Maserati Just Certified A Forgotten 1950s Racing Icon

Historical Significance

Brands with as rich a history as Maserati have produced some truly iconic race cars and sports cars over the many decades. In modern times, Maserati has acknowledged these iconic cars by introducing the Maserati Classiche heritage department.

Not just a restorer or preserver of Maserati classics, Classiche is also there to certify some of the forgotten icons that are slowly making their way back to the limelight. One very rare model has just been certified, joining an exclusive club.

One of Thirty

The car in question is a 1957 Maserati 200S, built as a sports race car to compete in racing as well. This example is finished in the iconic Maserati red and was built using aluminum between 1955 and 1957. It is chassis number 2406 and is responsible for the Classiche department reaching an important milestone: 100 certified cars since the department’s establishment.

Another reason chassis 2406 is important is that back in the 1980s, it was rediscovered and restored by a highly revered member of the Maserati community, Ermanno Cozza. Cozza joined the company in 1951 and was part of the Experimental Department and the Technical Office, and later contributed to the creation of the Maserati Historical Archive. He continues to visit the company and even supported the team during the 200S’s certification process.

Like most icons, the 200S was born as an answer to the competition; Ferrari‘s 500 Mondial was dominating 1950s racing, making the Maserati A6GCS obsolete. The Trident brand built a new challenger using the 4CF2 engine, developed from 1952 for Formula 2, and evolved into the 200S project. It made its racing debut during the Trofeo Supercortemaggiore on 24 June 1956; although luck was not on the team’s side, the car performed well enough for them to enter it into production.

Classiche

The 1957 200S, now certified by Classiche, had to undergo a rigorous certification checklist with 300 technical verification points. Part of the process is Classiche matching parts and components with official records from the Maserati Historical Archive. After passing the certification process, these cars are given a high-value Certificate of Authenticity, a personalized enamel emblem, and a bespoke dossier book.