Maserati 150S

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Maserati 150S after the conversion for historic motorsport
Maserati 150S built in 1956

The Maserati 150S , also Maserati 150 Sport , or Maserati Tipo 150S was a sports car prototype that was developed by Maserati in 1955 .

Development history and technology

The idea of ​​building a sports car with a 1.5-liter in- line engine went back to designs by the Maserati brothers in the late 1930s. In the early 1950s this concept was discarded and Vittorio Bellentani developed a completely new engine. Bellentani, who was an advocate of the long stroke, opted for a bore to stroke ratio of 81 × 72 mm. At 7,500 revolutions per minute, the engine developed 140 hp. The engine had double ignition with battery and distributor as well as dry sump lubrication with circulation and suction pumps.

When it came to the chassis, the Maserati leadership was initially undecided. In the end, the choice fell on the A6GCS chassis with De Dion rear axle and transverse leaf springs. The bodies were very similar to that of the 300S and were all (23 vehicles) built by Celestino Fandri . The curb weight of the 150S was only 630 kg. This was one of the reasons for the top speed of 230 km / h. The 150S were built between 1955 and 1957.

Racing history

The 150S were driven between 1955 and 1961. 173 races resulted in nine overall and four class wins. The 150S was first used in May 1955 at a race in Eläintarhanajo, Finland ; at the wheel of the French private driver André Loëns , who finished seventh. Jean Behra celebrated his first victory with this racing car model in the factory 150S at the 500 km race on the Nürburgring in 1955 .

The large number of starts and missions resulted from the sale of almost all 23 chassis to private drivers and teams. The last victory came in 1958 in a national sports car race in the United States , the last in 1961 in the United States.

literature

  • Maurizio Tabucchi: Maserati, All Grand Prix, Sports and GT vehicles from 1926 until today . Heel, Königswinter 2004, ISBN 3-89880-211-6
  • Anthony Pritchard: Maserati - the racing history . Delius Klasing, Bielefeld 2008, ISBN 978-3-7688-2513-9

Web links

Commons : Maserati 150S  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Eläintarhanajo 1955
  2. ↑ 500 km race on the Nürburgring in 1955