Maserati 250F T2

The Maserati 250F T2 is a single-seat racing car that Maserati built in 1957. Further development of the 250F engine was becoming limited, so Giulio Alfieri turned to a new V12; an opposed-cylinder layout was rejected because it would have meant redesigning the chassis, so a typical 60 degree V engine was built instead. The V12 of 2,490.9 cc, with double overhead camshafts, six Weber carburettors and a compression ratio of 11.3 to 1, gave 310 CV at 10,000 rpm, and the car reached 305 km/h. Juan Manuel Fangio tested it successfully at Modena, it did not start at the Syracuse Grand Prix because of carburation trouble, and at the 1957 Italian Grand Prix Jean Behra qualified and fought for the lead thanks to its 310 CV. The project was dropped when the Maserati racing department withdrew from racing, but the engine was later used as the basis for the Cooper cars of 1966 to 1968, taking two wins in world championship races.