THE ESSENTIAL MASERATI LIBRARY - Part Two
Text and all photos courtesy of Enrico Pederzolli
The one word that often crops up all too often when one talks to any Maseratista is the word ‘passion’. From the owner of a million-pound Tipo 61 to the owner of a modest Biturbo, that’s the one thing that they have in common, a passion about the Casa del Tridente. My next book illustrates the point only too well.
 Maserati GT: Car of the Connoisseur
by Malcolm M Schwartz
Published by Maserbook - 1976
Maserati GT: Car of the Connoisseur is a book that was written and published by one such enthusiast on the occasion of Maserati’s 50th Anniversary. Malcolm Schwartz literally put his money where his mouth was by not only writing this book but also publishing it. He had spotted that of the very few books had been written about Maseratis most were about their racing cars. Malcolm therefore concentrated on the Maserati Grand Tourers and in his 52 page book he describes each model, along with production numbers and technical specifications.
“Author after author has recounted the tales of the Maserati racing cars and their prowess over the years. Countless articles, often in the greatest specific detail, will satisfy one's desire to know almost everything and anything about any particular racing model. Nor, has this author discovered any new scrap of forgotten lore in the saga of the Maserati brothers' attempt to woo the fickle graces of the Loreli of Racing. How they, in 1926, created their own marque and designated it to bear the Trident insignia in red and blue colors of their native Bologna. And, how they and their loyal supporters and staff tasted both the heady ecstasies of the wildest success and the frustrations of discouraging failure over the subsequent years. No, this story needs no repeating.
Still one tale does remain to be told. Never before has there been a presenta¬tion devoted exclusively to the Gran Turisimo models by Maserati. Yet, it is these cars which have bestirred countless enthusiast's souls with that burning desire to possess and cherish, far more than all of their racing brethren. Endowed with some special magic, it is these Maserati GT models which could transform mere human blood into effervescent, sparkling burgundy with only one instant flashing image across the optic nerve. And always, through these many years, it has been the Maserati GT which has been crafted strictly for the automotive connoisseur. Then, on the occa¬sion of this 50th anniversary, let us unfold the chronicle of these Gran Turisimo models, the cars which have become the beloved and prized possessions of the very ultimate in automotive enthusiast.”
This 52 page book describes each model, along with production numbers and technical specifications.
A splendid effort from a true enthusiast and for this reason it must be worthy of a place in our library.
Now out-of-print and "rarer than hen's teeth", expect to pay between £85 and £120 for a copy in good condition.
 Maserati Bora and Merak
by Jan P Norbye
Published by Osprey Publishing Limited - 1982
The book covers the evolution of the Bora and compares the Bora to various other mid-engined cars built in Modena at that time. Lucky Bora owners who will hopefully know a reasonable amount about their car will still find many items that they do not know and the book goes some way to telling more. There are over 130 pages and whilst it is not all full of technical information the book is fairly easy to read.
There are various paragraphs which show the evolution of the car, the reasons for the central engine, various Maserati personalities and associates and a section on the Bora under the microscope. Other parts deal with the evolution of the engine and there are some very nice colour photographs in the centre of the book including some of the Thepenier racer model at Modena. There are various cut-aways showing how the body is made.
The section on the Merak deals with the evolution of that particular car and again this is very interesting, dealing with a slightly different type of vehicle. There is a complete list of specifications at the end of the book.
A book, not full of complete technical information but would have been very good value and easy reading at the original price of some £6.95. It was of course available as normal through the Club.
Now out-of-print, expect to pay between £35 and £50 for a copy in good condition.
 MASERATI 3011 - The Story of a Racing Car
by Denis Jenkinson
Published by Airies Press Limited - 1987
The book is exactly what the title says. Many books are written about people and the cars that they have owned but this one is written about the car and the various people that owned and raced it and covers the complete story of the car from February 1934 until the present date. Obviously the book is about 3011 but the cast in order of appearance in the book includes other 8 CM's Nos. 3012, 3013, 3016, 3018, 3002 and 3020. These are the cars mentioned where they were associated with or became involved with 3011.
Custodians of the 8 CM commenced with Whitney Straight in 1934 who campaigned the car from new followed by Harry Rose and Prince Chula of Siam. During Chula's ownership of course Bira drove the car over many years and it was still winning races when owned by Ken McAlpine in 1949 when it was 15 years old. How many racing cars today could do that. The book also brings out the splendid reliability of the engine.
The book also deals with the later life of the car when it almost but never quite retired and brings us up-to-date with the current custodian David Heimann who has had the car restored to its former glory being painted once more in the Whitney Straight colours.
The book explains how the colours were chosen and the reasons behind it and why everyone drank a toast and cheered when the current colours were chosen. Jenks, the author, is a lover of Maserati (when he joined the Club many, many years ago I was informed that he was the proud owner of a Maserati Spark Plug). The love of the car shows in the research which he had done. He is a stickler for correct details and has spent untold hours in connection with the research. In fact I was told many months ago that the book was almost ready but there were still other details to be checked.
The book was worth waiting for and is a must for Maserati enthusiasts. The price was £19.95 and was available from the club.
Book review by Michael J Miles.
Now out-of-print, expect to pay between £20 and £40 for a copy in good condition.
 Birdcage to Supercage
by Willem Oosthoek
Published by Dalton Watson Fine Books - 2004
Birdcage Maserati competition history from 1959 to 1965. The complete history of the rear-engined Tipo 63, 64 and 65 Maseratis including the World Championship Rounds, SCCA Nationals, Professional West Coast and Nassau Speedweek.
Using as a central theme the change-over at Maserati from the front-engined Tipo 61 Birdcage design to the rear engined Tipo 63, 64 and 65 Birdcages and Supercages, this book begins with a detailed description of the 1950 racing season.
The book contains over 332 pages supported by some 350 never published photographs, it describes the development of the Tipo 63 ‘Muletto’ and the background of the private owners of the first three production cars; Briggs Cunningham, Count Giovanni Volpi and Lucky Casner.
Every event in which the rear-engined Maseratis were raced in 1960 and 1961 is covered. Each race report features start photographs, a complete entry list, starting grid positions and final results. the book finishes in 1965, in the middle of the war between Ferrari and Ford, with the construction of the last rear-engined Birdcage built specifically for John Simone of Maserati France.
A fascinating read. This well researched book is a credit to the writer and worth a place in any Maserati library!!!
Still in print, retails at around £75.00.
 Archivio Maserati - Il Faldone
by Giorgio Nada
Published by Maserati SpA 1998
Produced by the factory in 1998 to celebrate the launch of the new Maserati 3200GT, the Archivio Maserati is not a book but a portfolio containing FACSIMILES of a collection of important Maserati literature, brochures and technical drawings. The portfolio is divided into ten sections:
1898-1926
Technical drawing of the original Trident logo - Technical drawing of the Tipo 26.
1927-1934
1931 Illustrated Maserati sales brochure - Contract for the sale of a Tipo 8CM to Tazio Nuvolari dated August 1933.
1935-1940
Technical drawing of an aerodynamic bodywork for the Tipo 4CL 1500 - Schedule of technical specifications and modifications for Tipo 8 CTF #3032 and #3033 (five documents in all).
1941-1945
Technical drawing for a proposed 1.5-litre V8 single-seater - 2 sales brochures for electric vehicles.
1946-1952
A6 1500cc GT, A6 GCS 2000 Sport Competizione and 4CLT/48 Corsa brochure - Technical drawing of the Tipo A6 1500 rolling chassis - Certificate from the 'Concorso D'Eleganza Monte Carlo' awarded to Maserati for presenting the A6 1500 by Pinin Farina.
1953-1957
Maserati Sport 2000 brochure - Maserati 2000 GT brochure - Maserati Sport 450/S sales leaflet - Maserati 300 S sales leaflet - Maserati 200 SI sales leaflet - Maserati 150/S sales leaflet - 250F engine test bench data and results - Drawing with dimensions of the Tipo A6 GCS body.
1958-1961
Technical drawing of the Tipo 60 chassis - a 3500 GT brochure - 2 drawings by Michelotti of the 5000GT by Allemano.
1962-1967
Mistral brochure - Quattroporte I brochure.
1968-1992
Quattroporte III brochure - Biturbo brochure - X-ray drawing of the Bora by G Cavarra.
1993-1997
Cutaway drawing of 3200cc V8-cyl engine.
1998-The Present
3200 GT original sales brochure
Quattroporte IV 'Evoluzione' original sales brochure
1998 Giugiaro 3200 GT drawing (front 3/4 view)
1998 Giugiaro 3200 GT drawing (rear 3/4 view).
As you can see from this list, the contents represent an important record of Maserati history and the beauty of this portfolio is that one can continue to add to it. Some early brochures are not as expensive as you might think and brochures from Maserati's Biturbo era are particularly reasonable at the present time.
Only 1998 copies of the Archivio Maserati were produced in 1998. 1,500 were given to cherished customers, journalists and friends by the factory and the rest were placed on general sale. This immediately gives them a rarity value, plus it makes a very nice addition to any Maserati collection!
Now out-of-print, expect to pay between £200 and £350 for a copy in good condition.
However as a postscript, you might like to know that the Club Regalia section has recently acquired a final few new copies, which are available at a very competitive price!
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