The Maserati 450 S we discover today can be called an icon without any hesitation. Only ten of these beautiful red cars were made. Four of the ten were also factory cars driven by the most glorious drivers in motorsport history, from the Argentinean five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio to Sterling Moss, also called the best driver who never became world champion.
Development
The development of the Maserati 450S started in the beginning of 1954 under the leadership of chief engineer Alberto Bellentani and Guido Taddeucci. It was an integral part of Maserati's all-or-nothing attempt to outperform its major competitor Ferrari in the world championship. When Tony Parravano, owner of an American racing team, ordered a V8 from Maserati to put in his Kurtis Indianapolis '500' Roadster, the development of the engine accelerated. The 4.2L grew to a 4.5L and it was the latter that would also be used in the Maserati sports cars.
Technical
The 4.477cc managed to go great high in revs and was quite short of architecture. It breathed through four Weber carburettors with twin-choke and had two valves per cylinder, which were operated by four gear-driven overhead camshafts, two per cylinder bank. Fully assembled, the 4.5 litre unit weighed only 193 kilograms. First tests The first tests at the legendary Monza circuit showed that the engine was very promising on the straights, yet it did not yet meet the lap times of the 350 S. A new and stiffer tubular frame chassis was designed by Valerio Colotti. The chassis retained Maserati's traditional independent front suspension with double wishbones and coil springs, the transmission was ensured by a five-speed gearbox with ZF differential and the reinforced brakes had to help withstand the extra horsepower.
Four factory cars
The first 'Tipo54', the name used internally by Maserati for the new 450 S and still with the 4.2L engine on board, was given the chassis number 4501. The 4502 was the one sold to Tony Parravano. The serial numbers 4501, 4503, 4505 and 4507 were used as factory cars in the most important motorsport races. Besides Fangio and Moss, Jean Behra, Maurice Trintignant and Caroll Shelby were also given the opportunity to race the 450S.
Breakdown period
In 1957 - and not only then by the way - Maserati experienced a lesser financial period. The funds dried up silently and on top of that all factory cars got involved in crashes. The 4503 even twice and in that period there was a lot of parts exchanged between the different cars to get a car ready for racing. Also the chassisnumbers were changed regularly in that period to avoid import taxes between the different races. For that reason it is also almost impossible to describe the exact history of each car. Of those four factory cars three were repaired. The 4507 ended up on the scrap heap. History of chassis n° 4505 The 4505 that we can admire here was built in the spring of 1957 and was allowed to leave the factory on May 8th, he was one of the four factory cars. His first race was the Mille Miglia on 11 and 12 May of the same year.
The honour was reserved for Stirling Moss and co-pilot Denis Jenkinson, but unfortunately they did not finish because of mechanical problems. On 26 May he was at the start of the 1000km at the Nürburgring, but also Fangio and again Moss couldn't complete the race and were forced to give up due to mechanical problems. possibly he also participated in the 24h of Le Mans in June, with Jean Behra and Andre Simon at the wheel, but would have driven with chassis number 4503.
In September 1957 he was sold to Temple Buell Jr. from Denver, Colorado. The engine was further increased to a 5.7L. In 1958 he was at the start of the GP of Cuba. Normally Fangio would be at the wheel, but the latter was kidnapped by the communist forces and had to be replaced by Trintignant. Because of a collision with a Ferrari, he didn't make it to the finish. After the crash the car was sold again to the Texaan Jim Hall, who in turn sold it on to John Edgar from California in the summer of 1958. With the legendary Carol Shelby at the wheel, he signed up for the Palm Springs Road Races and with success this time! On 1 and 2 November he won the overall. After a new assignment in the Nassau Races in December 1958 - Shelby didn't get the bike to work after a pit stop - several other riders in the 450 S drove a crash during the Riverside Road Races.
in 1960 meant the early end of the motorsport career. Over the years, several collectors got their hands on the wreckage, but it took until 1986 before the restoration works were started. The then owner, the Texan Steve Forristal from Houston, focused in this period on the repair of the chassis, carried out by Mark Goyette and with the greatest care a new bodywork was assembled by Fantuzzi.
In 1997, the car was sold to L.George of California, who focused mainly on the finishing of the smallest details, the paint and the mechanics. It finally took until the year 2000 before the car could show off again in its full glory.
In 2007 it was first exhibited at the Amelia Island Concours of Elegance as a tribute to the Mille Miglia cars. It was Sterling Moss who presented the car in person. From that moment on the car was a welcome guest at several competitions and in October 2014 the official FIA documents were delivered that are still valid until the end of 2024.
It makes this car even more of a coveted collector's item and one that certainly belongs in our series!
Photography by: Hamers Lorenzo Photography
