race (if anybody knows the track and the driver, it would be greatly appreciated).
    3. 1931 Monza winning car with Luigi Fagioli.
    4. 1931 ACF-Montlhery Grand Prix, Ernesto Maserati.

    P.S. I specially like the phrase 'Weber ASS mounted on compressor' at one of the sites while describing carburrettion system.
    Last edited by faksta; 11-24-2007 at 06:46 AM.

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    absolutely brilliant stuff like usual. Thanks very much for these pics.
    Honor. Courage. Commitment. Etcetera.

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    Congratulations

    Exellent Work,
    I found as far some actual Pics, but need a bit more information, to identify.
    Jörg

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    Some more,
    some cars are maybe Recreations, made in England
    .
    Jörg

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