1962 Maserati Tipo 151 - Images, Specifications and Information

Excellent article. Seeing our old 151 racing competitively at Goodwood was a treat. My father Bev Spencer campaigned the car once at Vacaville, Ca in 1962 with Stan Peterson at the wheel with less than successful results: Peterson rolled the car very early in the Modified race. The one piece tilt nose certainly spoils the coupe's spectacular appearance and I'm pleased to know the current owner will return the nose to the original configuration.
Roy Spencer, Burlingame, CA

See new thread for photographic proof

Maserati151
10-19-2011

I started a new thread about this car and its sister car.

I have painstakingly prepared photographic proof that the car with the red stripe never had that stripe at Le Mans. Please read it and comment if you like.

Thanks!!!

What chassis is this after all?

Joao Gois
10-19-2011

So, after all who's right: Wouter on stating the car that crashed in Daytona was the 004 or Maserati151 saying it was 006?

Continuing

Maserati151
10-17-2011

Hi Henk4. I am glad that we both have an interest in a fabulous car. But how can I disagree with an expert of his caliber? If you can tell me some way that I can send you a pdf file, I will prove to you beyond a shadow of a doubt that this car is 004. I have designed a page showing historic photos of both cars that can't be disputed.

Best regards,
Ron Lacey
Past president of The Maserati Club, Eastern Chapter

it is 006

henk4
10-17-2011

This very car sold at a Bonhams auction in Gstaad several years ago as 006.
The restauration was supervised by one of the most prominent Masearti experts in the world, whom I spoke with at the Revival meeting where the shots from the article were taken; he confirmed this car to be 006.

Major Correction on last post

Maserati151
10-16-2011

Tipo 151.006 was never in Peter Kauss' museum. The car that Kauss owned was 004. 006 was destroyed at Daytona. Sorry for the mistake on the last post.

Red Stripe

Maserati151
10-15-2011

The red stripe was only used on .006 for the 1962 Le Mans 24 hour race. Peter Kauss probably added the stripe when he displayed it in his museum because it never appeared on the car when Cunningham raced it in the U.S.

Red Stripe

henk4
10-14-2011

As far as I can see the car in the pictures has a red stripe, which would indicate that it is indeed 006......as TIPO151 has mentioned.

Wrong Chassis Number

Maserati151
10-13-2011

The photographed car did not have a red stripe at Le Mans. It's sister car, chassis number 151.006 had the stripe. This car is chassis number 151.004, not 006 which did have the stripe. The difference in the 2 Cunningham cars are: 004 had a hole for the radiator cap directly between the 2 blue hood striped as seen at Le Mans. Chassis 006 did not originally have this hole when it arrived there. This is evident from photos from "Maserati At Le Mans." The hole was cut out at the track and it was clearly off-center. Also 006 had 2 humps in its front air intake as opposed to 004 which only had one. Both cars raced at Riverside in 1962 and the photos easily prove it. 006 raced at Bridgehampton in 1962 (I was there) and the photos clearly show the off-centered radiator cap and the 2 humps. That was the same car raced in Daytona. Chassis 006 was destroyed there. It does not exist any more. This is easily proven by looking at the photo of the front of the car at Daytona in Willem Oosthoek's book on the 151. The off-centered cap and 2 humps prove it. That is definitely the Bridgehampton car. So the car picture above is 004, not 006. Can someone please tell me where I can see the restored car race. BTW, the license plate on my Maserati is TIPO 151.

tipo 151

stephengriswold
09-22-2011

I was racing at Vaca Valley Raceway when this car was being driven by Stan Peterson who was one of the best drivers in The Bay Area ( SanFrancisco). I believe the car was owned by Bev Spencer ( Spencer Buick) who owned some great cars and sponsored them. He also had a GTO ( White ) that was driven by Frank Crane.
Vaca Valley had a long straight and a banked oval turn at the end of the straight.
I remember hearing the car come down the straight the first time and was really impressed by the wonderful noise of the high reving eight. When it passed the start finish line it was it was really flying and I remember thinking I hope it will make the first turn......it didn't.The 151 launched itself off the top of the banking and finished its flight far from the track in an onion field. The windshield popped out and that seemed to be the extent of the damage. Needless to say it was an embarassing moment for a first lap in a new car.
I believe that it also was driven by Skip Hudson at Riverside without the drivers door for cooling!!!
It may have been years ago ,but some things in life are unforgettable.The 151 was one of them.
regards Stephen

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