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| www.QV500.com - Maserati Tipo 151 Part 1: The Tipo 151 |
 006, 1962 Le Mans 24 Hours |
For 1962, the FIA’s endurance racing regulations were changed so that more manufacturers would be encouraged to compete with GT-style cars, this primarily as an attempt to safeguard the championship from a potential fallout of works teams. The costs associated with running what had become quite complex prototypes ruled all but the wealthiest privateers out of competing at the highest level, so although sports racers were allowed to run over the next few years and scored many high profile victories, they were often ineligible for championship points. The governing body were also aware that a world championship with grids made up of machines that bore little or no similarity to road cars would have limited appeal to race goers, sponsors and competitors. As a result, one of the FIA's new categories catered for Experimental GT-style cars. With no suitable production Maserati to use as a basis for homologation into the genuine GT ranks, it seemed to a couple of the firms most highly favoured customers that this new class would suit a low volume custom-built model based primarily on existing Maserati componentry. |
The pressure was coming from two of Maserati's importers, Briggs Cunningham in the US and Colonel Johnny Simone in France. After assurances that the customers would foot the bill for any development, a deal was struck and Maserati, led by Giulio Alfieri, quickly designed a front-engined Berlinetta known as the Tipo 151. Just three 151's were originally built, one of which (chassis 002, the Maserati France car) was extensively modified by the factory between spring 1962 and early 1965, the other two (004 and 006) being sold to Briggs Cunningham. Whilst the Italian firm had made a name for itself with some exceedingly complex small-diameter chassis frames on the Birdcage sports racers, the Tipo 151 got a beefier, more traditional steel-tubed chassis derived from the 450 S. Suspension was by coil springs with hydraulic shocks, a floating de Dion axle being used at the rear while disc brakes were fitted all-round. A long-range 160-litre fuel tank was installed and although Maserati claimed the 151 weighed in at around 895kg, it was actually more like 975kg. 16-inch Borrani centre-lock wire wheels were six and seven-inches wide at the front and rear respectively. Mechanically, the Tipo 151's were based on Maserati's existing 450 S engine, a 90° four overhead camshaft 4.5-litre V8 said to produce 400bhp. But even with the FIA's announcement that the maximum displacement in their experimental prototype category would be raised from three to four-litres in 1962, the 450 S motor was still nearly half-a-litre too big. Thus, Alfieri was forced into equipping the 151 with its own unique 4-litre motor, one suitably de-tuned so as to ensure utmost reliability over long distances. Capacity was reduced from 4477cc to 3943cc, this thanks to a 91 x 75.8mm bore and stroke (these having undergone 2.8 and 5.2mm reductions respectively). At the same time, compression was upped from 9.6 to 9.7:1 and a set of four downdraught Weber 45 IDM carburettors fitted. With 360bhp at 7000rpm, the Tipo 151 had enough grunt to make it one of the fastest GT's around (in a straght line at least). Capable of speeds approaching 180mph, it famously posted the quickest time through the Mulsanne Straight speed trap during the 1962 Le Mans 24 Hour race. There was nothing revolutionary about the 151's bodywork either although it's still a mystery as to exactly who penned the striking design. Some sources credit Zagato and suggest the three original shells were fabricated by Allegretti, however, there is also evidence to suggest a large portion of the work was completed in-house. Whatever, the 151's lines drew heavily from two existing designs that had already graced 450 S chassis's. Perhaps the most obvious was 4501, Maserati's famous works prototype that received a Berlinetta body in 1957. Penned by Frank Costin and executed by Zagato, this unique creation shared several cues with the subsequent 151, not least its rakish front-end and slightly awkward cabin treatment. Otherwise, the new design was influenced by Maserati's now traditional sports car bodywork that had gradually evolved since 1955 and been seen in its most extreme format on the 450 S. A teardrop cabin, cut-off Kamm-style tail and covered headlights followed the basic underlying principals of early sixties aerodynamic understanding, the 151's slippery bodywork coming bereft of the spoilers that would influence designers in just a couple of years time. Not especially pretty, the 151 was, however, a stunning design with much presence despite the obvious aesthetic limitations of fitting a Berlinetta body onto a chassis that wasn't originally designed to be kitted out as such. Three cars were built during spring 1962, the first of which, chassis 002, was tested extensively around the streets of Modena. This car featured a subtly different cabin treatment to Briggs Cunningham's subsequent pair, all three Tipo 151's being ready for the cars high profile debut at the 1962 Le Mans 24 Hours. The year was to be a disappointment for all concerned though as despite often showing a good turn of speed on fast tracks like Le Mans and Reims, the cars poor reliability blighted any chance of it seriously challenging for honours. The big Maser's best performance that year came at la Sarthe where, after nearly twelve hours racing, 004 lay a creditable sixth before retiring. |
| Chassis | History |
| 151 002 | 1962, factory prototype, sold new to John Simone for Maserati France |
| 151 004 | 1962, sold new to Briggs Cunningham 1962 Le Mans 24 Hours (Hansgen / McLaren) DNF Fitted with a 5.6-litre Maserati V8 1962 Road America 500-miles (Hansgen / Pabst) DNF 1962 Riverside Grand Prix (Baigh) 11th Fitted with a 7-litre Ford V8 1963 Daytona Challenge Cup (Panch) DNS Car destroyed at Daytona and parted out to Chuck Jones - body and frame unsalvageable |
| 151 006 | 1962, sold new to Briggs Cunningham 1962 Le Mans 24 Hours (Kimberly / Salvadori / Thompson) DNF 1962 Bridgehampton 400km (Pabst) DNF 1962 Riverside Grand Prix (Pabst) 7th Sold to Bev Spencer 1962 Vacaville Divisional Race (Peterson) DNS Sold to Chuck Jones for Team Meridian 1963 Cotati Divisional Race I (Hudson) 3rd 1963 Cotati Divisional Race II (Hudson) 3rd 1963 Road America 500 (Hudson) 17th 1963 Bridgehampton Double 500 (Hudson) DNF Currently on display in the Rosso-Bianco Museum along with a 151/3 replica |