Maserati A6GCM
Encyclopedia
The Maserati A6GCM is a single seater racing car from the Italian manufacturer Maserati
. Only 12 cars were built between 1951 and 1953.
family of Maserati vehicles which comprised many models from street cars to racing cars. The name of the car is derived as follows:
A6 : the name of the series : A for Alfieri (Maserati), 6 for 6 cylinders
G : Ghisa, the engine block was in cast iron
C : Corsa, for Racing
M : Monoposto, for single seater.
The Tipo6 CS (Corsa Sportivo: barchetta) has been spotted as a good contender even in front of single seaters in Formula 2, despite its small engine. Thus Maserati decided to develop a specific model that would meet the new FIA racing rules.
The inline 6 cylinder two liter engine with DOHC and 12 valves, 3 double barrel Weber carburetor
s, delivered 160 hp to 197 hp. It was developed by Alberto Massimino
and Vittorio Bellentani
.
The engine was associated to a 4 speed gearbox.
The frame was developed by Medardo Fantuzzi
. The car was built in aluminum. The car weighed between 550 kg (1,212.5 lb) and 570 kg (1,256.6 lb) depending of the engine installed. It used, at the rear a rigid rear axle with cantilevered leaf springs combined with « Houdaille » shock absorbers, in front coil springs are used also combined with « Houdaille » shock absorbers. The brakes are hydraulic driven drums. The initial wheelbase was 2280 mm (89.8 in) to be extended to 2310 mm (90.9 in) in the later version. The front track was initially 1278 mm (50.3 in) and was reduced to 1200 mm (47.2 in) as the car received larger wheels in its later version. The rear track received the same treatment going from 1225 mm (48.2 in) to 1160 mm (45.7 in). The spoked wheels were initially of 4X15 to be replaced by 5X16 in 1953.
The 1953 version was the work of Gioacchino Colombo
who modified the car significantly: now with a nearly 200 hp engine, new suspension and improved brakes. The body was also reworked and made narrower and the car received an oval front grill. This version is known as the "interim" A6GCM or A6SSG.
The A6GCM foreshadowed the next model: the 250F
. In fact several of the later A6GCMs, produced in late 1952 and 1953, were converted to 250Fs in 1954.
races (9 wins) and in Formula Two
(10 wins) as well as in non-championship events as it was often the case in the early 1950s.
With 151 race starts and 81 race finishes, with 23 podiums and 6 Grand-Prix race wins, the A6GCM has had an exceptional track record supported by exceptional drivers.
Note: when Maserati competed in its home town, Modena, it managed to finish in the top three positions.
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
. Only 12 cars were built between 1951 and 1953.
Introduction
The A6GCM belongs to the A6Maserati A6
Maserati A6 were various cars made by Maserati of Italy, named for the Alfieri brothers and for the straight-six engine....
family of Maserati vehicles which comprised many models from street cars to racing cars. The name of the car is derived as follows:
A6 : the name of the series : A for Alfieri (Maserati), 6 for 6 cylinders
G : Ghisa, the engine block was in cast iron
C : Corsa, for Racing
M : Monoposto, for single seater.
The Tipo6 CS (Corsa Sportivo: barchetta) has been spotted as a good contender even in front of single seaters in Formula 2, despite its small engine. Thus Maserati decided to develop a specific model that would meet the new FIA racing rules.
Design
Weber carburetor
Weber is an Italian company producing carburetors, currently owned by Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A., in turn part of the Fiat Group.The company was established as...
s, delivered 160 hp to 197 hp. It was developed by Alberto Massimino
Alberto Massimino
Alberto Massimino was an Italian automotive engineer.Born in Turin, he studied mechanical engineering in Switzerland and worked for FIAT , where he followed Vittorio Jano who had left for Alfa Romeo. The 1500 cc, 12-cylinder 806/504 was driven by Pietro Bordino in the Gran Premio di Milano...
and Vittorio Bellentani
Vittorio Bellentani
Vittorio Bellentani was an Italian automobile engineer and racing driver.He studied in Germany at University of Freiburg before joining Enzo Ferrari in 1940, where he first worked on the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 .He then worked for Maserati , developing the Maserati A6 , and Maserati 250F, that...
.
- Initially with a 1987 cc capacity (long stroke, 72.6x80 mm, with a compression ratio of 13.5 :1) delivering 160 hp, in 1951 and 1952
- Then with a 1989 cc capacity (short stroke 75x75 mm, with a compression ratio of 13.5 :1, with twin ignition) delivering 180 hp, in late 1952
- And finally with a 1960 cc capacity (shorter stroke 76.2x72 mm, with a compression ratio of 12 :1, with twin ignition) delivering 197 hp, in 1953.
The engine was associated to a 4 speed gearbox.
The frame was developed by Medardo Fantuzzi
Medardo Fantuzzi
Medardo Fantuzzi was an Italian automotive engineer, known for his Carrozzeria Fantuzzi body workshop.He and his brother, Gino Fantuzzi were famous for their affiliation with Maserati, where they got involved in building the Maserati A6 GCS , Maserati 350S and Maserati 200S...
. The car was built in aluminum. The car weighed between 550 kg (1,212.5 lb) and 570 kg (1,256.6 lb) depending of the engine installed. It used, at the rear a rigid rear axle with cantilevered leaf springs combined with « Houdaille » shock absorbers, in front coil springs are used also combined with « Houdaille » shock absorbers. The brakes are hydraulic driven drums. The initial wheelbase was 2280 mm (89.8 in) to be extended to 2310 mm (90.9 in) in the later version. The front track was initially 1278 mm (50.3 in) and was reduced to 1200 mm (47.2 in) as the car received larger wheels in its later version. The rear track received the same treatment going from 1225 mm (48.2 in) to 1160 mm (45.7 in). The spoked wheels were initially of 4X15 to be replaced by 5X16 in 1953.
Evolution
Gioacchino Colombo
Gioacchino Colombo was an Italian automobile engine designer.Colombo was born in Legnano. He began work as an apprentice to Vittorio Jano at Alfa Romeo. In 1937, Colombo designed the 158 engine for the Alfetta and caught the attention of Enzo Ferrari. Ferrari asked Colombo to design a small V12...
who modified the car significantly: now with a nearly 200 hp engine, new suspension and improved brakes. The body was also reworked and made narrower and the car received an oval front grill. This version is known as the "interim" A6GCM or A6SSG.
The A6GCM foreshadowed the next model: the 250F
Maserati 250F
The Maserati 250F was a racing car made by Maserati of Italy used in '2.5 litre' Formula One racing between January 1954 and November 1960. Twenty-six examples were made.-Mechanical details:...
. In fact several of the later A6GCMs, produced in late 1952 and 1953, were converted to 250Fs in 1954.
Results
The same model raced in Formula OneFormula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
races (9 wins) and in Formula Two
Formula Two
Formula Two, abbreviated to F2, is a type of open wheel formula racing. It was replaced by Formula 3000 in 1985, but the FIA announced in 2008 that Formula Two would return for 2009 in the form of the FIA Formula Two Championship...
(10 wins) as well as in non-championship events as it was often the case in the early 1950s.
With 151 race starts and 81 race finishes, with 23 podiums and 6 Grand-Prix race wins, the A6GCM has had an exceptional track record supported by exceptional drivers.
Note: when Maserati competed in its home town, Modena, it managed to finish in the top three positions.
Podium finishes
| Class | Date | Race | Driver | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F 1 | 9/1952 | 23rd Gran Premio d´Italia 1952 Italian Grand Prix The 1952 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on September 7, 1952 at Monza. It was the eighth and final round of the 1952 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Race report :Juan Manuel... |
José Froilán González José Froilán González José Froilán González is an Argentine former racing driver, particularly notable for scoring Ferrari's first win in a Formula One World Championship race at the 1951 British Grand Prix. He made his Formula One debut for Scuderia Achille Varzi in the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix... |
2 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 1 | 1/1953 | 1st Gran Premio de la Rep. Argentina 1953 Argentine Grand Prix The 1953 Argentine Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on January 18, 1953 at the Autódromo Juan y Óscar Gálvez, Buenos Aires. It was the first round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally... |
José Froilán González José Froilán González José Froilán González is an Argentine former racing driver, particularly notable for scoring Ferrari's first win in a Formula One World Championship race at the 1951 British Grand Prix. He made his Formula One debut for Scuderia Achille Varzi in the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix... |
3 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 1 | 6/1953 | 4th Grote Prijs van Nederland 1953 Dutch Grand Prix The 1953 Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on June 7, 1953 at the Circuit Zandvoort. It was the third round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Race report :The Ferraris... |
Felice Bonetto Felice Bonetto Felice Bonetto was a racing driver who raced in Formula One for the Maserati, Scuderia Milano and Alfa Romeo teams.... |
3 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 1 | 6/1953 | 15th Grand Prix de Belgique 1953 Belgian Grand Prix The 1953 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on June 21, 1953 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. It was the fourth round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Race report :A... |
Onofre Marimón Onofre Marimón Onofre Agustín Marimón was a racing driver from Zárate, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He participated in 11 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on July 1, 1951... |
3 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 1 | 7/1953 | 11th Grand Prix de l´ACF 1953 French Grand Prix The 1953 French Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on July 5, 1953 at Reims-Gueux. It was the fifth round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.... |
Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing... |
2 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 1 | 7/1953 | 11th Grand Prix de l´ACF 1953 French Grand Prix The 1953 French Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on July 5, 1953 at Reims-Gueux. It was the fifth round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.... |
José Froilán González José Froilán González José Froilán González is an Argentine former racing driver, particularly notable for scoring Ferrari's first win in a Formula One World Championship race at the 1951 British Grand Prix. He made his Formula One debut for Scuderia Achille Varzi in the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix... |
3 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 1 | 7/1953 | 6 RAC British Grand Prix 1953 British Grand Prix The 1953 British Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on 18 July 1953 at Silverstone Circuit. It was the sixth round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Classification :- Drivers'... |
Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing... |
2 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 1 | 8/1953 | 16th Grosser Preis von Deutschland 1953 German Grand Prix The 1953 German Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on August 2, 1953 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It was the seventh round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used.- Classification :-... |
Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing... |
2 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 1 | 9/1953 | 24th Gran Premio d´Italia 1953 Italian Grand Prix The 1953 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on September 13, 1953 at Monza. It was the ninth and final round of the 1953 World Drivers' Championship, which was run to Formula Two rules in 1952 and 1953, rather than the Formula One regulations normally used... |
Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing... |
1 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 2 | 9/1952 | 3rd Gran Premio di Modena | José Froilán González José Froilán González José Froilán González is an Argentine former racing driver, particularly notable for scoring Ferrari's first win in a Formula One World Championship race at the 1951 British Grand Prix. He made his Formula One debut for Scuderia Achille Varzi in the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix... |
2 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 2 | 3/1953 | 3rd Gran Premio di Siracusa | Emmanuel de Graffenried | 1 | Enrico Platé |
| F 2 | 4/1953 | 5th Lavant Cup Goodwood | Emmanuel de Graffenried | 1 | Privateer |
| F 2 | 5/1953 | 6th Gran Premio di Napoli | Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing... |
2 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 2 | 5/1953 | 6th Gran Premio di Napoli | José Froilán González José Froilán González José Froilán González is an Argentine former racing driver, particularly notable for scoring Ferrari's first win in a Formula One World Championship race at the 1951 British Grand Prix. He made his Formula One debut for Scuderia Achille Varzi in the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix... |
3 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 2 | 5/1953 | 17th Internationales ADAC Eifelrennen Eifelrennen The ADAC Eifelrennen was an annual motor race, organised by ADAC Automobile Club from 1922 to 2003, held in Germany's Eifel mountain region even before the Nürburgring was built there.- History :... |
Emmanuel de Graffenried | 1 | Privateer |
| F 2 | 9/1953 | 4th Gran Premio di Modena | Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing... |
1 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 2 | 9/1953 | 4th Gran Premio di Modena | Onofre Marimón Onofre Marimón Onofre Agustín Marimón was a racing driver from Zárate, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He participated in 11 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on July 1, 1951... |
2 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 2 | 9/1953 | 4th Gran Premio di Modena | Emmanuel de Graffenried | 3 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| F 2 | 6/1954 | 24th Grand Prix des Frontiéres Grand Prix des Frontières The Grand Prix des Frontières was a motor race held at Chimay in Belgium. The race was created by Jules Buisseret, who was also responsible for the circuit's existence... |
Prince Bira Prince Bira 12th, 1956 Melbourne, Star 19th, 1960 Rome, Star 22nd, 1964 Tokio, Dragon 21st, 1972 Munich, TempestPrince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh better known as Prince Bira of Siam , or by his nom de course B... |
1 | Privateer |
| Non-Champ. | 1/1954 | 11th Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires | Roberto Miéres Roberto Mieres Roberto Mieres is a former racing driver from Mar del Plata, Argentina. He participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on June 7, 1953. He scored a total of 13 championship points.... |
2 | Privateer |
| Non-Champ. | 4/1954 | 15th Grand Prix Automobile de Pau | Roberto Miéres Roberto Mieres Roberto Mieres is a former racing driver from Mar del Plata, Argentina. He participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on June 7, 1953. He scored a total of 13 championship points.... |
3 | Officine Alfieri Maserati |
| Non-Champ. | 6/1954 | 13th Gran Premio di Roma | Harry Schell Harry Schell Harry O'Reilly Schell was an American Grand Prix motor racing driver.-Early life:... |
2 | Privateer |
| Non-Champ. | 8/1954 | 23rd Circuito di Pescara Pescara Circuit The Pescara Circuit was a road race course near Pescara, Italy.The track boasted two long straights between villages, as well as demanding corners in the seaside town. The roads were both narrow and bumpy, and the staggering length was the longest of any open-wheel championship event... |
Harry Schell Harry Schell Harry O'Reilly Schell was an American Grand Prix motor racing driver.-Early life:... |
3 | Privateer |