The Maserati 150 GT was a prototype sports car produced by Maserati in 1957. Derived from the four-cylinder Maserati 150S race car, it was a singular road-going example, and was given spyder bodywork.[1]
The 150 GT was created from a need to replace the A6 lineage of road cars. Chief engineer Giulio Alfieri was responsible for the project made under the Maserati's racing department patronage. The project was aimed to create a road-going sports car that could be sold in meaningful numbers to wealthy customers in an image of Porsche 550 Spyder.[2]
150 GT rear view
The creation of the bodywork was entrusted to Medardo Fantuzzi of Carrozzeria Fantuzzi. He was responsible for numerous of Maserati sports racing and grand prix cars. Because Fantuzzi usually realised designs of others, the 150 GT Spyder's lightweight aluminium bodywork was mainly inspired by the work of Pietro Frua, with elements also found on Zagato-bodied Maseratis. The car featured a convertible soft-top with roll-up side windows and was RHD just like the race car it was based on.[3]
The 150 GT remained a one-off factory prototype as the production version never materialised.[4] The planned production would be too complex and expensive to bring any profit to the company that already decided to move towards the 3500 GT project.[5]
The car remained unsold and was stored in a factory for a few years. After the final public demonstration, Maserati decided to sell it to the British Maserati agent. In November 1966 it appeared for sale in a Motor Sport magazine for £1,400. In 1993 the 150 GT along with an O.S.C.A were traded to a German collector in exchange for his Aston Martin DB4 GT.[1] After 2006 the car was extensively restored over a three-year period and was later sold by Gooding & Company for US$3 million in 2013.[6]
Specificationsedit
150 GT front view
Engine and transmissionedit
The 150 GT sported a slightly detuned version of the Maserati 150S race car’s inline-four engine, codenamed 4CF2. It had smaller carburettors and a lower compression ratio, with a 81 by 72 mm (3.2 by 2.8 in) bore and stroke, yielding a displacement of 1,484.1 cc (1.5 L; 90.6 cu in) and power output of 130 PS (96 kW; 128 hp) at 6800 rpm.[1] The DOHC engine had two double-barrel Weber carburetors and two spark plugs per cylinder. A new wet sump lubrication system was used for easier road use with an oil pump from the 150S. A manual gearbox was four-speed with synchromesh.[3]
Currently, the car has a different, 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine with two Weber 40DCO3 carburettors and now produces around 190 PS (140 kW; 187 hp).[3]
Chassisedit
The chassis was believed to be a modified version sourced from the Maserati 200S race car.[7] After extensive research by the marque historian Adolfo Orsi, it was determined that the chassis originally belonged to the 1954 Maserati A6GCS and was numbered 2043. That particular A6GCS/53 was entered in the 1954 Mille Miglia. Later, after a couple of stages of development, the chassis was used for a prototype Maserati 300S, now restamped as 003, which also spawned an improved version of their developed 150S and 200S tubular frame. It was later reused again to create a sports car prototype, the 150 GT, this time as a serial number 03. The final iteration of the chassis had to be revised to accept the 150S racing engine, a gearbox casing from A6G/2000 road car, and a 200S prop shaft.[3]
Suspensionedit
The front independent suspension with coil springs and Houdaille hydraulic shock absorbers remained mostly unmodified from their original A6GCS race car specification. The rear suspension was a live axle type with semi-elliptical leaf springs. The front hydraulic drum brakes were from a Maserati 250F, and the rear ones from an A6GCS. Also, the steering mechanism was sourced from both the 250F and A6G/2000.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcLewandowski, Jürgen (2002). Maserati Spyder: The History. Maserati Spa. pp. 26–39.
^"Maserati 150 GT Spider". ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
^ abcde"1957 Maserati 150 GT". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
^"One-off Maserati 150 GT Spider to cross the block". hemmings.com. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
^"1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider: A race-bred prototype". classicdriver.com. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
^"1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider". goodingco.com. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
^"1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider". drive-my.com. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
Bibliographyedit
Lewandowski, Jürgen (2002). Maserati Spyder: The History. Maserati Spa.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1957 Maserati 150 GT s/n 3.
Gooding & Company: 1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider, Una Bella Giornata, video
Gooding & Company: 1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider, La Bella Vita, video
Coachbuild.com: Fantuzzi Maserati 150 S Spyder
December 15, 2023
maserati, prototype, sports, produced, maserati, 1957, derived, from, four, cylinder, maserati, 150s, race, singular, road, going, example, given, spyder, bodywork, museo, enzo, ferrarioverviewmanufacturermaseratialso, called, spyder, fantuzziproduction19571, . The Maserati 150 GT was a prototype sports car produced by Maserati in 1957 Derived from the four cylinder Maserati 150S race car it was a singular road going example and was given spyder bodywork 1 Maserati 150 GTMaserati 150 GT at Museo Enzo FerrariOverviewManufacturerMaseratiAlso calledMaserati 150 GT Spyder FantuzziProduction19571 producedDesignerCarrozzeria FantuzziBody and chassisBody styleSpyderLayoutFront engine rear wheel driveRelatedMaserati 150SPowertrainEngine1 5 L 1484 1 cc 4CF2 I4Power output130 PSTransmission4 speed manualDimensionsWheelbase2 230 mm 87 8 in Length4 030 mm 158 7 in Width1 480 mm 58 3 in Height1 204 mm 47 4 in Curb weight900 kg 1 984 lb Contents 1 Development 2 Specifications 2 1 Engine and transmission 2 2 Chassis 2 3 Suspension 3 References 3 1 Bibliography 4 External linksDevelopment editThe 150 GT was created from a need to replace the A6 lineage of road cars Chief engineer Giulio Alfieri was responsible for the project made under the Maserati s racing department patronage The project was aimed to create a road going sports car that could be sold in meaningful numbers to wealthy customers in an image of Porsche 550 Spyder 2 nbsp 150 GT rear viewThe creation of the bodywork was entrusted to Medardo Fantuzzi of Carrozzeria Fantuzzi He was responsible for numerous of Maserati sports racing and grand prix cars Because Fantuzzi usually realised designs of others the 150 GT Spyder s lightweight aluminium bodywork was mainly inspired by the work of Pietro Frua with elements also found on Zagato bodied Maseratis The car featured a convertible soft top with roll up side windows and was RHD just like the race car it was based on 3 The 150 GT remained a one off factory prototype as the production version never materialised 4 The planned production would be too complex and expensive to bring any profit to the company that already decided to move towards the 3500 GT project 5 The car remained unsold and was stored in a factory for a few years After the final public demonstration Maserati decided to sell it to the British Maserati agent In November 1966 it appeared for sale in a Motor Sport magazine for 1 400 In 1993 the 150 GT along with an O S C A were traded to a German collector in exchange for his Aston Martin DB4 GT 1 After 2006 the car was extensively restored over a three year period and was later sold by Gooding amp Company for US 3 million in 2013 6 Specifications edit nbsp 150 GT front viewEngine and transmission edit The 150 GT sported a slightly detuned version of the Maserati 150S race car s inline four engine codenamed 4CF2 It had smaller carburettors and a lower compression ratio with a 81 by 72 mm 3 2 by 2 8 in bore and stroke yielding a displacement of 1 484 1 cc 1 5 L 90 6 cu in and power output of 130 PS 96 kW 128 hp at 6800 rpm 1 The DOHC engine had two double barrel Weber carburetors and two spark plugs per cylinder A new wet sump lubrication system was used for easier road use with an oil pump from the 150S A manual gearbox was four speed with synchromesh 3 Currently the car has a different 2 0 litre DOHC four cylinder engine with two Weber 40DCO3 carburettors and now produces around 190 PS 140 kW 187 hp 3 Chassis edit The chassis was believed to be a modified version sourced from the Maserati 200S race car 7 After extensive research by the marque historian Adolfo Orsi it was determined that the chassis originally belonged to the 1954 Maserati A6GCS and was numbered 2043 That particular A6GCS 53 was entered in the 1954 Mille Miglia Later after a couple of stages of development the chassis was used for a prototype Maserati 300S now restamped as 003 which also spawned an improved version of their developed 150S and 200S tubular frame It was later reused again to create a sports car prototype the 150 GT this time as a serial number 03 The final iteration of the chassis had to be revised to accept the 150S racing engine a gearbox casing from A6G 2000 road car and a 200S prop shaft 3 Suspension edit The front independent suspension with coil springs and Houdaille hydraulic shock absorbers remained mostly unmodified from their original A6GCS race car specification The rear suspension was a live axle type with semi elliptical leaf springs The front hydraulic drum brakes were from a Maserati 250F and the rear ones from an A6GCS Also the steering mechanism was sourced from both the 250F and A6G 2000 3 References edit a b c Lewandowski Jurgen 2002 Maserati Spyder The History Maserati Spa pp 26 39 Maserati 150 GT Spider ultimatecarpage com Retrieved 20 November 2019 a b c d e 1957 Maserati 150 GT conceptcarz com Retrieved 20 November 2019 One off Maserati 150 GT Spider to cross the block hemmings com Retrieved 20 November 2019 1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider A race bred prototype classicdriver com Retrieved 20 November 2019 1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider goodingco com Retrieved 20 November 2019 1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider drive my com Retrieved 20 November 2019 Bibliography edit Lewandowski Jurgen 2002 Maserati Spyder The History Maserati Spa External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1957 Maserati 150 GT s n 3 Gooding amp Company 1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider Una Bella Giornata video Gooding amp Company 1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider La Bella Vita video Coachbuild com Fantuzzi Maserati 150 S Spyder Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maserati 150 GT amp oldid 1152059883, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
