Tag Archives: MC12

Faster Than Enzo – Maserati MC12 Stradale

The Maserati MC12 Stradale is the road going variant of the Maserati MC12 Competizione which successfully took Maserati back to the race tracks on the FIA GT Circuit in 2005.

Maserati MC12 Stradale, Desert Classics Concours d'Elegance,

Sharing a chassis, modified motor, running gear and windscreen with the Enzo Ferrari the rest of the body was originally conceived by Giorgetto Giugiaro and stylised with the aid of a wind tunnel by Frank Stephenson.

Maserati MC12 Stradale, Desert Classics Concours d'Elegance,

The two batches of 25 MC12 Stradales built in 2004 and 2005 were only delivered in white and blue, sans radio or even anywhere to fit an after market one, a nod to the exploits of the American Lloyd Perry ‘Lucky’ Casner’s Camoradi team.

Maserati MC12 Stradale, Desert Classics Concours d'Elegance,

In two separate road tests at Dunsfold Aerodrome and on the Nurburgring MC12’s proved to be quicker than the Enzo Ferrari that spawned it. I believe the example seen here in Geoffrey Horton’s photograph’s, taken at last years Desert Classic’s Concours d’Elegance, is one of those built in the 2005 batch.

It appears to belong to the The Riverside International Automotive Museum a non profit corporation run by Ray and Doug Margon dedicated to “Preserving the memory of California’s rich motorsports heritage” which also houses a collection that includes one example of every road going Maserati sold in the US since 1951.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Faster Than Enzo” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an early Renault. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Century Festival Painting – Maserati MC12 Cent 100

The Maserati MC12 was conceived as a limited edition super car which would allow Maserati to return with a racing programme for the first time in 37 years.

Maserati MC12 Cent 100, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The first batch of 25 cars was pre sold at US$ 600,000 each and delivered in 2004 with a second batch following in 2005.

02 Maserati MC12 Cent 100_1605sc

I believe twelve MC12 Competizione race versions were also built and a one off chassis was turned into a Pininfarina bodied concept car called the Birdcage 75th that was first seen at the Geneva show in 2005.

Maserati MC12 Cent 100, Michael Bartels, Goodwood Festival of Speed

After disputes regarding the legibility of the MC12 Competizione were settled in 2004 Maserati’s return to racing proved a success with Maserati claiming the 2005 FIA GT Manufacturers Cup, the following season the Vitaphone Racing representing Maserati won the 2006 FIA GT Teams Championship and the teams drivers Michael Bartels, seen waving above, and Andrea Bertolini shared the FIA GT Drivers Championship.

Maserati MC12 Cent 100, Goodwood Festival of Speed

By 2009 Vitaphone Racing had won the FIA GT Teams Championship 5 consecutive times with Michael and Andrea claiming 3 FIA GT Drivers Championships. In 2010 Vitaphone Racing still representing Maserati, Michael and Andrea claimed the inaugural FIA GT Teams and Drivers World Championships.

Maserati MC12 Cent 100, Goodwood Festival of Speed

With it’s Ferrari Enzo derived chassis the MC12 is carries body work that is bulkier than the Enzo in every dimension, too big to be used in the ELMS or ALMS series, but is much more aerodynamic than the Enzo.

Maserati MC12 Cent 100, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The chassis for the MC Cent 100 was a ‘spare’ at the Maserati factory that became the first new MC12 to be built since 2005. The one off Cent 100 carries special paint work celebrating Maserati’s 2014 Centenary depicting Alfieri Maserati driving a Tipo 26, Stirling Moss driving a 250F and a map of the Goodwood Hillclimb on which Michael Bartels finished 2nd at this years event driving today’s featured car.

Thanks for joining me on this “Century Festival Painting” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Delage powered by a V12 aeroplane engine. Don’t forget to come back now !

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