Yes We Kamm: <br/>Another Tail From The Revival
So Fast, So Good, So Long

The constantly shifting business of aerodynamic development in motorsport always forces designers’ hands: one specific avenue invariably proves the best at any given moment in racing time, forcing everyone to high-tail down the same path.

That can lead to years of ugly ducklings with just one or two swans, particularly in today’s increasingly homogenised world. But circumstances can also combine to create glorious periods where not just individual cars but entire grids are packed with stunning cars, all rocking variations on one particularly epic look. Take 1970s high-airbox Formula 1 cars. The nuclear-powered wedges of late-era Can-Am. Group C monsters from the death throes of that series.

I’d like to add this phenomenon from the mid-‘60s: the rise of the Bread Vans. This was an explosion of Kamm-tail GTs that melded the curvaceous aesthetic of the previous decade to the harder edges that would follow. That’s why I’d like to show you this beautiful Maserati Tipo 151/4 Berlinetta that was running at the Goodwood Revival. Marmite Kamm-tail cars might be, but I know which side I come down on.

Maserati_Tipo_151-4-002

The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupés shown off in my previous article are an obvious ace in the Kamm pack, but if you look at the grids from the ’64 and ’65 running of the Le Mans 24 Hours then you find a deck stuffed with aces. There’s the GT40 of course, but also the Sunbeam Tiger (I was very happy to see that car mentioned in the comments of the Daytona piece), Ferrari 250 and 275, Porsche 904, the stunning Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2 and more.

Maserati_Tipo_151-4-003

The Kamm principle wasn’t new – it was first tested in the ‘30s – but this period was when it came into racing vogue. The idea was to match a profiled front section with a hard cut rear, creating an area of low pressure to reduce drag and increase stability.

Maserati_Tipo_151-4-004

This model ran as a Tipo 151/3 in the ’64 24 Hours, before being upgraded replaced in terrible circumstances with an even more extreme roadster the following year in the Tipo 65. It was the last of the Tipo 151 line, which had begun with a trio of 4-litre V8 projectiles back in 1951. They were basically a Tipo 61 Birdcage with a roof, so a bit incongruous-looking – rather like the early Cobra coupés – but extremely quick.

Maserati_Tipo_151-4-005

Development had been funded by the American Briggs-Cunningham team and Colonel Simone’s Maserati France dealership. After Le Mans in ’63, Briggs-Cunningham took his pair of cars back to the States, but Colonel Simone continued to evolve his chase over the next two years.

Maserati_Tipo_151-4-006

In this 151/4 spec, the wheelbase and track were lengthened, and larger 15-inch Boranni wire rims mounted the latest wide-profile Dunlop rubber.

Maserati_Tipo_151-4-007

The V8 is mounted longitudinally up front; with its offset trumpets the engine is a work of art. A 5-litre with Lucas fuel injection and dry sump, the Maserati engine produces 430hp and pushes the lithe coupé to almost 200mph. A five-speed Colotti ‘box completed the package in period.

You can get a taste for the glorious music it makes from this 2012 video clip.

Maserati_Tipo_151-4-008

Much as it sounds gorgeous even when idling and is shockingly quick, really it’s all about the body. With that super-long wheelbase, the hand-beaten aluminium body looks like it’s been draped over the chassis, arcing down slightly before rising up to those high haunches and the iconic Kamm tail.

Maserati_Tipo_151-4-009

Designed by Piero Drogo, who also penned the Ferrari 250 GT SWB ’Breadvan’, it was constructed by Mario Allegretti. The whole car is barely over three-feet high – standing next to the cockpits it’s waist-high. But it’s so long… The larger rear wheels also give it a slight hot rod feel.

Maserati_Tipo_151-4-010

Underneath is a tube-frame chassis; the car weighed less than 900kg, so it’s no wonder it was fast. Thankfully the Kamm tail and Drogo redesign flattened out some high speed wandering, which must have been horrific to have in the early cars at those speeds.

Maserati_Tipo_151-4-011

Up front is conventional double-wishbone independent suspension with coils and Koni telescopic shocks. You can see the some of the arrangement through the nose air slot.

The 2012 Goodwood Revival historic motorsport and aviation event

The rear was a different matter though: far more cutting edge for the time. Designed by Dallara, it featured an articulated De Dion axle with twin trailing arms and coils combined with Koni telescopic shocks. Extra struts allowed for more lateral movement, and Girling disk brakes

Maserati_Tipo_151-4-013

In the ’64 race the Maserati France entered car was as fast as the new Ford GTs once it overcame some initial teething trouble, although it retired with electrical issues whilst in third place overall. Further niggles at Reims and Montlhéry later that season prevented the big coupé realising its potential, and then came the fateful ’65 Le Mans Test Day.

Up-gunned to 450hp as the 151/4, the Maserati was even faster – but driver Lloyd ‘Lucky’ Casner didn’t live up to his name: he lost control in the wet after the Mulsanne kink, barrel-rolling into the trees. Casper was killed and the car destroyed.

The 2012 Goodwood Revival historic motorsport and aviation event

One prototype and two examples were ever created; a replica was later built using the original bucks. Only one car survives in its original state, with two crashed and written off.

This car has been constructed using the remains of crashed cars harvested from Maserati, using as many original parts as possible and again referring to the Allegretti bucks. A new, more accurate chassis was crafted for the project, but the majority of the suspension and brakes are original.

The 2012 Goodwood Revival historic motorsport and aviation event

I first saw this Maserati back at the 2013 Revival, whilst it was still in a raw, unfinished state. But now it’s looking factory fresh, sporting the French racing team colours it carried in period. It’s as close to authentic as it’s possible to get with this unique machine.

Maserati_Tipo_151-4-016

Always fast, this Maserati was yet another heartbreaking story of how an emotive car almost came out on top. It could have been the one held up as the underdog, under-funded Maserati team taking on and beating the all-conquering Ferraris, but instead it’s now almost a footnote.

Once again, thanks to the Revival we get to remember the good as well as the great.

Jonathan Moore
Instagram: speedhunters_jonathan
jonathan@speedhunters.com

Cutting Room Floor
Maserati_Tipo_151-4-017
Maserati_Tipo_151-4-018
Maserati_Tipo_151-4-019
Maserati_Tipo_151-4-020
Maserati_Tipo_151-4-021
The 2012 Goodwood Revival historic motorsport and aviation event
The 2012 Goodwood Revival historic motorsport and aviation event
The 2012 Goodwood Revival historic motorsport and aviation event
The 2012 Goodwood Revival historic motorsport and aviation event
ADVERTISEMENT

Comments



Comments are closed.

17 comments

by Oldest
by Best by Newest by Oldest
1
Gianluca FairladyZ

Thanks for this nice post! The shape is just wonderful! So sad Maserati doesn't make such cars anymore...

2

Absolutely gorgeous machine. I've come to enjoy Maserati more over the last few years, as my neighbor drives a 300S and a A6 GCS - and there's nothing as nice as waking up to the smell and noise when he's off for a drive.

(By the way, not sure we have injection and Weber carbs here?)

3

Normally I like to annoy Jonathan by posting a photoshop-slammed version of the car, but this thing does not need it. That side profile...

4

Peter_Kelly Hehe, finally a car you can't mess with! ;)

5

@Kuroneko Ah yes, the original engine config was carbs, then it changed to FI for the later two versions. The 151 really did change over its short life...

6

Gianluca FairladyZ Well, I did like the MC12 and the GT range, and the new Alfieri is stunning – like a shark... But somehow the move towards everyone making stupidly big cars has touched Maserati, and their latest saloons leave me cold... The engine noise hasn't gone though: that still stirs the soul!

7
Gianluca FairladyZ

Jonathan Moore Gianluca FairladyZ   As long as the engine's do their job, the world is still saved! Isn't it?

8

Jonathan Moore Ah ha! Makes sense. As does the Marmite comment, which I am sure will choke others, but I lapped up...

9

The diesel in the Ghibli leaves a bit to be desired, sound wise!

10

Looking at the plastic fuel lines makes me cringe and wonder how has this car lasted so long ?

11

Jonathan Moore Peter_Kelly Don't make me pull a Peter! I'll make it scrape if I have too!

12

roninrs211 They are not just 'plastic', but high-pressure thick-walled Hard Nylon. These are un-dyed, but the same is found on more recent vehicles, mostly dyed black these days. Early FI systems used rigid metal lines for pressure containment, but obviously their lack of flexibility caused reliability issues.

13

My version take in Le Mans

14

Thanks for my new wallpaper - that engine and velocity stacks.... I need a quiet moment  ;-)

15

Is the red #02 the original survivor?

16

What a stunning machine!  I've gotta find a good book on these 60's racers.  The 50's-60's era produced some of the most curvy and sexy cars ever.

17

the car was very good 
really really like to see the car that shiny new car fits like made ​​for walking trailsthe car was very good http://utamadomino.com/app/img/peraturan.html" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">http://utamadomino.com/app/img/peraturan.html and very fast http://utamadomino.com/app/img/jadwal.html" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">http://utamadomino.com/app/img/jadwal.html mix of colors http://utamadomino.com/app/img/promo.html" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">http://utamadomino.com/app/img/promo.html from which to http://utamadomino.com/app/img/panduan.html" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">http://utamadomino.com/app/img/panduan.html make want pobud http://utamadomino.com/ see hatnya http://dokterpoker.org/app/img/peraturan.html" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">http://dokterpoker.org/app/img/peraturan.html kecepatanya http://dokterpoker.org/app/img/jadwal.html" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">http://dokterpoker.org/app/img/jadwal.html was very nice ,http://dokterpoker.org/app/img/promo.html" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">http://dokterpoker.org/app/img/promo.html  suitable for a "http://dokterpoker.org/app/img/panduan.html" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">http://dokterpoker.org/app/img/panduan.html sharp bend http://dokterpoker.org or not sharp I guess motorists http://633cash.com/Games like this is http://633cash.com/Pengaturan" very skilled in the speed I hope I can membilinya someday will whether http://633cash.com/Daftar http://633cash.com/Promo there are http://633cash.com/Berita new cars http://633cash.com/Livescore are better I http://raksasapoker.com/app/img/peraturan.html" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">http://raksasapoker.com/app/img/peraturan.html 'll wait for it , with a stylish car classic http://raksasapoker.com/app/img/jadwal.html" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">http://raksasapoker.com/app/img/jadwal.html style I http://raksasapoker.com/app/img/promo.html" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">http://raksasapoker.com/app/img/promo.html also like http://raksasapoker.com/app/img/panduan.html" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">http://raksasapoker.com/app/img/panduan.html to see would be http://raksasapoker.com/ whether there is a http://yakuza4d.com/peraturan" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">http://yakuza4d.com/peraturan car that is http://yakuza4d.com as fast and forius http://yakuza4d.com/home like in the "http://yakuza4d.com/daftar movie , the car very http://yakuza4d.com/cara_main good car http://yakuza4d.com/hasil designed a way apparently hopefully http://yakuza4d.com/buku_mimpi there will be new cars more good and the price is quite pantastis then chances are I can membilinya the same as you have at this time

OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS