With only 9 total examples produced, the Maserati 450 S is definitely an extremely rare car. The 450 S was introduced in 1956 by Maserati as a racing car designed to participate in FIA’s (Fédération Internationale de L’Automobile) endurance World Sportscar Championship racing series. Of these nine total cars built only one of them recieved a complete redesign by both automotive engineer Frank Costin & independent coachbuilding company, Zagato. That car went on to become the car shown here in the photos, the 1957 Maserati 450S Costin-Zagato. The one-off 450 S Costin-Zagato was initially built as chassis 4506 and was raced as a convertible at the 1957 Buenos Aires 1000km by Juan Manuel Fangio. Although the car was built as chassis 4506, it was raced as chassis 4501 before it’s Costin-Zagato transformation. After the cars race in Buenos Aires, chassis 4501 was crashed by Jean Behra during practice at the 1957 Mille Miglia. Following the bad wreck, former British formula one racing driver, Stirling Moss, influenced Maserati to ‘provisionally use’ chassis number 4501 to create Costin-designed Zagato-built one-off Le Mans racing coupe. Remaining as chassis 4501 (to conform with existing customs and Le Mans entry forms), the car was reconstructed by the Costin-Zagato team as a Coupe which was then raced by Stirling Moss in the 1957 Le Mans where it ultimately did not finish due to mechanical issues. After Le Mans, in April of 1958, American enthusiast Bryon Staver convinced Maserati to to convert the Le Mans Berlinetta racer into a road-car. The car was then reconfigured to become a road-car with work being done by Medardo Fantuzzi of Maserati, and a complete final restoration finished by Italian design company Faralli & Mazzanti. After the transformation, the car was then again re-identified as chassis 4512, it’s final chassis number.
How many made? Nine total 450S units were built, with this car remaining as a one-off.
Engine: 4,378cc DOHC naturally aspirated V8 producing 450bhp at 7,200rpm
Debut: 1956 Swedish Grand Prix
Top Speed: 199mph
0-60mph: 3.7 seconds
Photo Credit: @mbaum01
Research: @rarecarsonly
1957 Maserati 450S Costin-Zagato
11.12.2024
Maserati