1957 Maserati 250S Spyer

The three Maserati brothers loved building fast cars in the early years of the 20th century, including 2-litre Grand Prix entries for Diatto. When Diatto stopped producing race cars in 1926, the brothers founded their own marque. Alfieri Maserati won the 1926 Targa Florio in one of their early efforts. They soon started building race cars with four, six, eight, and even sixteen cylinders. The Maserati trident logo is based on the Fountain of Neptune in Bologna, an apt symbol inasmuch as Neptune represents strength and vigor.

In 1937, the brothers sold out to the Adolfo Orsi family who relocated the company to their home town of Modena. Racing success continued, including Indy 500 wins and a 1957 Juan-Manuel Fangio world championship. But, after the gruesome 1957 Mille Miglia tragedy, Maserati ended factory racing and focused on road cars.

Some of the most revered Maserati thoroughbreds to emerge from their storied stable were fiercely competitive four-cylinder sports racers during the 1950s.

Of the four Maserati 250S eventually built, only two cars started their life as real 4-cylinder 2.5-liter 250Ss (2431 and 2432); the other two cars were modified 200Ss. Both 2431 and 2432 were ordered by Carroll Shelby. These are considered to be the ultimate 2.5-liter racing Maseratis. Based on a modified 200S chassis, they were very similar in appearance. Shelby and Jim Hall campaigned both 250S cars during the 1958 season's early events. Hall won third overall and a second in class at the SCCA Regional at Mansfield, Louisiana, on March 9; he also finished sixth overall at the Galveston event on April 20 and took the checkered flag at Eagle Mountain, Texas, on June 8. As both 2431 and 2432 attended these races, it is not entirely clear which of the two cars enjoyed these results, although it is likely that this car, 2432, was responsible for some of these racing triumphs.

The twin cam, dry-sump four-cylinder produces 235 horsepower. It also boasts a five-speed manual gearbox, independent front suspension with coil springs, deDion rear axle with transverse leaf spring, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, and steel tube frame.