Tipo 61

The Tipo 61 was effectively a Birdcage with a bigger engine for American sports car racing, but was fielded in world championship events by the Camoradi and Cunningham teams as well.

The engine derived from the 1957 250S four-cylinder, stretched to 2.9 litres - the absolute maximum the block casting could take. Its dry weight of 600 kg was lower than all its rivals which helped its competitiveness in privateers' hands. The cars were fitted with tyres from Pirelli, Dunlop or Goodyear, depending on the customer's sponsorship contract.

The Tipo 61 proved extremely popular in the USA, dominating national sports car racing for two seasons and winning its class in the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) championships with Gus Andrey in 1960 and Roger Penske in 1961. On international level Stirling Moss won the Cuban Grand Prix and the 1,000 km race at the Nürburgring in 1960, partnered by American Dan Gurney. The latter victory was repeated in 1961 by Lloyd Casner and Masten Gregory. With little more than a spare set of spark plugs Casner took the car to the 1961 4 Hours of Rouen in France - and won again.

16 Tipo 61s were made and all went to American customers. One car with a streamlined body was timed at 270 km/h (169 mph) down the Mulsanne straight in the 1960 Le Mans race - faster than any previous 3-litre car. One Camoradi team car was re-bodied in 1962 with a body by Cavalieri and Piero Drogo of Carrozzeria Sport Cars of Modena; it won its class at the Nürburging race of 1962 and is in the Panini museum near Modena now. Today the Birdcage Maserati, in its various guises, is considered as being the ultimate word in front-engined sports racers.