Maserati 300S Fantuzzi Spyder

Vehicle Overview

The Maserati 300S Fantuzzi Spyder was a sports racing car produced by Officine Alfieri Maserati between 1955 and 1958 for use in international endurance racing. It was developed in response to the World Sportscar Championship regulations and was based on engineering derived from the Maserati 250F Grand Prix car. The 300S featured a 3.0-litre inline-six engine with dual overhead camshafts and three twin-choke Weber carburetors. Power output ranged from approximately 245 to 260 horsepower, transmitted through a four-speed manual gearbox. The chassis was a tubular spaceframe design, constructed for reduced weight and improved structural rigidity. Suspension at the front used double wishbones with coil springs, while the rear employed a de Dion axle, combined with inboard-mounted drum brakes. The bodywork, made from aluminum, was designed and built by Carrozzeria Fantuzzi. The open two-seater configuration and minimal aerodynamic treatment were consistent with contemporary sports racing car standards. A total of twenty-six units of the 300S were produced. Most were sold to private racing teams and individuals, with a smaller number retained by the factory for official competition use. Chassis 3054 is recorded as having been driven by Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss. Chassis 3069 was associated with Hans Herrmann, while chassis 3070 was delivered to Italian driver Primo Pezzoli and was fitted with upgraded brakes derived from the later Maserati 450S. Several chassis were campaigned in both European and South American events, often with limited modifications to suit local regulations or driver preferences. The 300S achieved multiple competition results, including class wins and overall victories in major endurance races during the 1955–1957 seasons. While not as commercially or competitively dominant as some contemporaries from Ferrari or Jaguar, the 300S represented Maserati’s principal entry in sports car racing during this period. Surviving examples of the 300S remain in private collections and are occasionally seen at historic racing meetings and museum exhibitions. The model is documented in marque histories and registries, with individual chassis histories maintained by collectors and specialist publications.