Topic: Solved NIC#488 - Maserati/Simca "Mecanica Nacional" race car

[nicanary]

I the Maserati connection isn't engine or chassis, is it the body?

That's what I believe. As I've said before, I'm not entirely sure of the constituent parts of this car, but there are aspects of its appearance which makes me think it's not much of a Maserati.

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful - all I can say is that this image is available on the internet.

[oko94]

Is the driver from Brazil ?

[nicanary]

Is the driver from Brazil ?

Yes!

[nicanary]

IMPORTANT INFORMATION. I have now found out more about this car - apparently the chassis is supposed to be from a Maserati. I thought just the body panels had been adapted from one.

So it's partly Maserati, partly something else.  The size of the chassis and the seating position for the driver suggests to me that this is a 4CM or 4CL  of some kind. Sorry to have inadvertently  misled you all.

[oko94]

Driver : Aroldo Louzada
Car : Maserati/Simca 2.432cc or 2.898cc

[nicanary]

Driver : Aroldo Louzada
Car : Maserati/Simca 2.432cc or 2.898cc

Yes, that's the car! Well solved and I admire your persistence. It was built for Louzada to race, but at this stage it had been sold to Ayres Bueno Vidal - it's pictured at Interlagos in 1964. I'm quite happy to award you the point because I made a few errors and this didn't help anyone.

According to my source, it's a Maserati chassis powered by the engine from a Simca Chambord. It was made to take part in the South American "Mecanica Nacional" races. As I said in an earlier post, the size of the car and the wheels made me think it was based on a Simca- Gordini, with body panels adapted from a Maserati 250F, but I was wrong about the Simca part of the solution.

My apologies to anyone who was misled by my answers.

[Allan L]

Since the Chambord was one of the ex-Ford France descendents, its engine was a sidevalve V8 of some 85 h.p. which would not have been first choice in Europe for many racing cars.

[nicanary]

Since the Chambord was one of the ex-Ford France descendents, its engine was a sidevalve V8 of some 85 h.p. which would not have been first choice in Europe for many racing cars.

 . I suppose it's possible they fitted a proprietary ohv conversion and breathed on the whole shebang, but I get your point. It just shows that the money and facilities just weren't there in South America at this time - we still saw old 50s front-engined racers in the UK but they were taking part in club meetings in the "end-of-the-day" libre race. In the southern hemisphere they made do with what they could lay hands on.

[oko94]

Well solved and I admire your persistence.

Thank you but I solved it quite quickly compared to many, many other puzzles so my persistence wasn't really put to a severe test with this one !