Stirling Moss's 1956 Italian GP Winning Offset Maserati 250F

[Chris Wright]

OK my latest under construction F-1 car, the unusual Offset Maserati that Stirling Moss drove at Monza in 1956.

Naturally Stirling won, beating out at least 5 buzzing Lancia Ferrari's in the process. (Sorry Enzo).

In the finnal stages of the race it seemed to have settled down, but with five laps to go Moss ran out of fuel. As he was coasting to a stop, his Maserati team mate Luigi Piotti slowed down and used his car to push Moss's 250F to the pits. Moss had lost the lead to Musso, but with three laps to go the Lancia-Ferrari driver suffered a broken steering arm as the car came off the final banking and he came to an unseemly stop opposite the pits. Moss was ahead again and he won the race by six seconds. But with Fangio in second place the World Championship went to the Argentine driver for the third consecutive year.

I seems as if stirling was always running out of fuel at the end of races. Anyway, here's the work in progress:
I'm patiently waiting on a Richard Mack chassis for the monster (it is huge, but the wheel base is that of a Lotus 25!
The body is one of Dave Jone's magnificent creations, shoun below with several modifications, as is my modus operandi.

As seen in practice. Those race numbers are going to be a small nightmare!


During the race, note rain/stone shields installed, it also raced with twin exhaust pipes

(you can't see in this photo)

[David Mitcham]

Hi Chris

Its coming along very nicely. I'd be interested to know how you adapted the shell for the offset cockpit. What was the reason for Maserati experimenting with the offset cockpit, please?

Best Regards

David

[Chris Wright]

Hi David,

I didn't adapt the shell for the offset cockpit, Dave Jones made it that way, I did however complete the detail work around the cockpit, as per the real car.

I don't think Maserati were realy experementing with this car. It was built specifically for Monza, which back then put an emphasis on speed because of the banking.

The main competition in 56 was Enzo's swarm of buzzing Lancia Ferrari's. They had offest engined too.

The reason behind the "offset" was that the driveshaft could be angled to so that it was along side the drivers seat, instead of underneath, so the car could be built much lower, keeping the centre of gravity much lower, thus improving performance on the banking and corners.

I should imagine the asimetric nature of an offset drive-shaft on a rear de-dion suspension set-up led to some strange handling characteristics on a regular F-1 course. The Lancia Ferrari's were built from the begining to compensate for that, the Masser was basically a one or two off. (they built 2 of them, I have no idea what happened to the other) The Monza car still exists, has been completely re-furbished and races in antique events.

As you can see below, and comparing it to the original, they realy didn't do a good job, weird nose treatment and the wrong colour.

[Peter Seager-Thomas]

According to Luigi Orsini the Moss car was chassis/engine number 2525.

The other car it is suggested, (chassis/engine number 2526) was perhaps broken up, with the engine going into the rebuilt 2501 round about 1957/1958.

Alternatively, according to Jenks, this car was rebuilt and sold as chassis number 2530, previously used on a V12 250F. Subsequently sold to the Schlumph Collection.

Peter.

[Chris Wright]

On the home stretch, just some brake drums to sourse. Sir Stirling pleased as punch at the end of the 1956 Italian Grand Prix, replenished with fuel (what ever it was in 1956) on his way to a well deserved win. Take that you nasty little Lancia Ferrari's.

First photo it the chassis, one of Richard Mac's finest.




The numbers are not quite right, but since they were painted on in some kind of removable paint,
and each set of numbers was different.....




The other side, showing the twin pipes used during the race.




No overalls in those days, or fire suits, just a pair of cotton pants and a basic white T-shirt. (it was hot).




A very narrow track in those days, but a short wheel-base for such a large car, same as a lotus 25.
One final look showing Peter Seager Thomas's most excellent 16" wheels.

[richardh]

Again - a truly inspirational build - thank you for sharing! I really like the "dirt" which certainly draws attention that this car had just run a very long race (unlike our max time of two hours nowadays) - probably close to 2-1/2 hours in duration if I am correct? Your model displays this very well.