THE ROSSO BIANCO MUSEUM HAS NOW BEEN CLOSED!!!!
 

.... probably the finest collection of Le Mans racing Maseratis outside Italy!
 

Rosso Bianco Collection
Art and Auto Forum
Obernauer Straße 125
D-63743 Aschaffenburg
Deutschland - Germany
Tel: +49 6021 21358
www.rosso-bianco.de
 

1961 MASERATI TIPO 63 #63006

Originally planned to accomodate a 3-litre V8 engine, it was decided to use the trusty 4 cylinder 3-litre engine from the Tipo 61. This engine was quickly abandoned in favour of a 3-litre V12 derived from the engine that powered the Tipo 250F T2 Formula 1 Grand Prix car.

 
 

 

 
 
 
 

1965 MASERATI TIPO 65 #65002

1965 - The Le Mans prototype Tipo 65 (chassis #65002) powered by a 5-litre V8 engine sits outside the factory in Modena. It was built for Colonel John Simone of Maserati France. At the 1965 24 Heures Du Mans it was driven by Joseph Siffert and Jochen Neerpasch. On the third lap Siffert was too quick into Tertre Rouge and careered into the straw bales puncturing the radiator, forcing him to abandon the car and the race.

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 

MASERATI Tipo 151/1 Le Mans Coupe #151.006

In 1962, a change in the rules by the FIA for the World Sportscar Championship did away with the 3-litre limit and allowed the participation of 4-litre GT prototypes. Maserati responded with the Tipo 151 of which three cars were built in 1962. This example in the museum remains the most original survivor.

Following the disappointing handling characteristics of the rear-engined Tipo 64, Ing. Giulio Alfieri returned to the more conventional front-engine rear-wheel-drive design for the Tipo 151. The multi-tube chassis of the Tipo 64 was discarded in favour of a more traditional large oval/round tube trellis type chassis with independent front suspension and a de Dion rear axle. Powered by a 4-litre (3943.9cc) V8 engine producing some 360 bhp @ 7000 rpm and a top speed of around 200 mph, the Tipo 151s were fitted with an all aluminium body and were prepared primarily for an assault on the 24 hour race at Le Mans.

In the 1962 race all three cars were entered two by the Briggs Cunningham Team and the other by 'Colonel' John Simone's Maserati France Team. The Cunningham cars, #2 (151.004) driven by Bruce McLaren and Walt Hansgen, and #3 (151.006) driven by Richard Thompson and Bill Kimberly, were painted in white with two longitudinal blue stripes, the Simone car, #4 (151.002) driven by Maurice Trintignant and Lucien Bianchi, in red.

Maserati: The Postwar Sportsracing Cars by Joel E. Finn records:

"During prerace practice the Tipo 151 proved to be faster than their Ferrari counterparts, the McLaren/Hansgen machine being timed at 177 mph on the Mulsanne straight with the other 151s only a few mph slower.

The race itself was quite typical of Maserati misfortunes over the years. The Kimberly/Thompson mount ran a strong second until crashed by Thompson in the fourth hour. The Hansgen/McLaren coupe also worked its way into second place, but was involved in a minor accident leading to its eventual retirement. The Maserati France Tipo 151 crashed into a bank while holding fourth place, damaging the rear suspension. Though it could continue at a reduced rate of speed, it too was withdrawn."

It is worth recalling that these cars were built between late 1961 and early 1962 and delays in construction meant they failed to make preliminary qualification at Le Mans in April that year.

 
 

 
 

 
 

MASERATI Tipo 151/3 Le Mans Coupe

Following their poor showing at Le Mans the two Cunningham cars, #004 and #006, were taken back to the US where they raced for a couple of years. In 1963, 004 - now fitted with a 7-litre Ford engine, crashed while practicing for the American Challenge Cup at Daytona. 004, driven by Marvin Panch, hit a retaining wall flipped over and burst into flames with Panch escaping with only minor injuries. The car however was destroyed.

Maserati: The Postwar Sportsracing Cars by Joel E. Finn records:

"The remaing coupe, #006, was sold to Skip Hudson who drove it several times without success. On one occasion, at Cotati, he ran it without the doors. Perhaps he was thinking of Panch's escapade and the desirability of making a quick exit if the coupe turned turtle."

For 1963 a change in the rules for Le Mans now allowed a 5-litre maximum. 002 returned to the factory to be rebuilt and re-emerged as Tipo 151/1. The 4-litre engine was replaced with a Lucas fuel-injected 5-litre (4941cc) unit now producing 430 bhp @ 7000 rpm. 002 driven by Lloyd Casner and André Simon led the race for the first two hours until forced to retire with a broken differential.

Thanks again to Col. Simone the exhilarating sound of the Maserati was back at Le Mans in 1964 this time driven by Casner and Trintignant. The car had once again been updated at the factory and was designated the Tipo 151/3 (often referred as Tipo 152). Although the Maserati proved to be the fastest car along the Mulsanne straight at over 190 mph, it was never in contention, retiring after 9 hours with electrical problems.

002 returned to the factory to emerge after minor modifications as Tipo 151/4. During the official practice weekend for the 1965 Le Mans race #002, with Lloyd Casner at the wheel, crashed along the Mulsanne straight throwing the driver out of the car. Sadly, Casner died instantly. #002 was a complete write-off.

 
 

 
 
 
 

CLICK HERE to view the Tipo 300S, the OSCA 2000 Desmodronic,
the Cooper Maserati and Maserati Art.


1957 Tipo 300S #3073

1960 OSCA 2000 Desmodronic
 

1956 Cooper-Maserati Mk V

Maserati Art
 

CLICK HERE to view the Tipo 8C 3000, the 4CS 1500 MM,
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Tipo 8C 3000

Tipo 4CS 1500 MM
 

Tipo A6G 2000 by Frua

Maserati GTs and Spyders
 



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