Allegretti 1/2 scale Maserati

Esteemed Maserati friends,
I am currently catching up on my more recent Maserati history and reading a number of Mandarano era Viale Ciro Menotti magazines. A truly fantastic resource.
In the mid 80's there were number of references in the magazine to half scale cars (a 250F model for sure) built by Allegretti, I assume in Modena. Does anyone know if indeed such cars were built? In any number? My feeling is the answer will be very few, very expensive and all in museums or words to that effect.
I guess my next question would be, if not, does anybody else anywhere in the world make motorised half scale 250F's? We are lucky to have in the garage a couple of Tula Engineering Type 52 Bugattis for the kids - but my son is becoming Maserati obsessed, and a car with a Trident on it would be magnificent!
Thanks all.

 

I was on the 1st Car Guy Tour with Frank but back then (1986) it was a Maserati club thing. We went to a place in Modena and yes there were operating scale models such as you describe. Fantastic pieces! As I remember about $25 in 1986. I don't remember the scale but it sounds like the same thing. Frank is on here from time to time so he may pipe up.

Bob S.

 

Thanks Bob, that's great - does indeed sound like the same machines. I will keep digging too!
Gordon

 

I meant $25K.

 

I guessed!
Actually just found the VCM that covered that exact trip - including your audience with Alfieri, what an opportunity to rub shoulders with greatness. The article included a nice shot of a pair of the Allegretti cars.

 

Hello Gordon,
Do you mean this one? I saw on a trip in 2008 in Modena.

The model is not for sale !

Alfred
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At that time I had only owned a Maserati for 9 months and I had no idea who he was.

But by the time he came over to Concourso Italiano I had purchased a Bora which I had freshly restored and I got to spend a lot of time speaking with him and his lovely wife.
We all had a lot of fun on that trip. It was all a L O T less formal back then.

Bob S.

 

Hi Alfred, thanks for posting the cool picture. Yes I think this is broadly similar to the pictures I have seen of the Allegretti cars - I guess there is a strong chance this is one of them. From the pictures I have seen, there are small differences in things like mirrors, screen profile, the tail etc but I guess any that were built were bespoke and of course there were a myriad of 250F variants to base the model on.
That said, I am sure I once read of a half scale (?) car commissioned and built for Omer Orsi and I have to say this car reminds me of that. So maybe this is a quite separate example?
Thanks for the replies so far guys, most kind.
Gordon

p.s forgive the shameless plug for my friends business but this is the Bugatti equivalent
http://www.tula-bug.co.uk/t52.html

 

Hi Gordon,
the Toy-250F given to the Orsi family was much different to the Allegretti-version. It was propably made inhouse by a Factory mechanic or Fantuzzi.

Ciao!
Walter

 

Walter do you think the car in Alfred's photo is Allegretti? Or the Orsi car perhaps?
Thanks!
Gordon

 

Gordon,
No idea who made it - but its not the version given to the Orsi`s!

Ciao!
Walter

 

The picture has been taken at Adolfo Orsi's home.
I've been there just three months ago and I've personally seen this car, in the same position shown in the picture.
As Adolfo said to me, the car is NOT an Allegretti, but it has been built (single piece) in the factory.

Ciao
Andrea

 

Andrea,
as I mentioned: "....propably made inhouse by Fantuzzi or a Factory mechanic!"

Ciao!
Walter

 

Walter,
You only said "probably".
I amended this in "certainly"...

Ciao
Andrea

 

My dad bought me this car in 1966, and it was used when I got it. Don't know when it was made, but it was made in Italy, by a couple of ex-Maserati people. The story I got from the Maserati Club in the UK, was that there were 10 of these cars made. Does anyone here have more info on these old 1/2 scale cars?
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Never seen one before but its too cool for words. I have a 2 year old junior Fangio who would go nuts for such a machine. If you ever have any thoughts of ever selling, please let me know!

Best of luck,

Bill

 

Unfortunately I have no infos about thse 1/2 scale cars - but it would be worth to restore it.

Ciao!
Walter

 

Here it is.. tipo 61 birdcage build by Allegretti mid 80's has a 5 speed 125cc 2 cylinder 4 stroke moto guzzi engine in it, all aluminium looks great! I will look for more pictures..
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couple more..
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last ones.. engine..
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Looks very nice and -almost- matching the original lines of the real thing! I know of another one here in Germany.

Ciao!
Walter

 

Thanks, yes it looks fantastic, there are only 5 examples build, this one is # 1, you have images of the one in germany? You know what # it is?

 

No, I don`t have pics available nor do I know the VIN of the car. It is mounted on the wall of an ex-Maserati dealer here.

Ciao!
Walter

 

A friend from Italy sent me this one a while ago.
branko
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Nice pic!

Did not know that they also made a "Baby-Ferrari_P4".

Ciao!
Walter