The best Maserati 450S models 1956-1958: Top ranking of the best Maserati 450S cars

The Maserati 450S: a symbol of a racing era

At the very center of the golden era of motorsport, Maserati created a car that challenged the very foundations of Ferrari's racing dominance - the Maserati 450S. Powerful, rare and uncompromising, this car has become an icon of engineering breakthrough and racing ambition.

Engineering and design

The 450S was created under the guidance of legendary engineer Giulio Alfieri as a response to Ferrari's racing superiority. At its heart was a super-powerful 4.5-liter V8, one of the most powerful sports car engines of its time. It had:

• two overhead camshafts
• a dry crankcase system
• four Weber 45 IDM carburetors

Together, they provided power up to 400 hp and allowed for speeds of over 320 km/h - phenomenal performance for the 1950s.

The chassis was a tubular spatial frame that combined lightness and rigidity, and the aluminum body was aerodynamically calibrated to the smallest detail: a long hood, aggressive front end, and compact rear end formed an appearance that spoke directly of speed and power.

Racing history

Debuting in 1956, the Maserati 450S reached the peak of its racing form in the 1957 season. It took part in the most prestigious races:

• Mille Miglia
• 12 Hours of Sebring
• Targa Florio

It was driven by motorsport legends such as Stirling Moss, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Carroll Shelby, who squeezed the maximum out of the car on the most dangerous tracks in the world.

Despite its impressive performance, the 450S suffered from unreliability, which prevented it from winning the championship. But even without an official victory, it will forever remain in history as a technical and emotional breakthrough for Maserati.

Exclusivity and heritage

Only 9 examples were produced, making the Maserati 450S one of the rarest and most valuable classic racing cars in the world. Today, it is a real trophy for collectors and museum displays, embodying the power, speed and ambition of the Italian engineering school of the 1950s.

Main characteristics of the Maserati 450S

• Model: Maserati 450S (Tipo 54)
• Years of production: 1956-1958
• Produced: only 9 copies
• Engine: 4.5 liter V8
• Power: up to 400 hp.
• Top speed: over 320 km/h
• Layout: front-engine, rear-wheel drive
• Body style: 2-door speedster or coupe
• Body design: Medardo Fantuzzi / Frank Costin (coupe)
• Assembly: Modena, Italy
• Predecessor: Maserati 350S

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Top rating of the best Maserati 450S

Maserati 450S (1957) - Tipo 54

In 1957, Maserati introduced the 450S, a racing car that posed a serious challenge to Ferrari, Jaguar and Aston Martin in the World Sports Car Championship. With a powerful 4.5-liter V8 engine that developed up to 400 hp, the 450S was one of the fastest and most powerful sports cars of its time.

Technical characteristics of the 450S (1957) - Tipo 54

• Engine: 4.5-liter V8 (4477 cm³)
• Output: 400 hp at 7200 rpm
• Torque: 488 N-m at 5500 rpm
• Carburetors: 4 × Weber 45 IDM
• Lubrication system: dry crankcase
• Transmission: 5-speed manual
• Drive: rear
• Chassis: tubular spatial frame
• Body: aluminum, designed by Medardo Fantuzzi
• Brakes: hydraulic drum brakes
• Suspension: front - independent with double wishbones; rear - De Dion
• Wheelbase: 2400 mm
• Length: 4350 mm
• Width: 1550 mm
• Height: 1000 mm
• Weight: 790 kg
• Top speed: over 320 km/h

Development of the 450S began in 1954 under the codename Tipo 54. Engineers Vittorio Bellentani and Guido Taddeucci wanted to create a car with a larger engine than previous Maserati models. The first prototype was built on the 350S chassis and equipped with a new V8 engine. However, during the tests, problems with vibrations were discovered, which led to further improvements.

In 1957, the 450S made its debut at the 1000 km Buenos Aires, where riders Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss were forced to retire due to clutch problems. However, already at the 12th hour of Sebring, Fangio and Jean Bera won. Another victory was achieved at the Swedish Grand Prix. Despite these successes, technical problems and accidents prevented the 450S from becoming a champion.

For the 1957 Le Mans 24 Hours, a unique 450S coupe was created, designed by Frank Costin and built by Zagato. The car had improved aerodynamics, but encountered overheating and transmission problems, which led to its retirement from the race.

In total, only 9 examples of the Maserati 450S were produced. After 1957, Maserati decided to stop participating in factory racing, and the 450S became the last major racing car of the company. Today, these cars are extremely rare and valuable among collectors.

Maserati 450S Coupé Costin-Zagato (1957)

In the pursuit of absolute speed, Maserati created one of the rarest and most unusual variants of its racing monster - the 450S Coupé Costin-Zagato. This car was an attempt to combine a super-powerful V8 with innovative aerodynamics for the legendary Le Mans race.

Especially for the 1957 Le Mans 24 Hours, Maserati prepared a new car with engine number 4512. This number is often associated with the chassis number of the car. The basic chassis was handed over to the Fantuzzi body shop, where it was significantly modified:

• The central part of the body was lengthened by 25 cm.
• A one-piece curved windshield was added.
• A full interior and a new decorative radiator grille were installed.

This coupe was the only closed-body Maserati 450S built for racing.

At Stirling Moss's initiative, Maserati invited Frank Costin, a British aerodynamic expert, to design a low-profile body with minimal air resistance. In just a few days, Zagato produced an aluminum body based on Costin's drawings.

Although the project looked promising on paper, the reality was more challenging:

• The new body caused the engine to overheat.
• The car was slower than the open-body 450S roadsters.

On the Le Mans circuit, the 450S Coupé showed limited performance. Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio kept the car in second place during the first part of the race. However, after the gearbox failed, the crew was forced to retire.

After Le Mans, the fate of the car was tragic for such an engineering rarity. Maserati decided to scrap the 450S Coupé, as new cars had already been prepared for the next race. However, the car itself managed to go down in history as one of the most unusual experiments in the company's racing program.

Although the 450S Coupé Costin-Zagato project did not bring the expected triumph on the track, it remains an exceptional example of Maserati's engineering thinking in an era when every racing car was created as a true masterpiece by hand.

Technical characteristics of the Maserati 450S Coupé Costin-Zagato

• Engine: 4.5-liter V8 (4477 cm³)
• Power: up to 400 hp at 7200 rpm
• Torque: approx. 488 N-m
• Carburetors: 4 × Weber 45 IDM
• Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission
• Drive: rear wheel drive
• Body: Aluminum, Costin-Zagato
• Chassis: tubular spatial frame
• Top speed: over 300 km/h (theoretical)
• Weight: about 820 kg

Maserati 450S “Pit Bull” (1957)

In 1957, Maserati introduced the 450S, one of the most powerful racing cars of its time. Among them, the model known as the Pit Bull stands out. This car was commissioned by the American enthusiast Tony Parravano, who wanted to build a car to compete in Indianapolis.

Technical characteristics of the Maserati 450S “Pit Bull”

• Engine: 4.5-liter V8 with four camshafts
• Power: up to 500 hp at 7200 rpm
• Carburetors: 4 × Weber 45 IDM
• Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission
• Body: aluminum, designed by Fantuzzi
• Weight: approx. 790 kg
• Top speed: over 320 km/h​

“The Pit Bull was not only a technical achievement, but also a symbol of Maserati's ambitions in the American market. The car took part in numerous races in the United States, including the 12 Hours of Sebring and other prestigious competitions. Its power and aggressive character on the track earned it the nickname “Pit Bull”.

Today, the Maserati 450S “Pit Bull” is a rare collector's car that embodies the spirit of 1950s racing and Maserati's technical prowess.

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