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After a taste of success with their 300S, Maserati decided they wanted to challenge in the top classes in the major international races and began developing the450 S. Largely based on the 300 S chassis, lenghtened to accomodate the much larger and heavier DOHC V8 motor, with a much beefier DeDion rear and transmission. Nine of these were made, but as all other Maseratis of the era, suffered from dreadful reliability, were tricky to drive and handle and eventually most were crashed, burned or totally destroyed. 

450Ss were raced from '56 to about 1962, later development including a fearsome coupe version that put fear into everyone with their unprecedented top speed, with some of the biggest names doing the driving.

Shown is one of the 4 or 5  'survivors' that still exist, and even though repeatedly crashed and severely damaged back in the day, it is still being kept in vintage  racing condition and retains it's original motor, chassis and drivetrain. At 400 + HP, and given the power-to-weight ratio of the car, it must be a handful to drive and keep pointed in the right direction. The ground actually shakes when the thing passes at top speed...........

M240-P / 35mm Summilux FLE

JZG

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The short-stroke, 4477 cc. ( 4.5 liter) double overhaed cam V-8 totally dominated every aspect of the cars 's dynamics. The brake specifically, essentially carried over from the much more balanced 300s, were  barely able to do the job expected of them in longer races. Once Maserati withdrew from racing, the motor, tamed to less extreme road specifications  was used in a series of later luxury GTs and passenger cars.

JZG

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A rear view............ significantly larger and much more intimidating than the 300s from which it was derived. 

JZG

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