The Maserati Tipo 60/61 (commonly referred to as the Maserati Birdcage ) are a series of sports racing cars produced between 1959 and 1961 by Italian automobile manufacturer Maserati for privateers racing in sports car events including the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 2-litre and 3-litre racing category. It used an intricate tubular space frame chassis , containing about 200 chro - moly steel tubes welded together, arranged triangular formation at high stress areas of the chassis, hence the nickname "Birdcage". This method of construction provided a more rigid and, at the same time, lighter chassis than other racing cars of the time.
34-511: By recessing the windscreen base into the bodywork, Maserati was able to reduce the effect of new Le Mans rules demanding a tall windscreen. The Camoradi team became famous racing the Tipo 61s but, despite being very competitive, the Birdcage was somewhat unreliable and retired from many races due to problems with the drivetrain. The road legal version of the 2004 Maserati MC 12 was available in
68-408: A De Dion tube axle, Borrani 16" & 17" wheels and Pirelli Stella Bianca tyres. It was built by Gioacchino Colombo , Vittorio Bellentani and Alberto Massimino ; the tubular work was by Valerio Colotti . A streamlined version with bodywork which partially enclosed the wheels (similar to the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 "Typ Monza" ) was used in the 1956 French Grand Prix . The 250F first raced in
102-465: A "historian's nightmare". Maserati was in difficult financial circumstances and Giulio Alfieri was trying to build a competitive car on a low budget. He would retrieve various engines from the Maserati parts bins. Then, he had them modified and installed in the ten various chassis that were constructed from the ground up. The Tipo 63 was raced with four-cylinder and twelve-cylinder engines and the chassis
136-899: A 3-liter lap record and top speed record of 170 mph, DNF with engine failure, other two long tail Maseratis DNF with electrical faults. Gamble/Lilley drove their Corvette conservatively to finish 10th overall. All Camoradi Maseratis were prepared and maintained by the factory and in European races managed by Maserati. Camoradi's role was primarily financial. Gamble was the only full-time principal in Europe, living in Modena, Italy. ( key ) (Results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap; † indicates shared drive.) ( key ) (Results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap; † indicates shared drive.) Maserati 250F The Maserati 250F
170-475: A 48-second deficit in 22 laps, passing the race leader, Mike Hawthorn , on the final lap to take the win. In doing so he broke the lap record at the Nürburgring, 10 times. By the 1958 season, the 250F was totally outclassed by the new rear engined F1 cars. However, the car remained a favourite with the privateers, including Maria Teresa de Filippis , and was used by back markers through the 1960 F1 season,
204-595: A five-member works team which included Luigi Musso . In 1956 Stirling Moss won the Monaco and Italian Grands Prix , both in a works car. In 1956 three 250F T2 cars first appeared for the works drivers. Developed by Giulio Alfieri using lighter steel tubes they sported a slimmer, stiffer body and sometimes the new 315 bhp (235 kW) V12 engine of 2,491 cc (152.0 cu in ) capacity 68.7 mm × 56 mm (2.70 in × 2.20 in), although it offered little or no real advantage over
238-482: A longer nose and a fin behind the driver. The Tipo 64 featured the same 3-liter V12 as the Tipo 63 with an upgraded frame (many smaller light alloy tubes) - nicknamed "Supercage". The all new body was designed by Franco Scaglione . The Tipo 65 featured a 5-litre V8 engine similar to the one used in the Tipo 151 003 delivering about 430 hp (321 kW) pushing the car at 350 km/h (217 mph). Only one car
272-517: A presentation to the management of Goodyear and won big financial support, tires and engineering support. With the world's largest tire company supporting them, Camoradi quickly received sponsorship Shell/BP, Excide, Champion, DA Lubricants, Koni, Dow Chemical and Guest Airways. The only American sports car of that era was, of course, the Corvette, which was needed as the GT challenger in their campaign for
306-499: A prototype of a Tipo 60 would be converted to a Tipo 61 and delivered to him fielded by Maserati. Initial races with Carroll Shelby driving the car would be troublesome but the car showed promising results at the 1960 Targa Florio driven by Umberto Maglioli but would retire due to an engine failure. Casner founded the Casner Motor Racing Division who raced three Tipo 61's in the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans . In
340-539: A white colour with blue stripes livery as a tribute to the Tipo 61 and the Camoradi racing team. The Tipo 60/61 were succeeded by the Tipo 151 which used a more conventional tubular chassis. In 1958, the Orsi family assigned technical director Giulio Alfieri to devise technical solutions to make Maserati race cars more competitive on the track, he was given freedom despite the company's difficult financial situation at
374-511: The 1954 Argentine Grand Prix where Juan Manuel Fangio won the first of his two victories before he left for the new Mercedes-Benz team. Fangio won the 1954 Drivers' World Championship, with points gained with both Maserati and Mercedes-Benz; Stirling Moss raced his own privately owned 250F for the full 1954 season. Prince Bira was another driver favouring the 250F. In 1955 a 5-speed gearbox ; SU fuel injection (240 bhp) and Dunlop disc brakes were introduced. Jean Behra drove this in
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#1732794504229408-495: The 200S was mounted at the front of the car at a 45-degree angle and towards the centre for a better centre of gravity. The engine was significantly modified, having newly designed cylinder heads, a 93x72 mm bore and stroke, twin Weber 45 DCO3 carburettors, Marelli battery powered dual ignition and a revised exhaust system. It was rated at 200 hp (149 kW; 203 PS). The suspension systems consisted of spiral springs at
442-629: The 1960s known for racing Maserati Birdcage sports cars , and a Porsche and Cooper in Formula One . The team was founded by Lloyd "Lucky" Casner in 1960, after he gained interest in the Maserati Tipo 61 in August 1959, and was created to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans . The Camoradi team won the 1000km Nürburgring in 1960 despite a broken fuel line halfway through the race. The team achieved victory again in 1961, however, due to
476-455: The Camoradi team won the 1000 km Nürburgring . The Tipo 61 was the most well known model but Giulio Alfieri designed 5 different models, all based on an intricate multi-tubular frame concept. This multi-tubular construction produced a light weight and rigid chassis that was a significant competitive advantage for a racing car. All models included independent front suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes and 5-speed transmission. A De Dion type rear axle
510-560: The Corvettes were not delivered until after the first 1960 World Championship 1000 km race, Buenos Aires. Casner went to Europe in September 1959 and approached a bankrupt Maserati who had their new Birdcage T61, but no finances to race a factory team. Camoradi was their answer for 1960. Casner also formed an alliance with Porsche's Huschke Von Hanstein and brought two cars from the late Jean Behra's estate – lightweight Carrera and
544-560: The Europeans for World Championships. Casner's amateur racing team of friends had called themselves Camoradi Racing Team. So the professional team was incorporated as Camoradi USA, America's first industry-sponsored racing team with the best drivers from all race series in the best cars that could be acquired. Gamble, who had a public relations background, surveyed the New York adverting agency market, to determine their involvement with
578-520: The Nurburgring, Gamble qualified the “Yank Tank” Corvette 3rd among the big GT's (several 250 GT Ferraris), but didn't get to drive in the race as co-driver Lee Lilley started the race and DNF with a wheel bearing failure. Gurney/Moss won overall, Gregory/Munaron 4th in the team's two T61 Maseratis entered. At the Le Mans 24 hours, Gregory/Daigh led with the famed Streamliner Birdcage Maserati, set
612-561: The World Sports Car Championship. Casner met with Chevrolet President Ed Cole and Corvette "god-father" Zora Duntov. They enthusiastically offered their support with two competition option Corvettes plus parts and technical support and a generous financial contribution. However, with an agreed industry ban on racing involvement, this support was disguised as a "testing contract" and the cars were supplied thru Don Allen Chevrolet of Miami. Sadly, due to production delays,
646-483: The auto industry. He set up appointments for Casner with various advertising agencies looking for sponsorship for the new racing team. They met with success with the agency of Young & Rubicam, whose major client was the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Gamble, who knew Tony Webner, Goodyear's first Manager of Racing, convinced him to support their proposal. Casner and executives from Young and Rubicam made
680-413: The chassis. On 12 July 1959, the Tipo 60 won in its debut race, driven by Moss. This caught the attention of American racing teams competing in the 3-litre class. After demands of making a 3-litre variant of the car available, the displacement of the engine was increased to 2,890 cc (2.9 L) which resulted in an increase in the power output by 50 hp (37 kW; 51 PS). Consequently, weight
714-558: The end of the race, Casner announced his intention of racing in Europe and was looking for people to help him fund this venture. Gamble introduced himself to Casner and offered to help him with publicity, working as a motor journalist and the two formed a partnership to create a racing team. Gamble, inspired by Ecurie Ecosse, the Scottish National Racing Team that spawned Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart, suggested an American “Olympic Team” of motor racing to challenge
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#1732794504229748-453: The front and De Dion rear axle with single transverse leaf spring. The construction techniques used on the chassis allowed for a low weight of 570 kg (1,257 lb). The first car was completed in May 1959 and was given to Stirling Moss for testing. Initial tests revealed cracks in the chassis. The development team would resolve the issue by changing the grade of the steel used to construct
782-441: The front at a 45° angle for a weight of 600 kg (1,323 lb) pushing the car at a speed of 285 km/h (177 mph). The mid-engined Birdcage cars began with the Tipo 63. Maserati now changed to a mid-engine configuration using a similar multi-tubular chassis construction as the Tipo 60/61. The rear suspension was changed to an independent double wishbone configuration. The Tipo 63 through 65 cars have been described as
816-531: The older straight 6. It was later developed into the 3 litre V12 that won two races powering the Cooper T81 and T86 from 1966 to 1969, the final "Tipo 10" variant of the engine having three valves and two spark plugs per cylinder. In 1957 Juan Manuel Fangio drove to four more championship victories, including his final win at German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring (Aug. 4, 1957), where he overcame
850-424: The race, the Tipo 61 would show impressive performance, clocking speeds of 272.0 km/h (169 mph) and maintaining a lead over cars fielded by rival Ferrari of over 4 minutes but a starter motor problem would push the team to last place. Rain combined with the impractical windshield design would once again not let the car finish. The Tipos never won Le Mans due to reliability issues, however in both 1960 and 1961
884-1101: The special Behra-Porsche F2, which served as a test bed and prototype for the Porsche's 1960 F2 cars and 1962 F1 1,500cc Formula. Camoradi “works” Maseratis, led every World Sports Car Championship race of 1960, and won only the 1,000 km Nurburging with Gurney/Moss. Led Nassau 1959 (Shelby DNF, Mechanical), Porsche RSK 2 Liter winner (Bonnier), GT winner Porsche Carrera (Cuevas); 1960 1,000 km Buenos Aires (Gurney/Gregory DNF Mechanical and accident); Argentine GP (Gregory Behra-Porsche); Havana GP for Sports Cars – 8 car entry, winning overall Moss Maserati, 2 Liter Gregory Porsche RSK, GT Corvette Jeffords, under 2 liter GT Cuevas Porsche Carrera; Sebring 12 hour, largest team entry ever of 8 cars, 3 Maseratis (Gurney/Moss led 8 hours DNF Mechanical), 2 Porsche Carreras (under 2 liter GT winner and 2nd OA GT Sheppard/Dungan), 2 Corvettes Jeffords/Weustoff/Gamble (Gamble drove 12 hours solo – only one of two known to have done this – earned press notice as “iron man” Gamble). OSCA 750 (McCluggage/Windridge DNF). At
918-442: The time. The initial idea was to use a backbone chassis, as used by Maserati's competitors but that idea did not go ahead. In October 1958, Alfieri and his team came up with an innovative idea which consisted of using 200 small steel tubes having a diameter between 10 and 15 mm welded together in very short lengths in a complex mesh to form a cage like structure. A compact 1,990 cc (2.0 L) four-cylinder engine taken from
952-575: The unreliability of their cars they never won Le Mans. Camoradi also purchased a single Tipo 63 (a more powerful and faster car) but it also suffered the reliability problems of the Tipo 61s. Camoradi USA was incorporated in the summer of 1959 and ended due to mismanagement and loss of sponsorship 18 months later. Casner stayed on in Europe and re-incorporated his efforts as Camoradi International (1961). Camoradi International continued with sponsorship from Dow Chemical, Maserati and Porsche, and with drivers Stirling Moss, Graham Hill and Masten Gregory. Casner
986-480: Was a racing car made by Maserati of Italy used in '2.5 litre' Formula One racing between January 1954 and November 1960. Twenty-six examples were made. The 250F principally used the SSG, 220 bhp (at 7400rpm) 2,493 cc (152.1 cu in) capacity 84 mm × 75 mm (3.31 in × 2.95 in) Maserati A6 straight-six engine, ribbed 13.4" drum brakes , wishbone independent front suspension,
1020-417: Was built using a modified Tipo 63 chassis. The Maserati Birdcage 75th is a concept car to honor both the Birdcage and the 75th anniversary of Pininfarina . It features a 700 bhp (522 kW) V12 engine . Camoradi Casner Motor Racing Division – also known as America Camoradi ( ca sner mo tor ra cing di vision), Camoradi USA or Camoradi International – was an American racing team of
1054-501: Was increased to 600 kg (1,323 lb) due to the use of a revised propeller shaft in the engine. This change did not affect the fuel consumption which gave the car a significant advantage during races. The revised version of the car was called the Tipo 61. The Tipo 60/61's impressive performance would catch the attention of "Lucky" Casner . After testing a prototype of the car at the Modena Autodrome, and on his request,
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1088-528: Was killed at a LeMans practice in 1965 while trying to qualify a Maserati Tipo 151 for the French distributor, due to a mechanical failure. Camoradi USA was America's first industry-backed international racing team, pioneering the industry backing of racing as we know it. At a midsummer 1959 SCCA race in Miami, while racing a Ferrari 250TR, Casner met fellow driver Fred Gamble . During the victory presentation at
1122-465: Was radically redesigned when the first version proved less competitive than the Tipo 61. The Tipo 63 first used a 4-cylinder engine similar to the Tipo 61 and later a V12 engine from the 1957 250F Grand Prix car. The Tipo 63 cars raced in 1961 with both engines, placing 4th at the 24 hours of Le Mans (12 cylinder version) with Briggs Cunningham 's team. Count Volpi's Scuderia Serenissima hired Medardo Fantuzzi to modify one of their Tipo 63 cars with
1156-422: Was used on the Tipo 60 and 61. The Tipo 60 featured a small 2-litre 4-cylinder engine rated at 200 hp (149 kW), located in the front and tilted over at a 45° angle for a lower center of gravity. The weight was 570 kg (1,257 lb) and the car had at a maximum speed of 270 km/h (168 mph). The Tipo 61 featured a 2.9-liter 4-cylinder engine rated at 250 hp (186 kW), located in
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