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THE MASERATI 6C 34
| 3023 Initially Factory Car, then sold to Gino Rovere on 12th December, 1934 |
| 3024 Engine only sold to Hans Ruesch on Ist February, 1935 and put in 8CM 3022. |
| 3025 Sold 2nd March, 1935 to Scuderia Subalpina |
| 3026 Sold 9th April, 1935 to Scuderia Subalpina |
| 3027 Not a Type 34 but the last made 8CM |
| 3028 Sold lst April, 1935 to Count de Villapadierna
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| 3029 Sold 2nd September, 1935 to Sig. Borelli |
One of the gigantic Fiats was known as the 'Beast of Turin' and one is tempted to label certain Maseratis in like manner.
Certainly the twin engined cars were awesome, but it would appear that the title should go to the 6C Type 34 in 3.7 litre form.
Its origins can be traced through the first cars built by the Maseratis which were developed steadily up to 1929 when the 8C 2500 biposto made its appearance. This was the first Maserati to be made in significant numbers and in the fullness of time a 3-litre engine was fitted. Then in 1933 the 8CM3000 monoposto was announced. These cars shared successes with the Alfas of the time, especially through 1933 when the P3s were in mothballs, but then the 1934 Formula reared its ugly head. |
The usual furore ensued when this 750kg limit formula was announced; cries of 'boycott' probably resounded in traditional fashion but again, true to form, manufacturers turned up with 1933 cars, increased in girth and just within the 750kg limit.
But they were a bit too complacent, for the might of the German mark had provided finance for the formidable and brand new world beaters.
Initially the revised P3, the Type B, swept the board but from June onwards the Mercedes and Auto Union started registering significant wins.
By late 1934 the German cars were challenging Italy's place as top dogs in Grand Prix racing and Ntivolari's return to Maserati was looked to for a revitalisation of that country's effort.
A second place in the Coppa Acerbo in his 1934 8-cylinder (3018) raised hopes that the rumoured new car might see a reversal to German fortunes. But the Type 34, which made its appearance at the Italian Grand Prix on September 9th was merely a re-engined version of the 8CM with 6-cylinder 3.3 litre engine and though it was more powerful, it was even more difficult to handle than the 8CM.
A fifth place behind the winning Mercedes Benz, an Auto Union and two P3 Type B Alfa Romeos was hardly an auspicious debut, but there was more to it than that; apparently the mechanics had failed to refill the hydraulic reservoir after the weighing in, resulting in a decidedly sparse display of braking ability.
As the Monza circuit had 1,600 corners in the 116 laps and the winning average was 63.43mph, it is not surprising that even the great Tazio did not shape!
December 16th 1937 2nd Rand GP - Mario in the GC 34
He was placed 6th and maade fastest lap at 68.89 mph
A third in the Masaryk G.P., followed by wins in the minor Modena and Naples Grands Prix were scant comfort while Ruesch was just not competitive in the same car in the Algerian G.P. in late October. This car, 6C 3023, then formed the nucleus of Scuderia Subalpina, an organisation which would run Maseratis G.P. efforts much in the same way as Ferrari did for Alfa. Mentor Gino Rovere took delivery on 12th December, 1934, Nuvolari by now having given up the Type 34 in disgust.
Subalpina team drivers were Etancelin, Zeliender and comingman Farina, plus, of course, Rovere himself. In an attempt to increase the effectiveness of the car the capacity was now 3729cc (84mm X 112mm) in which form it was reputed to deliver 260bhp at 5000rpm and reach 165mph. At that speed it must have been terrifying!
However indomitable PhiPhi Etancelin managed a third at Tunis, probably in 6C3025, with Farina 5th in 3023. Nuvolari was not placed and it was perhaps for him a matter of frying pan to fire, for Alfa had dreamed up the Bimotore, probably as fiendish a motor car as any.
Other than placings in minor races the only Maserati performance of any consequence was Zehender's 3rd in the French G.P. in June, in none other than 8C3001, ancient though it was by now. Sommer was 6th in a Type 34.
The appearance of a 'sports' Type 34 in the Mille Miglia driven by Varzi was less successful than hoped, mainly because Alfa turned up with an equally thinly disguised version of the P3, so it was a case of back to the drawing board!
Mario in the GC 34 at Howe circuit
By all accounts the car virtually fell apart under Varzi, a situation not unknown in modern times when designs are called upon to cope with situations to which they are palpably unfitted.
As far as one can ascertain the best known appearances of the Type 34 were as follows: |
| 1934 |
Driver |
Position |
| Sept. 9th (1st appearance) |
Italian G.P. |
Nuvolari |
5th |
| Sept. 30th |
Masaryk G.P. |
Nuvolari |
3rd |
| Oct. 14th |
Modena G.P. |
Nuvolari |
Ist |
| Oct. 21st |
Naples G.P. |
Nuvolari |
Ist |
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| 1935 |
| April 22nd |
Monaco G.P. |
Etancelin |
4th |
| May 6th |
Tunis G.P. |
Etancelin |
3rd |
| June 9th |
Biella G.P. |
Farina |
3rd |
| June 23rd |
French G.P. |
Sommer |
6th |
| Oct 5th |
International Trophy |
Rovere/Everitt |
4th |
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| 1936 |
| April 13th |
Monaco G.P. |
Ghersi |
8th |
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| 1937 |
|
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| 3rd S.A. Grand Prix |
Mario |
10th 93.05mph |
| Ist Grosvenor G.P. |
Mario |
N/F |
| lst Rand G.P. |
Mario |
N/F |
| 2nd Rand G.P. |
Mario |
6th 64.48mph |
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| 1938 |
|
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| 4th S.A. Grand Prix |
Mario |
N/F |
| 2nd Grosvenor G.P. |
Mario |
8th plus fastest lap |
| Golden City Handicap |
Bothner |
4th in Heat 1 |
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| 1939 |
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| S.A. Handicap Race |
Mario |
N/F |
| Golden City Handicap |
J McNicol |
N/F |
| Richard Seaman Memorial Trophy |
J McNicol |
N/F |
| Asvogelklip Hill Climb |
J McNicol |
F. T. D. |
| Grand Challenge Race |
Mario |
2nd |
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| 1948 |
|
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| St John Crusader |
GV Cannell |
N/F |
| |
| 1949 |
|
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| St John Crusader |
GV Cannell |
6th |
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| 1950 |
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| Coronation '100' |
GV Cannell |
N/F |
| Rand Trophy Meeting |
GV Cannell |
Ist unlimited class |
| Empire Day Trophy |
GV Cannell |
4th |
| Lourenco Marques Races |
GV Cannell |
2nd in 3rd race |
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| 1951 |
| lst E. L. Winter H/Cap |
GV Cannell |
9th 65.0 |
| Camps Day National Hill
Climb |
GV Cannell |
FTO |
| |
| 1952 |
| False Bay '100' |
GV Cannell |
N/F |
| Coronation '100' |
GV Cannell |
3rd |
| R.A.C. Van Riebeeck Trophy |
GV Cannell |
N/F |
| 2nd E. L. Winter H/Cap |
GV Cannell |
N/F |
| |
| 1953 |
| False Bay H/Cap |
GV Cannell |
N/F |
| 3rd E. L. Winter H/Cap |
Tex Kingon |
N/F |
| |
| 1954 |
| Van Riebeeck Trophy Eerste Rivier |
Kingon |
4th 66.9 |
| 4th E. L. Winter H/Cap |
Kingon |
N/F |
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| 1955 |
| False Bay '100', Gunners Circle |
Kingon |
N/F Fastest lap |
| International
Van Riebeeck
Trophy, Eerste Rivier |
Kingon |
N/F |
| International 1820 Settler's H/Cap
Palmietfontein |
Kingon |
6th |
| 5th E. L. Winter H/Cap |
Kingon |
Crashed |
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| 1957 |
| False Bay '100' |
Tom Lewis |
N/F |
| International
Van Riebeeck
Trophy |
Tom Lewis |
N/F |
| |
| 1958 |
| International Van Riebeeck
Trophy |
Tom Lewis |
N/F |
| |
| 1959 |
| False Bay '100', Sacks circle |
Tom Lewis |
N/F |
| International
Van Riebeeck
Trophy |
Tom Lewis |
N/F |
In the last race listed, Siena turned up in a version with i.f.s. under the banner of Scuderia Torino.
According to sources close to the factory the 6C Type 34s were made and delivered as follows:
The complete list poses an interesting question; according to reports of the time a Czech driver turned up at the 1934 Masaryk G.P. in 'brand-new 3.5 litre Maserati' purchased with borrowed money. Apparently he jilted the lender the day before the race and understandably she wanted her money back.
Being broke, the unknown was jailed but le sport being le sport and debt surely a popular and common crime, the authorities relented sufficiently to parole the miscreant for the race.
HE promptly committed suicide in spectacular fashion within the first few laps and vanished into the limbo of forgotten heroes; what happened to the car and which was it, possibly an 8CM or could it have been an elusive Type 34?
Where the cars landed up after 1936 is a poser but Pietsch raced one in the Swiss G.P. of 1937, finishing 9th. The 'Autocar' of August 27th, 1937, has a good picture of the car.
A Type 34, in all likelihood the Pietsch car, turned up in Germany after the war in the hands of one Egon Brutsch who made a special out of it.
The only survivor was imported to South Africa in 1936 and was first raced out here by Dr. 'Mario' Massacurati in the 1937 South African G.P.
This car, 3023, was bought after the war by George Cannell who raced it in unblown form with six Amal carbs. and chrome-plated the chassis for good measure. A later owner, Tex Kingon was killed in the car in sad circumstances on the Esplanade 'round the houses' circuit at East London.
Tom Lewis bought the remains and rebuilt it, having to completely replace front suspension. 1 saw the car often in the years 1947 to 1957 and it was always a spectacular performer, quite often setting up fastest lap before expiring in a cloud of blue smoke.
Tom's letter to me about the car, written some years ago, epitomises the car's undoubted character:
As far as can be ascertained the race record of the car in South Africa ran like this:
Lewis had a few places in club races at Killarney and then wrapped the car around a tree late in 1959 or early 1960.
Colin Crabbe prized the car out of the Lewis garage and it then went to its present home.
K. P. Painter
This article first appeared in the January 1973 issue of Trident
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Maserati enthusiasts and collectors who may be interested in acquiring back issues of this highly collectable magazine may do so by contacting Adam Painter of the Maserati Club at
adamkpainter@uk2.net
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