Maserati 450S Prototype

1956 Maserati 450S Prototype by Fantuzzi

Offered by RM Auctions | Monaco | May 10, 2014

Photo - RM Auctions

Photo – RM Auctions

The Maserati 450S was an evolution of the Maserati 350S. The chassis was lengthened to house the new monster V-8. The car was a racing success in the latter half of the 50s and would give way to the legendary Birdcage Maseratis.

The engine is a 5.7-liter V-8 making a whopping 520 horsepower. Good Lord. This thing must fly. The car you see here is the prototype version of the 450S. It’s the first one – and it was originally a 350S. It’s competition history as a 350S includes:

  • 1956 Mille Miglia – DNF (with Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson)

The car was more or less totaled in that race when Moss lost his brakes and blasted through a barrier and into a tree. So Maserati turned this into a test mule for the forthcoming 450S. This car’s race history as a 450S, you’ll have to read on RM’s site. This car has had three owner’s since it left Maserati and has been meticulously restored. It will fetch between $5,500,000-$7,500,000. Click here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $4,816,350.

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