Saturday 16 May 2015

1934 MASERATI 8CM - www.fiskens.com

"CLASSIC OF THE DAY"
FROM
 14 QUEENS PLACE MEWS, LONDON SW7 5BQ
Tel: 02075 843503
Website: http://www.fiskens.com
 
1934 MASERATI 8CM
The Tipo 8CM Maserati was one of the brand’s first Grand Prix racing car designs. Fitted with a particularly strong power unit, the straight-eight engine achieves 2992 cubic capacity, which is deemed all the more impressive in such a light and slender car. Maserati rather stole the march on its competitor, Alfa Romeo, in 1934 when it took the progressive decision to sell its monoposto Grand Prix cars to private owners.
This example is one such car, being one of a pair of cars ordered in January of 1934 and purchased by Mme Nelly Braillard of Paris to be driven by Benoit Falchetto during that year’s race season and beyond. Falchetto enjoyed some notable successes with the car, particularly in the Monthléry French Grand Prix (September 1934) where he brought it home in first position after averaging some 87mph according to leading Maserati scribe, Anthony Pritchard, in his book on the marque, Maserati, A History. Other notable results include sixth place at the Coppa Di Piemonte race in October of that year and fourth place at Pau in February 1935.
Later in 1935 the car was sold to Gigi Soffietti of Turin, who piloted it for the remainder of the racing season and through 1936 until 1937. His best result was fourth position in Tripoli in May 1935. Sueria Sabauda ran the car in the 1937 and 1938 Grand Prix seasons for driver, Edoardo Teagno. The 8CM performed well in Teagno’s hands, achieving fifth place in the Coppa Edda Ciano in September 1937 and fifth again at Albi in July 1938. 
The car changed owners again in 1965 when it passed between Pozzoli and Jones in Paris. During this period the car (which had been significantly modified up to this point) was dismantled with a view to restoring it to original condition, meaning that the altered non-Maserati parts, such as a replacement body, were scrapped. In 1973 the car was purchased by Joel Finn of the USA, although it was kept in the UK during his tenure. The car had a brief stay with a Mr B Sutherland before passing into the hands of well-known marque specialist Sean Danaher. The Danahers undertook a painstaking and full restoration of this superb car, which was finished ready for its second life of competition in 2000.
As part of the restoration the following original parts were obtained by the Danahers and fitted to the car: the original steering box from 3009, the steering box bracket from chassis 3012 and the original rear axle from 3009. All parts numbered ‘3009’ by the Maserati factory survive on the engine, gearbox, rear axle and chassis.
In the capable hands of the Danahers, this car has latterly, amongst other highlights, competed at three Goodwood Revival meetings, won the Maserati Club’s prestigious Fangio Trophy, won its class at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and won ‘Driver of the Day’ at the Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix in August 2014. The car has been a regular and successful stalwart of HGPCA and VSCC races, and has competed with the Midland Automobile Club at Shelsley Walsh (UK), taken part in the Vernasca Silver Flag Historic Hillclimb (Italy) and the Vintage Revival Montlhéry (France).
The car has current invitations to attend the 73rd Members’ Meeting at Goodwood on 21/22 March 2015 and the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power on 12-14 June. It is supplied with full FIA papers, while HTP papers are currently being processed.
The following additional parts will be supplied with the car: front brake drums, front brake back plates and rear brake drums. A crank, conrods and a block are all available if required by the purchaser. This car represents an opportunity to own a tried and tested Maserati Grand Prix car with current form and a significant and well-documented history.
 

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