Autopedia
Advertisement
800px-Maserati Birdcage
Maserati Tipo 61
Maserati
aka 'Birdcage'
Production 1959 - 1961
16 units
Class Endurance Racing
Body Style no-door, single seater racecar
Length
Width
Height
Wheelbase 86.6 in
Weight 1323 lb
Transmission 5-speed manual
Engine 2.9 litre (2890.3 cc) inline-four cylinder, Normally aspirated with two Weber 48 DC03 carburettors
Power 250 hp @ 6800 rpm
Similar Maserati Birdcage 75th
Designer Giulio Alfieri

The Maserati Tipo 61 (Birdcage) is among one of the most iconic racing cars in history. The car was produced between 1959 and 1961 by Maserati for racing in Le Mans. It became famous for its intricate tubular latticework chassis, containing about 200 aluminium tubes welded together, hence the nickname "Birdcage".[1] This method of construction provided a more rigid and at the same time, lighter chassis than other sports cars of the time. [1] The Camoradi team became famous racing the Tipo 61's but despite being faster round the track than other cars, the Birdcage was unreliable and often retired from races due to problems with the gearbox. The Maserati MC12 is available only in white and blue, to serve as a tribute to the Tipo 61 and the Camoradi racing team.[2]

Racing History[]

The Tipo 61 was unveiled in 1959 when Stirling Moss easily won a race behind the wheel, attracting the attention of Lloyd "Lucky" Casner.[3] Casner founded the Casner Motor Racing Division who raced 3 Tipo 61's in the Le Mans of 1960.[3] The Tipo's never won Le Mans due to reliability issues, however in both 1960 and again in 1961 the Camoradi team won the Nurburgring 1000km.[4]

Revival[]

Main article: Maserati Birdcage 75th

The Maserati Birdcage 75th is a concept car to honour the 75th anniversary of both the Birdcage and Pininfarina. It features a 700 bhp V12 engine and like the originals, no doors.


Gallery[]

Maserati logo
MASERATI

The Fiat Group


Abarth | Alfa Romeo | Autobianchi | Fiat | Lancia | Innocenti | Maserati | Iveco | Chrysler | Dodge | Ram | Jeep


Current

MC20· MC20 Cielo · Quattroporte · Ghibli · Levante · Grecale · GranTurismo

Historic

1914-1969: Tipo V4 Zagato · 4CS · A6 · 3500 · 5000 GT · Mistral · Quattroporte I · Sebring · Mexico · Ghibli I

1970-1979: Khamsin · Bora · Indy · Merak · Quattroporte II · Quattroporte III · Kyalami

1980-1999: Biturbo· 224· 420 · Spyder I · Quattroporte III Royale · Shamal · Karif · Barchetta · Ghibli II · Quattroporte IV · 3200 GT

2000s: Coupe · Spyder II · Gran Sport · Quattroporte V · MC12 · GranTurismo

Concept

Birdcage 75th Concept · GS Zagato · Auge Concept · Quattroporte Bellagio Fastback Concept by Touring · A8GCS Berlinetta Concept by Touring · GranTurismo MC Corse Concept · Maserati Kubang

Racing

26M · 4CL · 4CM · 4CLT · 8C · Tipo 26C · Tipo V5 · V8RI · 6CM · Tipo 60 · Tipo 61 "Birdcage" · Tipo 63 · Tipo 65 · 150S · 250F · 200S · 300S · 350S · 450S · Tipo 151 · Tipo 154 · MC12 GT1 · Trofeo · GranTurismo MC


Alfieri Maserati · Bindo Maserati · Carlo Maserati · Ettore Maserati · Ernesto Maserati · Mario Maserati · O.S.C.A. · Adolfo Orsi · MC Sport Line


Maserati Brothers Corporate website A brand of the Fiat group
  1. 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ultimate
  2. "The MC12, at the Pinnacle of the Sports Prototype Range". RSportsCars. http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/maserati_mc12.asp. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Heywood, Andy. "Maserati Tipo 61: The Streamliner Birdcage". http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/magazine/3200.asp?id=11902. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 
  4. "The Birdcage Maserati". Maserati Alfieri. http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/maser12.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 
Advertisement