Maserati 300S

Maserati 300S
Overview
Manufacturer	Maserati
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door, convertible
Layout	FMR layout

Maserati 300S (1955–1957) were twenty-eight racing cars made by Maserati of Italy, and used in FIA's endurance World Sportscar Championship racing.

The 3.0-litre (approx 245 bhp (183 kW) at 6200 rpm) engine was based on the Straight-6 design of the Maserati 250F and incorporated a lengthened stroke developed by Vittorio Bellentani to increase the capacity from the original 2.5-litres. The compression ratio was reduced from 12:1 to 9.5:1, partly due to the FIA regulations requiring the engine to be run on road car fuel. It used three Weber carburettors, initially 42DCO3, later 45DCO3. A trellis structure was used instead of the tubular one of the 250F, and the aluminium body was by Medardo Fantuzzi. The brakes were the same as the 250F, beautifully machined alloy drums with extensive fining. The suspension was of the same design as the 250F but with some strengthening to cope with the rougher tracks and road surfaces encountered in WSC racing.

After the first season (1955), it won at Nurburgring 1956 and became second overall. Giulio Alfieri gave up an attempt to fit fuel injection. It was second to the Maserati 450S, and was followed by the Maserati 350S. After the Guidizzolo accident (1957), the last few 300S were sold to USA. One 300S with the new V12 engine was developed, becoming the then, third Maserati 350S.

Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits fame is a long term owner of a 300S and has regularly used the car racing in historic competition