Maserati Tipo 63

The Maserati Tipo 63 is a competition car that Maserati built in 1961, a mid-engined member of the Birdcage series that replaced the front-engined Tipo 60 and Tipo 61, although those had better weight distribution. It started with a 260 CV four-cylinder engine derived from the Tipo 61, replaced in mid-season by a 3 litre V12 of 2,989.5 cc and 320 CV at 8,200 rpm, derived from the 350S and the 250F, which brought overheating problems that hurt its results. Beyond the first prototype six cars were built, bought in pairs by Camoradi and Scuderia Serenissima, and its top speed was 312 km/h. It was aimed at the world sports car championship and made its debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1961, finished fourth in the Targa Florio with Maurice Trintignant and Nino Vaccarella, and fourth at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Augie Papst and Dick Thompson despite long pit stops. The two Tipo 64 cars were later built on the same chassis.