One of only 28, Ferrari 500 Mondial-rivaling Maserati 200S’ ever built during the mid-1950s will be on display during Milan Design Week. The two-seater sports car, 28 examples of which were built between 1955 and 1957, competed in high-profile events like the Targa Florio and the Imola Grand Prix, and is set to be Maserati’s headline attraction during the ‘FuoriConcorso’ automotive culture event in Como at the ‘LARUSMIANI Boutique.’ The 200S will be joined in the display by a one-off, customized Grecale SUV showcasing the Maserati Fuoriserie Customization Program, and a “design piece” co-developed between Maserati and furniture designer Giorgetti.
After its racing program concluded in 1957, this particular 200S bounced from factory-to-factory until, in 1999, it took up residence in the Musée automobile PANINI in Modena. That same year, it was sold to its current owners, who commissioned a full restoration to concours condition. And before you ask, no, it’s not for sale!
Beautiful… But Fragile On-Track
Though by 1954 Maserati had acknowledged it was time for its A6GCS to be put out to pasture, there was still plenty of life left in its inline, 3.0-liter four-cylinder, and it wasn’t long before 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter alternatives – the latter capable of producing 190 CV (187-horsepower) – were introduced for the A6GCS’ more sleek and nimble, 150S and 200S successors, designated ‘Tipo 53’ and ‘Tipo 52’ for some illogical reason. Both shared the same conventional tubular chassis and double wishbones at the front, and while Maserati at first opted to include a racier live axle on the 200S, a succession of customers asking to see the manager soon led to the 200S adopting its smaller sibling’s rear leaf springs.
Designed by the legendary Giulio Alfieri, the 200S was a purpose-built racecar with “sensuous” bodywork – complete with sweeping fenders and an elegantly small front grille – hand-wrought by Medardo Fantuzzi. The latter would later go on to build the initially-Pinifarina-styled, but later Luigi Chinetti-commissioned, Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Spyder ‘Fantuzzi.’ Interestingly though, this particular 200S, built in April 1956, is the second of only a few select models with sports bodywork built by Fiandri.
“One 200S, driven by the late, great Stirling Moss, broke the model’s duck by taking its first podium at Monza in 1956, just a few months before a breakthrough win.”
It certainly looked the part, and its four-cylinder beating heart was tried and tested, but early results for the 200S unfortunately were not good. Transmission issues meant it failed to go the distance on debut at the 1955 Imola Grand Prix, and both models entered for that year’s Targa Florio fared little better (ironically overall victory was taken by the A6GCS). One 200S, co-driven no less by Cesare Perdisa and the late, great Stirling Moss, broke the series’ duck by finishing 2nd at the Supercortemaggiore Grand Prix in Monza in 1956, just a few months before a breakthrough win at that year’s Bara GP.
Modifications to meet new technical regulations for world sports car racing meant the 200SI (‘Sport Internazionale’) evolution was introduced for 1957, now boasting a full-width windscreen, two functioning doors, room for a spare wheel, and, rather comically, a makeshift soft top roof. The advent of Maserati’s 2.5-liter engine though, and the arrival of its more agile 250S vessel, meant the 200S didn’t last beyond 1957. In total, only 28 examples of the 200S/200SI left Italy’s motor valley.
Incidentally, alongside the “exclusive automotive culture” FuoriConcorso on 24-25 May, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will be held that same weekend, and at which BMW will unveil three world premieres, including one from M Division and an “elegantly sporting one-off.”
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