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  Maserati 300S      

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Country of origin:Italy
Produced from:1955 - 1958
Numbers built:27
Designed by:Fantuzzi
Successor:Maserati 450S
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:November 10, 2014
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Click here to download printer friendly versionSuspension was by double wishbones at the front with vertically mounted coil springs over dampers. At the rear a sophisticated DeDion axle was fitted, complete with a transverse semi-elliptic leaf spring and hydraulic dampers. The transverse gearbox was mounted in unit with the differential, which added some more load to the rear wheels. Large, finned drums provided the 300S with sufficient stopping power. As before with the A6GCS/53 and 250F, Medardo Fantuzzi was entrusted with the design and construction of the aluminium body.

Ready for the start of the 1955 World Championship, the relatively light and nimble 300S was fielded both by the works team and numerous privateers. The first three cars were immediately shipped to the United States where they were raced by Briggs Cunningham and his clients. They gave the 300S a promising debut by placing third and fourth in the Sebring 12 Hours. Sadly, this was a rare highlight in what was a difficult first season for the new Maserati as teething problems often stopped the 300S in its tracks. At the end of the year Juan Manuel Fangio did manage to win the Venezuelan Grand Prix in a 300S.

Development at the Maserati and Fantuzzi factory was ongoing and early in 1956, a revised, longer nose was introduced to help cut through the air with less resistance. At the time, this was the easiest way to keep up with the larger engined rivals. It proved to be a better season for the 300S, which was now also attracting numerous customers from around the world. Stirling Moss and Carlos Menditeguy won the season opening 1000km of Buenos Aires, and together with Jean Behra, Moss also won the prestigious Nürburgring 1000 km. Ferrari won the other three rounds, so ended the year as World Champion again.

To address the 300S' intrinsic lack of power, Maserati also experimented with a V12 engine but eventually the development of the six-cylinder machine was shelved in favour of the altogether larger engined 450S. With two-dozen examples built and sold, the 300S was certainly a financial success for Maserati. It remains today as one of the finest handling front-engined sports cars, arguably only eclipsed by the Tipo 60/61 Birdcage built by Maserati a few years later. Although increasingly valuable, many examples are fortunately still raced in historic events the world over.

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  Article Image gallery (482) Chassis (17) Specifications User Comments (2)