Equipment
RHD. Wire wheels, full width Plexiglas windshield, side exhausts, covered headlights. Modern compact starter and altertor. Freshly restored to better than new condition. The individual chassis histories of the 450S Maseratis are confused, as the factory swapped and figled to keep going in the face of misfortune, poor preparation and fincial travail. The car with this chassis number was driven by Moss and Jenkinson in the 1957 Mille Miglia but famously failed almost within sight of the starting line when the brake pedal shaft broke. Eventually entered in the Caracas race at the end of the season where the car with this number burnt to a crisp and was abandoned there by the broke Maserati team. The surviving bits of 4503 and 4505 joined 4504 in Joel Finns collection in the early 60s, then were traded around for years until they became so valuable they began to coalesce into the vehicle offered here. The engine, gearbox and chassis plate are claimed to be the origils from 4505. Some suspension parts also are claimed to be origil 450S pieces. Everything else is new construction. When that big Maserati V8 fires up, however, no one within earshot cares about authenticity. The sound and fury is enough to draw lovers of classic performance cars like banks attracted Willy Sutton. Its condition and presentation are above reproach.
Market commentary
RM very honestly conditioned the presentation of this car in the catalog, stating the differing points of view about the fate of chassis 4505. The controversy is reflected both in the estimate and in the bidders reluctance to get any closer to it than this bid. There was some discussion after the sale that RM might put together a deal involving a trade in, but that has apparently not been concluded, leaving this magnificent, beautiful, powerful and brutally fast machine still available.