Essen April 8, 2001
A fantastic insight in Maseratis pre-war competition era could be seen at the world
famous Techno Classica, which was held from 05th of April to 08th of April 2001 in
Essen, Germany. From a stunning - freshly restored – Maserati 4 CS-1100 built in
1932 to the gorgeous compressor 8 CLT/50 from 1950 - Maserati race cars were
the biggest attraction this year !
Maserati 4 CS-1100 s/n 1114
Swiss Premium Vintage car dealer Lukas Hueni exhibited the cream painted 4 CS
beauty, chassis 1114, which was restored over 20 years by specialist Tony Merrick. In
1932, this car with one-off bodywork built by Brianza was introduced at the Milan Auto
Show and later sold to Giuseppe Gilera and Count Castelbarco. Due to racing
ambitions of 1114’s owner the Sports Car body didn’t survive long on the little race car
chassis and was replaced by a single seater body in the 30’s. Today, 1114 again
wears a bodywork which looks perfectly like the original Brianza style body. This job
was done by Nick Jarvis, who only had some photos from the Biscaretti archive to
orientate. Well done.
Maserati 8 CM s/n 3013
Another Maserati highlight was the dark blue painted 8 CM s/n 3013 which is currently
offered by Axel Schuette from Oerlinghausen, Germany. Last owned by well known
Maserati collector Dr. Thomas Bscher who acquired this car in 1987 from David Black,
chassis 3013 was sold new to Earl Howe in 1934 who personally raced it through the
1934 season. Best result for Howe in 3013 was a third place at the GP Dieppe and a
fourth place at the Avus Race in Berlin earlier 1934. This Maserati was later sold to
George Colmondley-Tapper and then passed on to Arthur Hyde in 1937. In the 70’s
Patrick Lindsay found 3013 – still residing in the UK – and over the years it was
restored by David Black.
Maserati 6 CM-1500 s/n 1541
Little is known about the third pre-war Maserati racer exhibited on the stand of Red
Willow Racing from the Netherlands in hall 6. Chassis 1541 was built in 1937 and sold
directly to Luigi Villoresi who competed in 1937 & 1938 with this car in the Voiturette
class. Most likely he drove this car at the Czech GP held in Brno in 1937 where he won
prior to Charles Martin in an ERA. In 1938 Luigi Villoresi even became works driver for
Maserati.
Maserati 8 CLT/50 s/n 3036
Regular Barchetta visitors already know this Maserati compressor racer very well from
last years Oldtimer GP Maserati display or the Retromobile show earlier this year.
Originally built for the rich industrialist Franco Rol to compete in the Indy 500, this ill-
fated project has never gained any international race laurel and was eventually sold to
Fred Zambucka from New Zealand. Up to today not confirmed is the rumour that only
one car was built with an additional 8 CLT/50 engine – number 3036. Anyway, today
two complete 8 CLT/50’s exist and s/n 3036 – like the 8 CM mentioned above - is still
owned by Dr. Thomas Bscher while Axel Schuette is offering this Maserati since
November 2000.
Low Budget Maseratis
Besides such milestones in the Maserati history a few much, much cheaper Maserati
sports cars were offered from various dealers. Under them a barn-find Maserati Mexico
priced at 19.000 DM but in need of the mother of all restorations. 50.000 DM bought a
nice and clean looking Maserati Mistral Coupe and for a rust free red painted Ghibli ca.
70.000 DM were to invest.
OSCA's at the Techno Classica 2001
Three OSCAs race cars – two of them real restoration projects - were displayed at the
Techno Classica 2001. Klaus Werner offered an almost perfect Tipo S for sale. La
Galerie des Damiers displayed an OSCA MT4 – 1500 s/n 1154 in primer, ordered new
by Racing Sport Srl. for the French Michel Collange in 1955. And last but not least Red
Willow Racing showed a Tipo S 750 s/n 755 restoration project, an original works racer
driven by Alejandro de Tomaso and Luciano Mantovani. Race insults include a class
win for de Tomaso at the Coppa Delamare Deboutteville and a class win at the Aosta-
San Bernardo hillclimb driven by Mantovani both in 1957.
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