What model of Maserati is this?

Looking like an elephant??? This car had letter looks from the roof to the front nose than a 250 GTO!! It should have been the meanest thing on circuits at that time if Maserati had more cash to sort out the problems the car had.

Ciao!
Walter

 

Anyone know what they sell for these days, just curiosity.

 

This car has a complicated and sad story. To summarize:

The Tipo 151 was developed from 1962 as a contender for the world endurance championship, with the objective of winning at Le Mans. It was based around the 1962 GT Prototype category, which allowed engines up to 4 litres. The engine was indeed a 4.5 litre V8 (originating from a 1957 design used on the 450S), good for 360 HP. The Tipo 151 could reach 300 Km/h.

Racing history: in 1962 Le Mans three Tipo 151 held positions near the lead (2nd, 5th, 7th), until one suffered an accident due to brake failure and the others suffered from mechanical problems (the last one blew up its engine after 187 laps).

In 1963 the 151 had been modified in its aerodynamic design, was very fast and suffered from gearbox failure while in the lead at Le Mans after 40 laps. During the 1963 season the 151 was always very quick but also proved very unreliable.

In 1964 the 151 had been modified to the final "brute" look that you show in your pictures. This car was called 151/3. The engine got as much as 430HP, the chassis was extended by 5cm. In fact it was not a new car - they used the chassis of 151/1. At Monza the 151/3 topped 315 Km/h on the straight! However it suffered a heavy accident, after which it was repaired. At Le Mans it clocked incredible speeds (311 Km/h) but first it suffered from brake failure at midnight, and was then put out of the race by an electrical problem.

After a season with mixed results, 151/3 (chassis 151.002) came back for Le Mans in 1965. Unfortunately during testing it suffered from an accident in which it was completely destroyed and its driver (Casner) died.

Today: the damaged shell of 151.002 still exist. Various parts for Tipo 151 still exist, but it's impossible to match engines, axles and gearboxes to make a correct car. Right now a project is under way to rebuild a new chassis, restore the bodywork and get a rebuilt 151.002 back on the track. The engine and other mechanical parts have already been sourced. I don't know the latest status of the project - maybe Walter Baumer knows more?

 

There are at least 3 correct engines existing. They were with Peter Kaus`ROSSO BIANCO COLLECTION and were sold with the the whole lot to Holland.
The original bodyshell and some suspension parts and the correct and matching-no. engine is owned by Philippe Marcq. This project got a replica chassis now and awaits copletition in Steve Harts famour Maserati shop in the UK. Monsieur Marcq seemed to run out of money a while ago and so it might take a while before we see & hear this monster.

Ciao!
Walter

 

Thanks Walter for the update! My last piece of information referred to the summer 2002 edition of our club magazine "Il Tridente", which had a feature article by willem oosthoek about Tipo 151, and it ended with pictures of monsieur Marcq's collection of parts... but I had no idea how far the project had gone since. Depressingly not so far it seems!

Andrea