Maserati – Pulpaddict

TEAM ZORA USA @ MONZA

The Three Mossketeers – Mike Moss, John Cutrone & Hank Gruenberg – all members of the Sarasota Café Racers, spend a week in Italy preparing for the 2025 Mille Miglia. They represent TEAM ZORA USA @ MONZA!

Similar to a travel industry FAM (familiarization) trip, The Spirit of Zora ’57 FI Corvette driver Mike Moss and TEAM ZORA USA teammate, John Cutrone were joined by Hank “Tifosi” Gruenberg on this dream trip: Milano to Monza to Modena. As guests of Maserati Corse, the motorsport soul of the luxury Italian carmaker, the Mossketeers had all-access creds for the Fanatec GT World Challenge Race, and an exclusive test session of the new Maserati MCXtrema racecar at Monza, Italy’s Temple of Speed.

The trip was curated by Cutrone, to gather hospitality, food & wine information as he will be managing TEAM ZORA USA during the Mille Miglia He is creating an agenda for Mike Moss and co-driver Bud Bennett who will be traveling the historic Brescia-Rome-Brescia route. Gruenberg, an experienced Ferrari driver will be sharing his driving and luxury goods shopping experiences in Italy with the Team.

Monza and Maserati racing were the trio from Sarasota, FL’s prime attractions. Mike is one of the lucky 62 who will be receiving a very limited production MCXtrema, and was at Monza for his first on-track experience with Andrea Bertolini, Maserati’s test and development driver. Bertolini, at just 19, was the youngest Scuderia Ferrari test driver, later moving up to work in the experimental and development labs at Ferrari. He won the WEC Championship (GTE AM) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015, and is currently Maserati’s Chief Test Driver.

After hot laps with Bertolini in an MCXtrema, Mike Moss shared his experiences trackside with Italian motorsports media and TEAM ZORA USA: “Holy crap! That was the most exhilarating experience ever. The violence of the braking, flying through the S-turns, the G-forces. Unbelievable. Andrea was amazing. He brakes at the last possible point throwing you violently forward, and then turns like the car is pegged to the track. The car never slipped in the turns. It was a violent ride. A real racecar with a real race driver. Nothing can prepare you for what you go through.”

Clearly blown away by Bertolini’s driving expertise and the MCXtrema’s capability at speed on a legendary racetrack, it should be noted that Moss is an experienced Historic racing driver. He pilots his ex-Peter Revson Can-Am Lola T163 powered by a fuel-injected 513-inch aluminum big-block, Lola T70 Mark IIIB with a 432-inch Dart/Chevy, and a Ford quad-cam Turbo Gurney Santa Ana Eagle. This was not his first rodeo!

TEAM ZORA USA’s Monza/Maserati adventure is being followed by an exhilarating week of driving, visiting automotive museums and collections, and experiencing fine Italian food, wines and hotels in preparation for the Mille Miglia ‘Storica’ next year.

For more information about Maserati Racing and the MCXtrema, please visit https://www.maserati.com/us/en/corse

Follow TEAM ZORA USA’s 1000 Miglia experiences in the USA & Italy, the preparation of The Spirit of Zora ’57 FI Corvette progress and TEAM ZORA USA @ MONZA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564994129830

Maserati’s first new UK store concept opens

Gareth Herincx

3 days ago
Auto News

Football legend and Maserati Global Brand Ambassador David Beckham added some stardust to the opening of the brand’s newest location, HR Owen Maserati Hatfield, just outside London.

Maserati’s Chief Commercial Officer, Bernard Loire, Head of EMEA, Luca Delfino, and General Manager North Europe, Peter Charters, were also in attendance, together with Ken Choo, CEO of HR Owen.

Speaking at the glittering event, Beckham said, “I’m delighted to be here to support the opening of Maserati’s first new store concept in the UK. These are exciting times for the brand and this store reflects Maserati’s commitment to great design and innovation.”

As well as marking the official opening of the new retailer, the evening also served as a celebration of the GranTurismo coupé. Sharing the limelight were an array of other current Maserati models, showcasing the brand’s breadth and elegance.

Among them were a Trofeo model of the classy and sporty new GranTurismo, the flagship MC20 Cielo super sports car and mid-size luxury SUV, Grecale, in range-topping V6 Trofeo form.

Bernard Loire, added, “From the early stages of developing a new car, to the complete luxury retail experience, everything at Maserati is designed with the client in mind.

“Our first new concept store in the UK embodies our values of passion, innovation and beauty through the lens of Italian luxury and it represents another significant milestone in our exciting growth plans, including the launches of GranTurismo and our electric Folgore range.”

The chic showroom on the outskirts of the English capital features Maserati’s ‘new store concept’, which has been designed to express the brand’s power and prowess in Italian fine craftsmanship. Combining the refinement of a sartoria – a tailor’s atelier – with the rawness of an officina – a workshop, Maserati claims it allows customers to unleash their creative passion to bring to life their own bespoke vision of the ultimate luxury car.

Check Also

Aston Martin DB5 celebrates 60th anniversary

It’s 60 years since the Aston Martin DB5 was unveiled – a model that went …

FANGIO/ MASERATI WINS MONZA IN 1953

The Trident recalls the victories of the past – FANGIO/ MASERATI WINS MONZA IN 1953 – with an eye to a new chapter in the history of motorsports.

Seventy years have passed since the Italian Grand Prix on September 13, 1953, where Juan Manuel Fangio celebrated his first and only victory of the season in the final race at Monza, at the wheel of his Maserati A6GCM, above, leading Ascari #4 and Farina #6, in Ferrari F2s.

The Argentine ace, one of the greatest of all time together with colleagues of the caliber of Senna and Schumacher – Fangio ceded the crown of the most titled Formula 1 driver to the latter after almost 50 years. After FANGIO/ MASERATI WINS MONZA IN 1953, he took the Trident to the Olympus of the brands in the highest class of motorsport in 1954 and 1957, the year of El Chueco’s fifth and final world championship.

Seventy years ago, on the Brianza circuit, the curves of the temple of speed lit up for one final race, to wipe away a subdued season for the Argentine world champion. He would go on from that victory to win his second world title the following year.

An anniversary to remember – FANGIO/ MASERATI WINS MONZA IN 1953 – Maserati has once again become a major player with a carefully thought-out racing strategy. Historic racer Mike Moss, above, right, with the Trident‘s latest racecar, the MCXtrema. One of the 62 that will be built will have his name on it!

After its first year in Formula E, where Maserati took three podiums and one victory in the 100% electric series, the Modena-based brand announced its return to GT competitions: in July, at the 24 Hours of Spa, it unveiled its latest disruptive 621-horsepower track creation, dedicated to private teams and gentleman drivers, due to take part in the Fanatec GT2 European Series from the 2024 season.

With its constant longing for laurels, Maserati also unveiled during Monterey Car Week, the surprising MCXtrema, a track-only car for a select few – 62 to be precise – fans of uncompromising performance and outstanding design. It was designed and engineered to channel unique emotions exclusively on the racetrack!

Since its debut in the racing world – back in 1926, with Alfieri Maserati first in class at the Targa Florio in his Tipo 26, excellence in motorsport has been the hallmark of Maserati’s DNA. Its history is repeating with its aspiration to write major new chapters in the greatest classes in motorsports, where the Italian brand has been confirmed as one of the most prestigious brands that can guarantee the most distinctive performance, in its road cars and those designed for the track.

For the latest information from Maserati, please visit https://www.maserati.com/us/en

SHELBY-POWERED BIRDCAGE MASERATI

Three American racing legends – Carroll Shelby, Briggs Cunningham and Al Momo – joined forces in 1963, resulting in a SHELBY-POWERED BIRDCAGE MASERATI racecar.

Transplanting American V8 engines into imported sports racers gained popularity in the early-mid-1960s. American V8s were often inexpensive, simple to modify and maintain, and in many cases lighter than imports. Most importantly, they produced maximum horsepower and torque at considerably lower and more useable rpm for improved performance and durability.

Ford’s lightweight 260-289 V8, which was elevated to international status by Carroll Shelby’s Cobras, caught the attention of Alfred Momo and Briggs Cunningham in 1963. Momo managed Briggs Cunningham’s racing team and operated a full sports car and racing services facility in New York City. Cunningham built sports cars and racecars in 1951-1955, took Corvettes to Le Mans in 1960 and was the highest-profile racing team owner-driver in the U.S in the late-1950s and early-1960s.

Both Cunningham and Momo were aware of Shelby’s success with Ford-powered Cobras and decided to bring him in while Momo was rebuilding one of two Maserati Tipo 64 Birdcages (#64.002). It had been built in 1962 as a Tipo 63 and later returned to Italy for chassis updates, rear suspension change, weight reduction and relocation of the engine for better weight distribution.

Its fully independent rear suspension was replaced with a De Dion setup located with its own tubular framework. Power came from a 60-degree 183-cubic-inch V12 with four cams and six Weber 35-DCV carburetors. Output was 320 horsepower at 8,200 rpm. This is the same engine used by Maserati in 1957 in its Formula One 250.Shelby suggested a 289-cubic inch Cobra competition engine that would put out more useable horsepower and torque at more than 1,000 rpm less than the V12. I spent a day in August 1963 at Momo Competition after the Shelby-Ford 289, fitted by Al Momo with four Weber 4610-M1 carburetors, was installed in the SHELBY-POWERED BIRDCAGE MASERATI and fired up. The 289’s headers were plumbed into rear exit quad megaphones. It had an incredible bark – much more raucous sounding than a competition Cobra. Rated at 340-horsepower at 7,000 rpm, the engine was fitted with ported and polished heads like the ones used on FIA Cobras, a Motorola alternator and Spalding Flamethrower ignition. It was shipped with an aluminum Cobra-Weber intake manifold sans carburetors, and a custom nine-quart oil pan.

Unlike previous Birdcages that Cunningham had raced, this was the first to utilize a De Dion rear suspension with a five-speed gearbox and an interchangeable Fifth gear. To adapt the Cobra engine, Momo chopped the Ford bellhousing and utilized a Maserati flywheel and clutch. Clutch and throttle, linkage were converted to hydraulic-assist utilizing slave cylinders. To compensate for the new powerplant, adjustable Armstrong shocks and beefier 42-mm knock-off hubs were added. An aluminum cross-flow radiator, aided by small vents in the aluminum rear body panels, cooled the fan-less engine. Ready to race, the SHELBY-POWERED BIRDCAGE MASERATI weighed in at 1,400 pounds, exactly one pound less than with the V12!With the help of Willem Oosthoek, author of Birdcage to Supercage and Larry Berman, Cunningham historian, we were able to track the Ford-powered Birdcage’s racing history. The first time out with Walt Hansgen driving, #64.002 took a Third overall at the Watkins Glen SCCA Nationals on August 24, 1963. Primary drivers were Cunningham, Augie Pabst and Paul Richards. Dr. Dick Thompson also spent some seat time in Tipo #64.002.

Over the years ownership of #64.002 passed from Cunningham to Pabst and then to Ham Vose. It competed at the Bridgehampton Double 500, Los Angeles Times GP at Riverside and many regional events in 1963. The last big race it ran was the USRRC event at Augusta. In later years, still fitted with the Shelby Cobra engine, it was on display at the Blackhawk Collection.

Checkout the history of the Maserati Birdcage @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maserati_Tipo_61

COBRA IN A MASERATI BIRDCAGE!

Three American racing legends – Carroll Shelby, Briggs Cunningham and Al Momo joined forces in 1963, resulting in an exotic COBRA IN A MASERATI BIRDCAGE!

Ford’s lightweight 260-289 V8, which was elevated to International status by Carroll Shelby’s Cobras, caught the attention of Alfred Momo and Briggs Cunningham in 1963. Momo managed Briggs Cunningham’s racing team and operated a full sports car and racing services facility in New York City. Cunningham built sports cars and racecars in 1951-1955, took Corvettes to Le Mans in 1960 and was the highest-profile racing team owner-driver in the U.S in the late-1950s and early-1960s.

In 1963 Cunningham spent a lot of time racing Momo-prepared Maserati Tipos, also known as Birdcages because of their unique triangulated small-diameter tubular chassis construction. The original Tipo chassis weighed just 66 pounds and resembled a large birdcage. It was originally fitted with a three-liter DOHC V12 engine, below. While considered state-of-the-art because of unique space-frame construction, they were plagued with suspension failures leading to serious handling and reliability issues. At the time Maserati was cash-starved, negatively affecting racecar development.Both Cunningham and Momo were aware of Shelby’s success with Ford-powered Cobras and decided to bring him in while Momo was rebuilding one of two Maserati Tipo 64 Birdcages (#64.002). It had been built in 1962 as a Tipo 63 and later returned to Italy for chassis updates, rear suspension change, weight reduction and relocation of the engine for better weight distribution. Its fully independent rear suspension was replaced with a De Dion setup located with its own tubular framework. Power came from a 60-degree 183-cubic-inch V12 with four cams and six Weber 35-DCV carburetors. Output was 320 horsepower at 8,200 rpm. This is the same engine used by Maserati in 1957 in its Formula One 250.

Shelby suggested a 289-cubic inch Cobra competition engine, above, that would put out more useable horsepower and torque at more than 1,000 rpm less than the V12. I spent a day in August 1963 at Momo Competition after the Shelby-Ford 289, fitted by Al Momo with four Weber 4610-M1 carburetors, was installed and fired up. The 289’s headers were plumbed into rear exit quad megaphones. It had an incredible bark – much more raucous sounding than a competition Cobra. Rated at 340-horsepower at 7,000 rpm, the engine was fitted with ported and polished heads like the ones used on FIA Cobras, a Motorola alternator and Spalding Flamethrower ignition. It was shipped with an aluminum Cobra-Weber intake manifold sans carburetors, and a custom nine-quart oil pan.

Unlike previous Birdcages that Cunningham had raced, the COBRA IN A MASERATI BIRDCAGE! was the first to utilize a De Dion rear suspension with a five-speed gearbox and an interchangeable Fifth gear. To adapt the Cobra engine, Momo chopped the Ford bellhousing and utilized a Maserati flywheel and clutch. Clutch and throttle, linkage was converted to hydraulic-assist utilizing slave cylinders.

To compensate for the new powerplant, adjustable Armstrong shocks and beefier 42-mm knock-off hubs were added. An aluminum cross-flow radiator, aided by small vents in the aluminum rear body panels, cooled the fanless engine. Ready to race, the COBRA IN A MASERATI BIRDCAGE! weighed in at 1,400 pounds, exactly one pound less than with the V12!

With the help of Willem Oosthoek, author of Birdcage to Supercage and Larry Berman, Cunningham historian, we were able to track the Ford-powered Birdcage’s racing history. The first time out with Walt Hansgen driving, #64.002 took a Third overall at the Watkins Glen SCCA Nationals on August 24, 1963. Primary drivers were Cunningham, Augie Pabst and Paul Richards. Dr. Dick Thompson also spent some seat time in Tipo #64.002.

Over the years ownership of #64.002 passed from Cunningham to Pabst and then to Ham Vose. The COBRA IN A MASERATI BIRDCAGE! competed at the Bridgehampton Double 500, Los Angeles Times GP at Riverside and many regional events in 1963. The last big race it ran was the USRRC event at Augusta. In later years, still fitted with the Shelby Cobra engine, it was on display at the Blackhawk Collection.

For more information about the Birdcage Maserati, please visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maserati_Tipo_61