For many years, Maserati successfully campaigned competition cars powered by a succession of six-cylinder engines. The very first of these was the 6C 34 built for the 1934 Grand Prix season. Based on the earlier 8CM chassis, the car featured a very large six-cylinder engine, which was more powerful yet lighter than the straight eight previously used. This was critical as the new-for-1934 regulations stipulated a maximum weight of just 750 kg. Unfortunately, the added power made the car difficult to drive and the 6C 34 was quickly replaced by the independently sprung and V8-engined V8RI in 1935. Only a handful of 6C 34s were built and our detailed article features two original cars and the reconstructed Mille Miglia racer.
One of the very last six-cylinder engined competition cars produced by the Italian manufacturer was the 350S, which debuted in 1956. It was very much an experimental sports racer developed alongside the V8-powered 450S and featured a new engine that had been designed for the upcoming 3500 GT road car. Like the 6C 34, the 350S did not quite handle as well as other contemporary Maseratis and its racing career was very short. Of the three examples built, one was fitted with a V8 and became the 450S prototype and another was re-engined with a V12. Our article features the sole survivor, which made a rare outing at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where Maserati was one of the featured marques.

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1956 Maserati 350S - Images, Specifications and Information

1934 Maserati 6C 34 - Images, Specifications and Information