Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage Triumphant At The Nürburgring 60 Years Ago
The Birdcage Maserati Tipo 61 won the Nürburgring 1,000 kilometres 60 years ago.
It was the 28 May 1961 the Tipo 61 secured the victory at the seventh edition of the race held at the Nordschleife in Germany. Back then the circuit and the sport were at the height of its popularity.
Driven by Masten Gregory and Lloyd Casner, the Tipo 61 recorded a double victory as the previous year Maserati were victorious with Stirling Moss and Dan Gurney.
The cars were painted white and blue, the colour scheme which later inspired the Maserati MC12 Stradale in the early 2000s. It’s also featuring on the new MC20 which is paving the way for a return to motorsport from the manufacturer.
The Tipo 61 was the best The Maserati Tipo 61 was the best known of the series of the five models designed by Guido Alfieri. Nicknamed the Birdcage for its unusual chassis construction containing about 200 tubes joined together that resembled a birdcage.
This construction method gave a more rigid chassis that was lighter than other racing cars at the time. This barchetta two seater was the best solution for front mounted racing cars.
Maserati started to build the Tipo 60 in March 1959, but by November it had already transformed into the Tipo 61 in order to comply with technical regulations to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours.
The four cylinder engine was modified, and the displacement was increased to 2,900cc. Power output went up to 250 bhp at 7,000 rpm. Otherwise the car kept the same layout and all other technical solutions developed for the Tipo 60. There was a weight increase from 570 kg to 600 kg but also a top speed increase from 270 km/h to 285 km/h.
Even though the car was considered to have a massive power output the fuel consumption was fairly low. This was key to being successful in endurance races where the Tipo 61 was able to reduce the number of refuelling stops.
In only three years of production, from 1959 to 1961, the Tip0 60 and 61 was dominant in racing. The combination of the power and outright speed of the Tipo led to many race wins.
A highly unusual car built very light that looked unlike anything else at the time.
Technical Specifications Of The Maserati Tipo 60 - Tipo 61 Birdcage
Engine: Vertical straight four
Displacement: 1,990 cc – 2,890 cc
Power output: 200 – 250 hp
Gearbox: Mechanical five speed + reverse en-bloc with the differential casing
Chassis: birdcage
Weight: 570 kg – 600 kg
Top speed: 270 km/h – 285 km/h
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