Maserati 250F

The Maserati 250F was a racing car that Maserati made for the 2.5 litre Formula One regulations, used between January 1954 and November 1960, with twenty-six examples made. It principally used a 2,493 cc Maserati A6 straight-six rated at 220 bhp, with drum brakes, wishbone independent front suspension and a De Dion tube rear axle, and it was designed by Gioacchino Colombo, Vittorio Bellentani and Alberto Massimino with tubular work by Valerio Colotti. It first raced in the 1954 Argentine Grand Prix, where Juan Manuel Fangio won, and Fangio took the 1954 Drivers' World Championship with points gained in both Maserati and Mercedes-Benz cars. In 1957 he drove to four more championship victories, including the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. The 250F made 277 entries in 46 championship races and won eight, and it stayed a favourite of privateers until 1960. Stirling Moss later called it the best front-engined Formula One car he drove.