Maserati 350S

Last updated
Maserati 350S
Maserati 350 S (1957) Replika 1X7A8011.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Maserati
Production19551957
3 produced
AssemblyItaly: Modena
Designer Medardo Fantuzzi
Body and chassis
Class Racing car
Body style 0-door speedster
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine 3.5-litre I6
Transmission 5-speed manual
Chronology
Predecessor Maserati 300S
Successor Maserati 450S

Maserati 350S is a series of three racing cars made by Italian automobile manufacturer Maserati, built by Giulio Alfieri, with aluminum body design by Medardo Fantuzzi, both Maserati engineers. The 350S was built to experiment with a new straight-six engine while a V8 engine was being developed in the factory.

The engine used in the car was heavily revised for racing purposes and the completed unit shared little resemblance to the engine it was based on. Two different variants were made. One featured a dry sump lubrication system while the other features a wet sump lubrication system. The power outputs of the engine varied from 290 to 325 hp (216 to 242 kW). The engine was installed in a strengthened chassis of a 300S. [1]

The first chassis #3501 was developed in 1955, using the chassis of a 300S, and the 3.5-litre straight-six engine under development for the future 3500 GT. It was crashed by Stirling Moss in the 1956 Mille Miglia, then factory rebuilt as the first 450S prototype fitted with a V8 engine. During the 1960s it was acquired and heavily modified by Tom Meade (he previously did the same to #3503), only to be purchased and completely restored during the 1980s by its current owner, Franco Lombardi. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Chassis #3502 was, like the first one, upgraded by the factory to the 450S specifications in 1956, then sold to Tony Parravano. [6]

Chassis #3503 (third) was built along #3502. It first used the straight-six, but was converted to a 3.5-litre V12 engine. It took part to several races in 1957 driven by Luigi Piotti, Roberto Bonomi, Hans Herrmann, and Jean Behra. In the early 1960s it was bought, rebuilt and modified by Tom Meade, but was destroyed beyond repair in a 1966 road accident in California. There is a replica of this car, based on the different chassis of a Maserati 3500 GT, which is occasionally exhibited at events such as the 1992 Mille Miglia. [7] [1]

Technical Data

Technical data 350S
Engine:  Front mounted 6-cylinder in-line engine
displacement: 3483 cm³
Bore x stroke: 86 x 100 mm
Max power at rpm: 290 hp at 6 000 rpm
Valve control: 2 overhead camshafts, 2 valves per cylinder
Compression: 9.5:1
Carburetor: 3 Weber 45 DCO3
Gearbox: 5-speed manual
suspension front: Double wishbones, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers
suspension rear:  De Dion axle, transverse leaf springs, hydraulic shock absorbers
Brakes: Hydraulic drum brakes
Chassis & body: Fackverksframe with aluminum body
Wheelbase: 233 cm
Dry weight: 800 kg
Top speed: 300 km/h

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati</span> Italian luxury car manufacturer

Maserati S.p.A. is an Italian luxury vehicle manufacturer. Established on 1 December 1914 in Bologna, Italy, the company's headquarters are now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. The company has been owned by Stellantis since 2021. Maserati was initially associated with Ferrari. In May 2014, due to ambitious plans and product launches, Maserati sold a record of over 3,000 cars in one month. This caused them to increase production of the Quattroporte and Ghibli models. In addition to the Ghibli and Quattroporte, Maserati offers the Maserati GranTurismo and two SUV models, the Maserati Levante and the Maserati Grecale. Maserati has placed a yearly production output cap at 75,000 vehicles globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 3500 GT</span> Motor vehicle

The Maserati 3500 GT and the Maserati 3500 GT Spyder are 2-door coupé and convertible grand tourers made by Italian car manufacturer Maserati between 1957 and 1964. It was a seminal vehicle for Maserati as the company's first successful attempt at the Gran Turismo market and series production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 300S</span> Motor vehicle

The Maserati 300S was a racing car produced by Maserati of Italy between 1955 and 1958 to compete in the FIA's World Sportscar Championship. Twenty-six examples were produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 450S</span> Motor vehicle

The Maserati 450S is a racing car made by Italian automobile manufacturer Maserati for participating in FIA's endurance World Sportscar Championship racing. A total of nine were made.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati A6</span> Motor vehicle

Maserati A6 were a series of grand tourers, racing sports cars and single seaters made by Maserati of Italy between 1947 and 1956. They were named for Alfieri Maserati and for their straight-six engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medardo Fantuzzi</span> Italian automobile designer

Medardo Fantuzzi (1906–1986) was an Italian automotive engineer, known for his Carrozzeria Fantuzzi body workshop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 150S</span> Motor vehicle

Maserati 150S is a racing car made by Maserati of Italy alongside the Maserati 200S, to take over for the aging Maserati A6GCS racing variants. Depending on the source, between twenty-four and twenty-seven examples were built, and one additional street-going car, called the Maserati 150 GT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati Tipo 151</span> Motor vehicle

The Maserati Tipo 151 is a racing car manufactured by Italian automobile manufacturer Maserati for the 1962 LeMans season to compete in the experimental GT car class. Three cars were built in total, one for Johnny Simone of Maserati France with a red exterior colour and white tri-stripes whilst two were built for Briggs Cunningham for his racing team. These cars had a white body with two blue stripes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 5000 GT</span> Motor vehicle

The Maserati 5000 GT is a 2-door coupé car, made by Italian automobile manufacturer Maserati from 1959–1966. A total of thirty-four were produced with bodies made by eight different Italian coach builders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati Barchetta</span> Motor vehicle

The Maserati Barchetta is a mid-engine racing car, like the 350 and 450S, that was designed by Carlo Gaino of the Synthesis Design, an Italian design house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrari 335 S</span> Motor vehicle

The Ferrari 335 S was a sports racing car produced by Italian manufacturer Ferrari between 1957 and 1958. The car was a direct response to the Maserati 450S which with its 4.5-litre engine was threatening to overpower the 3.8-litre 315 S and 3.5-litre 290 MM. Four cars were produced in total.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 250S</span> Italian race car

The Maserati 250S, and its derivative and version, the 250 Sport, are sports racing cars, designed, developed and built by Italian car manufacturer Maserati, between 1954 and 1957. Only two models were produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati Tipo 26</span> Motor vehicle

The Maserati Tipo 26 was a model of Grand Prix racing car and was the first car built by Italian manufacturer Maserati, for a total of 11 examples, between 1926 and 1932.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati Tipo 26B</span> Motor vehicle

The Maserati Tipo 26B or Maserati Tipo 26B Monoposto was a racing car built by Italian manufacturer Maserati between 1927 and 1930, in a total of six examples and one additional engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrari Jano engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

Vittorio Jano designed a new 60° V12 engine for sports car racing for Ferrari. This new engine, introduced in 1956, combined elements of both Colombo and Lampredi engines with new features. Engine architecture was more of Lampredi school but retained smaller Colombo internal measurements. Jano moved to Ferrari along with his designs for the Lancia D50 in 1955 and went on to design not only a new V12 but also a family of the Dino V6 engines soon after. Some of the technical ideas came from the Jano's Lancia V8 DOHC engine, intended for Formula One. This family of engines replaced Lampredi inline-4s known from Ferrari Monza line and went on to win many international races and titles for Ferrari. The design team comprised Jano as well as Vittorio Bellentani, Alberto Massimino, and Andrea Fraschetti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrari 376 S</span> Motor vehicle

The Ferrari 376 S was a sports racing car produced by Ferrari in 1955. It was the first raced Ferrari powered by a new Aurelio Lampredi-designed inline-6 engine, created as a larger alternative to the inline-4 series of engines used in the Ferrari Monza race cars. The intention behind the development of this model was the 1955 Mille Miglia race. It was yet another attempt by Ferrari to match the new Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR in competition. All of the created cars were further converted into a bigger capacity models.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrari SP</span> Series of Italian sports prototype racing cars produced by Ferrari during the early 1960s

The Ferrari SP was a series of Italian sports prototype racing cars produced by Ferrari during the early 1960s. All featured a rear mid-engine layout, a first for a Ferrari sports car. Major racing accolades include the 1962 European Hill Climb Championship, two overall Targa Florio victories, in 1961 and 1962, and "1962 Coupe des Sports" title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 150 GT</span> Motor vehicle

The Maserati 150 GT was a prototype sports car produced by Maserati in 1957. Derived from the four-cylinder Maserati 150S race car, it was a singular road-going example, and was given spyder bodywork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 420M/58</span> Racing car model

The Maserati 420M/58Eldorado was a single-seater manufactured by Maserati in 1958. It was a one-off race car purpose-built for the second edition of the 500 Miles of Monza. It was the first single-seater in Europe to be sponsored by a brand not attached to an automobile industry. The internal Maserati classification was the Tipo 4, behind the 250F variants, and also referred to as the 420/M/58 for 4.2-litre displacement, Monoposto or a single-seater in Italian and 1958 year, or simply as the "Eldorado".

Thomas Meade was an American automobile designer and dealer best known for his Thomassima series of custom cars based on Ferrari engines and chassis. He was based in Modena, Italy from the early 1960s through the early 1970s, where he met and collaborated with many Modenese carrozzerie, manufacturers and mechanics.

References

  1. 1 2 "1957 MASERATI 350S SPORTS PROTOTYPE Chassis no. 3503". Bonhams. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  2. Maserati 350 S s/n 3501, barchetta.cc
  3. "Stirling Moss Maserati 450S on sale for £4.5m". Auto Express. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  4. "Maserati 450S". www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  5. "1956 Maserati 450S Prototype by Fantuzzi | Monaco 2014". RM Sotheby's. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  6. Maserati 350 S s/n 3502, barchetta.cc
  7. Maserati 350 S s/n 3503, barchetta.cc