A 1956 Maserati 450S Prototype, famously driven as well as crashed by Stirling Moss, is set to be auctioned in Monaco next month for between £3.3 million as well as £4.5 million.
Originally developed as a six-cylinder 350S for the 1956 Mille Miglia race, the cars and truck was terribly damaged when a brake failure required Moss as well as his navigator off the road just outside Rome, narrowly avoiding a ravine in the process.
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Following a return to the Maserati factory for repairs, the 350S was transformed into a prototype for the 450S programme, featuring an prolonged wheelbase to fit a new 5.7-litre V8 engine. A new Fantuzzi body was likewise fitted, as well as the cars and truck was evaluated at the Swedish Grand Prix in August 1956.
After a number of even more outings, Maserati retired the 450S Prototype into storage, from which it was offered without an engine in 1965. A new Ferrari transmission as well as Corvette V8 engine were fitted to make the cars and truck roadworthy, before it was exported to the United States.
Imported back to its native Italy in the early 80s, a full restoration returned the cars and truck to 450S specs in 1987, maintained to the present day save for a redesigned transaxle. According to RM Auctions, it’s because of go on sale in may together with a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C as well as a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS.