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nigel watts
07-09-2011, 03:37 AM
Now owned by Peter Giddings

1953 250F GRAND PRIX MASERATI #2501 (#2523):

Of all the Maserati 250Fs built, without doubt the one campaigned by Peter Giddings has one of the most complex and fascinating of histories.

#2501 was in fact the very first 250F built and test driven during 1953 (subsequently displayed at the Paris Salon in October 1954).

At the end of the Salon, #2501 was whisked away for its racing debut at the Spanish Grand Prix – the last Formula One race of the season. This race was also the first team drive for Maserati’s new star, Stirling Moss.

Due to the Maserati’s pedal configuration being different from Moss’ own modified 250F, Moss trod on the wrong pedal at an inopportune moment, spinning off and damaging #2501. In the circumstances, Moss chose to revert back to his non factory Maserati 250F. Francisco Godia Sales was given the bent car, and did well to finish 6th.

#2501 continued to be the successful mainstay team car throughout 1955. Raced throughout Europe and Argentina, with second places achieved at the Bordeaux, Naples, and Syracuse GPs (Musso). Ongoing factory updating took place during the season.

#2501 continued as a prime factory team car during 1956, primarily driven by Menditeguy and Behra. At Syracuse, Jean Behra raced #2501 fitted with a new experimental fuel injected engine and aerodynamic body.

Moss elected to drive #2501 at the German Grand Prix, and won a hard fought second place on this most challenging of circuits.

Subsequently, on December 2nd Moss again chose to drive #2501 in the Australian Grand Prix, this time gaining 1st place. Ongoing factory updating took place during the season.

#2501 remained a factory team car in 1957, being driven by Schell, Behra, Hermann, Fangio, and Scarlatti, Behra achieving a second place at the Rheims GP. Ongoing factory updating taking place during the season.

In 1958 the Maserati factory rebuilt #2501 to the latest specification, installing a new engine #2523, and changing the chassis number to #2523.

The new owner was the plucky Italian female, Maria Teresa de Filipis, who raced #2501/#2523 throughout Europe.

In 1959, #2501/#2523 was campaigned in Europe by Scarlatti, after which its engine was removed for fitting to Colotti’s creation, the Tec Mec II.

In early 1960, New Zealand racing driver, Ross Jensen, acquired #2501/#2523 from Messrs. Neri/ Colotti/ Tanner, and Scarlatti fitted with the “El Salvador” twin nostril nose and engine from his Maserati 250F #2504.

Jensen subsequently sold #2501/#2523 (now renumbered by him #2504 in order to get it back into New Zealand!) , to Brian Prescott, whose best placings in 1961/62 were three first places at Levin.

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nigel watts
07-09-2011, 03:40 AM
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nigel watts
07-09-2011, 03:44 AM
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nigel watts
07-09-2011, 03:45 AM
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nigel watts
07-09-2011, 03:51 AM
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Sorry for adding so many shots of the same car but the 250F is my all time favourite single seater

pallmall
07-09-2011, 04:14 AM
Do not apologise, so far this site, although brilliant, is lacking in proper racing cars.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/Motor%20Racing%20Historic/234750x513.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/Motor%20Racing%20Historic/014750x394.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/Motor%20Racing%20Historic/135750x492.jpg

Steve Holmes
07-09-2011, 07:20 AM
Gavin, I agree. God thats beautiful. Too bad those photos don't come with sound.

David McKinney
07-09-2011, 10:32 AM
Lovely pictures, Nigel, but you don’t want to believe everything you read...

This was actually the 11th 250F built, being completed in late 1954 and indeed first shown at that year’s Paris Salon. Its early chassis number came from one of the earlier interim 1953/54 cars. It then appeared in the Spanish GP - which was not Moss’s first drive for the team.

It did remain a works car through 1957, but did not get its new bodywork until Spa in 1956 (two months after Syracuse).

But it was the car raced by Brian Prescott in NZ in 1961/62

It was sold to the UK in 1969, and raced by Giddings 1987-94, and again since 2004

pallmall
07-10-2011, 01:09 AM
Ross Jensen.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i275/Checraft/1%20FE%20Race%20Cars/Jensen582x328.jpg



Surely there must be some colour photos around of this car with the piccolo body?

David McKinney
07-10-2011, 07:53 AM
That's a different car, PM (but the same bodywork...)

pallmall
07-10-2011, 08:15 AM
That's a different car, PM (but the same bodywork...)

Oh yes, Jensen had the Bira car that had the Owen Org. chassis swap 2509/2504, which became the Mansell TecMec Corvette after some jiggery pokery. And the bodywork went on to the now Giddings car through the same drama when Ross asked where is car was! Not sure how you ever sorted out all the 250Fs David.

stubuchanan
07-10-2011, 09:39 AM
Start of Heat 1 1959 NZ GP. Shelby in high-tailed "Piccolo" car with Jensen car (Chassis 2504) behind. And others of course! Apologies for poor quality of slide, but it was a long time ago and I was about 16 at the time, with a fairly ordinary Japanese Agfa clone 35mm. Who can name all 13 cars/drivers?

Steve Holmes
07-11-2011, 07:54 AM
Why are you apologising Stu? Thats an absolutely wonderful photo!

Steve Holmes
07-11-2011, 07:57 AM
By the way, and without wanting to hi-jack this thread, what is the car in the centre of the front row Stu? Is it Ron Flockharts BRM?

David McKinney
07-11-2011, 08:27 AM
Stu must have gone to bed..

Yes, Steve, it is the Flockhart BRM

Stu and I worked out a while ago who everyone was in his pic but I - and I'm sure he - would like to see someone else have a go:)

pallmall
07-11-2011, 08:29 AM
Stirling Moss Cooper, Ron Flockhart BRM, Carroll Shelby Maserati, Ross Jensen Maserati, Pat Hoare Ferrari, Tom Clark Ferrari, Ken Harris Monza Ferrari, Len Gilbert Cooper Bristol, Syd Jensen Cooper, Allen Freeman Talbot-Lago, Gavin Quirk Maserati. There is a dark car on the 2nd row and one behind it that I can't see clearly enough.


Not Tom Clark, but Arnold Glass in his Ferrari, and Johnny Mansel Maserati, and Tony Shelly Cooper.

stubuchanan
07-11-2011, 08:55 AM
Stu must have gone to bed..

Yes, Steve, it is the Flockhart BRM

Stu and I worked out a while ago who everyone was in his pic but I - and I'm sure he - would like to see someone else have a go:)

Not so fast, McKinney. Minor computer hiccup, now vanished??

Yes indeed, Steve, BRM of Flockhart. Seen here in the paddock with my brother with camera in background waiting for me to get out of shot. I wouldn't want me in photo either, I look bad enough in the mirror!

Last one in Heat photo was hard to find, it helped to know who should be there.

stubuchanan
07-11-2011, 09:13 AM
Note to Pallmall : You will find a shot of Prescott in the 2501/2523 Maserati(in colour) in the 1961 NZ Grand Prix Film you mentioned in another thread a few days ago. In the Dunedin portion.

Rod Grimwood
07-11-2011, 09:35 AM
Best sounding car at Festival and a alltime great looking car, these were real cars.

Roger Dowding
10-30-2021, 07:05 AM
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Sorry for adding so many shots of the same car but the 250F is my all time favourite single seater

Nigel,

Just found this thread and
" - Sorry for adding so many shots of the same car but the 250F is my all time favourite single seater - "
Do not be sorry - you wrote this in 2011, a lot has happened since then.

A beautiful car and in these photo's with a brilliant driver .. RIP Chris Amon ..

Milan Fistonic
10-30-2021, 09:59 AM
Start of Heat 1 1959 NZ GP. Shelby in high-tailed "Piccolo" car with Jensen car (Chassis 2504) behind. And others of course! Apologies for poor quality of slide, but it was a long time ago and I was about 16 at the time, with a fairly ordinary Japanese Agfa clone 35mm. Who can name all 13 cars/drivers?

Just for the sake of accuracy, that was the start of Heat 2 for the 1959 NZ GP.

I wrote the grid positions in my programme. The grid was in rows of four cars.

1 Stirling Moss - Cooper
2 Ron Flockhart - BRM
3 Ross Jensen - Maserati
4 Carroll Shelby - Maserati
5 Johnny Mansel - Maserati
6 Pat Hoare - Ferrari
7 Gavin Quirk - Maserati
8 Ken Harris - Monza Ferrari
9 Arnold Glass - Ferrari
10 Alan Freeman - Talbot-Lago
11 Len Gilbert - Cooper-Bristol
12 - Syd Jensen - Cooper
13 Tony Shelly - Cooper

Max Richards in an Austin Healey 100S qualified to start 14th in this heat but did not start.

Gavin Quirk stalled at the start.