Maserati 8CL

Last updated
Maserati 8CL
Designer(s) Maserati
Production1940-1946
Predecessor Maserati 8CTF
Successor Maserati 8CLT
Technical specifications
Chassis Steel box-section frame, aluminum body
Suspension (front)Rigid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs, friction shock absorbers
Suspension (rear)Live axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs, friction shock absorbers
Length3,830 mm (151 in)
Width1,480 mm (58 in)
Height1,100 mm (43 in)
Axle track 1,340–1,350 mm (53–53 in) (front)
13,601,380 mm (535,487 in) (rear)
Wheelbase 2,790 mm (110 in)
Engine 3.0 L (2,981.7 cc) Straight-8
(415–430 hp (309–321 kW)) FR layout
Transmission 4 speed manual transmission
Weight630–780 kg (1,390–1,720 lb)
Competition history

The Maserati 8CL is an open-wheel Grand Prix motor racing car, designed, developed and built by Italian manufacturer Maserati, from 1940 through 1946. Only two models were produced. [1]

Contents

Racing and competitive history

Featuring a longer wheelbase, it succeeded the 8CTF. She was conceived to participate in the International Formula. The technical setting that gave positive results with the 4CL was resumed, namely four valves per cylinder, a square engine (i.e. the piston stroke was equal to the cylinder bore), and two compressors, one for each bank of 4 cylinders. [2]

The outbreak of World War II shortly after its launch interrupted its development. The resumption of competitive activities after the conflict relegated supercharged racing cars, and with a large displacement, to free formulas, which however did not interest the public. This was also the fate of 8CL. [3]

Two specimens were built, one before and one after the Second World War: the first was sold in Argentina, while the second was made specifically for the Scuderia Milano and achieved good results with Gigi Villoresi (third classified at the Indianapolis 500 in 1946). and Nino Farina (winner of the Mar del Plata Grand Prix in 1948).

Design

The ignition was single with a Spark magnet. The distribution was with four valves per cylinder arranged in a 90° V, and a double overhead camshaft. Lubrication was forced with delivery and recovery pumps. The cooling system was water circulation with centrifugal pumps. [4]

The engine was supercharged with two Roots-type compressors, one per bank, and two Memini carburetors upstream of the same. It had a displacement of 2,981.7 cc (181.95 cu in), with the bore and stroke both being 78 mm (3.1 in). It was an eight-cylinder in-line, having a compression ratio of 6.5: 1. The power delivered by the engine was between 415 and 430 hp at 6400-6800 rpm.

The brakes were drum brakes on the wheels with hydraulic control. The suspensions were with friction shock absorbers; the front ones were also equipped with torsion bars, while the rear ones were equipped with leaf springs. The steering was a worm screw and toothed sector, while the transmission consisted of a four-speed gearbox plus reverse.

The body design was open-wheel, covered in aluminum, while the chassis was made up of two side members with light-alloy cross members.

The model reached a maximum speed between 280–305 km/h (174–190 mph).

Technical data

Technical data 8CL
Engine:  Front mounted 8-cylinder in-line engine
displacement: 2982 cm³
Bore x stroke: 78 x 78 mm
Max power at rpm: 430 hp at 6 800 rpm
Valve control: 2 overhead camshafts, 4 valves per cylinder
Compression: 6.5:1
Carburetor: Double Memini MA12
Upload: Double Roots compressors
Gearbox: 4-speed manual
suspension front: Double cross links, torsion springs
suspension rear:  Stiff rear axle, torsion springs
Brakes: Hydraulic drum brakes
Chassis & body: Box beam frame with aluminum body
Wheelbase: 279 cm
Dry weight: 780 kg
Top speed: 305 km/h

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Straight-four engine</span> Inline piston engine with four cylinders

A straight-four engine is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coventry Climax</span> British forklift truck, fire pump, and speciality engine manufacturer

Coventry Climax was a British forklift truck, fire pump, racing, and other speciality engine manufacturer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northstar engine series</span> Family of high performance 90° V engines produced by General Motors

The Northstar engine is a family of high-performance 90° V engines produced by General Motors between 1993 and 2011. Regarded as GM's most technically complex engine, the original double overhead cam, four valve per cylinder, aluminum block/aluminum head V8 design was developed by Oldsmobile R&D, but is most associated with Cadillac's Northstar series.

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

The Ferrari Colombo Engine was a petrol fueled, water cooled, carburetted 60° V12 engine designed by Gioacchino Colombo and produced in numerous iterations by Italian automaker Ferrari between 1947 and 1988. The maker's first homegrown engine, its linear successor is the Lampredi V12, which it far outlived, the last Lampredi being made in 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamborghini V12</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Lamborghini V12 refers to the flagship V12 engine used by Lamborghini. Lamborghini has had two generations of V12 engines through their history, both of which were developed in-house. The first-generation Lamborghini V12 was a sixty degree (60°) V12 petrol engine designed by Lamborghini, and was the first internal combustion engine ever produced by the firm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bugatti Type 35</span> Bugatti racing car, 1924 to 1930

The Bugatti Type 35 is an iconic race car design produced by Bugatti at their Molsheim premises between 1924 and 1930. It was extremely successful when raced by the factory works team. It was also bought by a diverse roster of privateer clientele from around the world. It pioneered the concept of a holistically conceived, race-ready car available for purchase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz W196</span> Formula One racing automobile

The Mercedes-Benz W196 was a Formula One racing car produced by Mercedes-Benz for the 1954 and 1955 F1 seasons. Successor to the W194, in the hands of Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss it won 9 of 12 races entered and captured the only two world championships in which it competed.

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

The HR is a family of straight-3 12-valve and straight-4 16-valve automobile engines with continuously variable valve timing, involving development by Nissan and/or Renault, and also Mercedes-Benz in the case of the H5Ht/M282. The designation of H engine is used by Renault, and M28x by Mercedes-Benz, to classify the family. There are three basic specifications of engine involving variations in engine architecture, or all-new architecture, with 72.2 mm (2.84 in), 75.5 mm (2.97 in) and 78 mm (3.07 in) bore diameter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrari 125 F1</span> Ferraris first Formula One car

The 125 F1 was Ferrari's first Formula One car. It shared its engine with the 125 S sports racer which preceded it by a year, but was developed at the same time by Enzo Ferrari, Valerio Colotti and designer, Gioacchino Colombo. Initially the racer was called 125 GPC for Gran Premio Città or Grand Prix Compressore before the Formula One era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supercharger</span> Air compressor for an internal combustion engine

In an internal combustion engine, a supercharger compresses the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to produce more power for a given displacement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 6CM</span> Motor vehicle

The Maserati 6CM is an Italian single-seater racing car, made by Maserati of Modena from 1936 to 1940 for the Voiturette racing class. Twenty-seven were built on the Maserati 4CM frame, with front suspension as on the Maserati V8RI, and had a successful racing career from 1936 to 1939. The 6CM was introduced to the world at the 1936 Milan Motor Show. Maserati spent much of its early years manufacturing cars for privateers in the racing field. The Maserati 6CM is no exception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 4CL and 4CLT</span> Single-seat racing car

The Maserati 4CL and its derived sister model the Maserati 4CLT are single-seat open-wheel Grand Prix racing cars that were designed and built by Maserati. The 4CL was introduced at the beginning of the 1939 season, as a rival to the Alfa Romeo 158 and various ERA models in the voiturette class of international Grand Prix motor racing. Although racing ceased during World War II, the 4CL was one of the front running models at the resumption of racing in the late 1940s. Experiments with two-stage supercharging and tubular chassis construction eventually led to the introduction of the revised 4CLT model in 1948. The 4CLT was steadily upgraded and updated over the following two years, resulting in the ultimate 4CLT/50 model, introduced for the inaugural year of the Formula One World Championship in 1950. In the immediate post-war period, and the first two years of the Formula One category, the 4CLT was the car of choice for many privateer entrants, leading to numerous examples being involved in most races during this period.

<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">4 VD 14,5/12-1 SRW</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The 4 VD 14,5/12-1 SRW is an inline four-cylinder diesel engine produced by the VEB IFA Motorenwerke Nordhausen from 1967 to 1990. The engine was one of the standard modular engines for agricultural and industrial use in the Comecon-countries. Approximately one million units were made.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrari 212 F1</span> Racing car model

The Ferrari 212 F1 was a Formula 1 and Formula 2 racing car designed by Aurelio Lampredi for Scuderia Ferrari in 1951.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrari 125 C</span>

The Ferrari 125 C is an open-wheel single-seater racing car, designed, developed, and produced by Ferrari in 1947 as a single example. It competed primarily in Formula Libre contests and events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrari 166 FL</span> Open-wheel race car

The Ferrari 166 FL was a single-seat open-wheel race car, designed, developed and built by Italian manufacturer and team, Scuderia Ferrari, 1949 to 1952. Only three cars were produced. The designation 166 refers to the (rounded) displacement of a single cylinder, which corresponded to the nomenclature of the company at the time. The abbreviation FL stands for Formula Libre, which is the type of category and racing series that the car competed in. Since the car was mainly developed for racing in South America, it was also known as the 166 C America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 8CTF</span> Open-wheel Grand Prix motor racing car

The Maserati 8CTF is an open-wheel Grand Prix motor racing car, designed, developed and built by Italian manufacturer Maserati, from 1938 to 1939. To date, it remains the only Italian-made car to win the Indianapolis 500.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 8CLT</span> Open-wheel race car

The Maserati 8CLT is an open-wheel race car, designed, developed and built by Italian manufacturer Maserati in 1950, conforming to Formula One rules and regulations of the time, set by the FIA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 6C 34</span> Open-wheel Grand Prix motor racing car

The Maserati 6C 34 is a 750 kg open-wheel Grand Prix race car, designed, developed and built by Maserati from 1934 to 1935.

References

  1. "Il y a eu un Grand Prix Automobile à Lille". Il y a eu un Grand Prix Automobile à Lille.
  2. "1940 Maserati 8CL | Maserati". April 18, 2016.
  3. "Circuit des Trois Villes • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com.
  4. "1940 Maserati 8CL - Images, Specifications and Information". Ultimatecarpage.com.