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Monday, November 9, 2020

Here's Maserati Zagato Monster of 50s

Of course you already know Maserati, one of the leading automotive brands from Italy that has been established since 1914, and is part of Fiat. The Bologna-based company in the automotive world is also quite successful in both the automotive market and the world of racing. There are countless car models that have been made by this brand, whether done by manufacturers or third-party coachbuilders, which we can see from the past until now.
1957 Maserati 450S Costin-Zagato Coupe was handbuilt by Zagato in Italy by following the Costin specifications. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2I7rjbF)
For a moment we will see the figure of this Maserati race car named Maserati 450S Costin-Zagato Coupe which was built specifically for the 1957 World Sportscar Championship as the official representative of the Italian manufacturer to reach the highest points in the competition.
1957 Maserati 450S Costin-Zagato Coupe raced fiercely against rivals such as Ferarri and Jaguar at the 24 Hours of Le Mans of 1957 with the famous racer Sir Stirling Moss paired with Harry Schell behind the wheel. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2I7rjbF)
Initially built as a barchetta in 1956, then raced in Buenos Aires with legendary racer Juan Manuel Fangio behind the wheel. Then in 1957, it was redesigned into a coupe by a British famous automotive designer Frank Costin.

The car was handbuilt by Zagato in Italy by following the Costin specifications (hence the hyphenated name). Zagato built a lightweight aluminum body in no time, achieving extraordinary results in terms of weight. When compared to the barchetta, this coupé just 65 kg more weighs. Such a beautiful car creation isn't?
1957 Maserati 450S Costin-Zagato Coupe uses a 8-cylinder, 4.5 liter engine able to spew up to 400 hp of power. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2I7rjbF)
Infact that this car is very handsome, even Zagato's website had given a nickname to the car the 'Il Mostro,' (The Italian means "The Monster"). What made it deserves such name? There're several factors is contributed to those nickname, among others, its special shape was created after going through strict design decisions based on functionality, then its 8-cylinder, 4.5 liter engine able to spew up to 400 hp of power.
1957 Maserati 450S Costin-Zagato Coupe changed into a road-legal car after purchased by an American car fans named Byron Staver in 1958. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/32fZp4k)
After completing the construction, the Maserati 450S then raced fiercely against rivals such as Ferarri and Jaguar at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Stirling Moss, a legendary British racer paired with Harry Schell behind the wheel. At that time, although starting from the 2nd position, the car able to lead the the race in several laps. This is possible because of its light weight and incredible capacity for a speed of 320 kph. But unfortunately, the car failed to finish the race due to having engine problem.
Later this 1957 Maserati 450S Costin-Zagato Coupe inspired the new car named Maserati Zagato Mostro in 2015. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2I6ErNY)
After competed fiercely in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and failed, the car returned to the factory. After that in 1958 the car was purchased by an American man named Byron Staver who later turned it into a road-legal car. He also decided to repaint, from the original color called 'rosso corsa' into a black which is more elegant and probably really lives up to its nickname.

Renumbered 4512 by Maserati and reconfigured by Fantuzzi, the coupe was retained by Staver until 1960 before being passed through the hands of Harry T. Heinl in Ohio and Charles Kilgore of New York. It was displayed at the Rosso Bianco Museum in Germany from 1978 to 2002. Maserati collector Alfredo Brener acquired the coupe in 2002, and had it restored in Italy.
Apparently for Zagato and Maserati, this car is a very meaningful creation car, this can be seen on Maserati's centenary in 2015 where the Italian coachbuilder launched to a new-version of 'Il Mostro' supercar inspired by the Maserati 450S Costin-Zagato Coupe named Maserati Zagato Mostro as many as 5 units. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARSTYLING | SUPERCARS] AUTOMOTIVPRESS.FR ]
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