TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Displacement: 2991 cc
Diameter x Stroke: 84 x 90 mm
Number of cylinders: 6 in line
Carburetors: 3 Weber
On: a magneto
Compression ratio: 9.25: 1
Power: 270 HP at 7000 RPM
Chassis: Tubular
Bodywork: Aluminum
Gearbox: 4 forward / reverse gears
Cooling: by water / centrifugal pump
Lubrication: gear pump / recovery pump / oil cooler
Brakes: hydraulic four-wheel/hand-held mechanic
Front suspension: independent to parallelogram and stabilizer bar
Rear suspension: De Dion bridge with transverse elastic
Clutch: dry disk
Total length / width / height: 4150/1450/980 mm
Wheelbase: 2310 mm
Front rail: 1300 mm
Rear track: 1250 mm
Clearance: 100 mm
Weight: 750 Kg
Fuel capacity: 150 liters of 80/90 octane naphtha in a single tank
Lubricant capacity: 15 liters
Tires: 5.50 x 16 front - 6.50 x 16 rear
Lighting: according to the International Sports Regulations for sports cars
Maximum speed: 290 Km / h
Number of units built: 30

Produced between 1955 and 1958, the Maserati 300S is a car that can be considered a derivative of the 250F. For starters, its engine, a 3-liter 245 horsepower, was based on the same principles as the 6 in line that propelled the Formula 1 of that era of the Trident brand, and they even had many components in common. It was developed by Vittorio Bellentani, also linked to the other project. And, strictly speaking, the work that ended up resulting in the 300S began as a process of adapting F1 block 2.5 to the chassis of an A6GCS. That trial, baptized 250S, did not give good results, so the efforts were moved towards a larger engine, a 2.8, which was not satisfactory either. Bellentani wanted more displacement, and the third was the winning one: the stroke diameter of 84 x 90 mm of the 300S ended up being what they needed to go to the tracks in Sports competitions.

The chassis was somewhat larger than that of the formula car, but the brakes were the same, and the suspension also incorporated a De Dion bridge in the rear. The aluminum body, which finished delineating the 300S as a car not only powerful but of beauty difficult to overcome, was the responsibility of Medardo Fantuzzi.

Over the years, and as is often the case, the Maserati 300S evolved. Some conclusions of the aerodynamic studies that Maserati had made for the 200SI, for example, were applied. Or the transmission box, which began being four-speed plus reverse, was replaced in 1957 by another five-speed.

What came next

In its evolutionary process, the Maserati 300S had units adapted to other engines, and three of them mounted a 3.5-liter block, which they baptized, predictably, 350S. Two of them were a 6-cylinder in line, while the other, which was released as early as 1957, was a V12.

That year, however, Maserati would have the powerful 450S ready to run, a car that had much more mileage than the 350S, with a V8 engine and 400 horsepower. However, the 300S remained part of his team in each test, reserved for the pilots of the second line, but with stellar adepts, such as Stirling Moss, who found it more reliable than the new prototype, still in the experimental phase.

Debut

The Maserati 300S first appeared for points in the 12 Hours of Sebring. It was the second round of the World Sports Car Championship of 1955. William Spear and Sherwood Johnston took third place, and Gino Valenzano and Cesare Perdisa, fourth.

Evolution

The 300S would have an ambitious successor: In 1957 the Maserati 450S left Modena, a machine still unstable but very powerful and, consequently, necessary so that the brand could compete with Ferrari. However, the previous development continued in the race, and both coexisted throughout the season.

Closing

Maserati stopped competing for The season of 1957 left serious economic problems to the brand of the trident, which stopped participating as a team in official competitions. The cars, then, ended up in private hands, and some can be seen in races and classic car shows.

Career

• RaceDatePos
• N ° 161 Venezuela Grand Prix - Caracas 06-11-1955 1º
• N ° 182 Cuba Grand Prix - La Habana 25-02-1957 1º
• N ° 185 1000 Kilometers of Nürburgring - Germany 26-05-1957 5º
• N ° 186 Portugal Grand Prix 09-06-1957 1º
• N ° 194 Interlagos Grand Prix - Brazil 01-12-1957 1º
• N ° 195 Boa Vista Grand Prix - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil 08-12-1957 1º
• N ° 197 1000 Kilometers of the City of Buenos Aires - Argentina 26-01-1958 Abandono