The Maserati 4CL was designer and manufactured in 1939 as a rival to the Alfa Romeo 158 and the various models of the ERA.
The car was raced largely after the war and in 1948 a variation, the 4CLT/48 was produced. This was the car largely driven at World Championship events by the leading Maserati entrants and constructors but some 4CL models were still present. A later model which also featured in Formula 1 was the 4CLT/50.
During 1950, the various versions of the Maserati 4CL were the most populist on the grid with its entrants starting 33 races from the six rounds they competed in.
4CL
As the 1930's arrived, motorsport started getting more competitive and the Maserati brothers looked to build a replacement of their 6CM model that had enjoyed GP racing success. The cars to beat were the Alfa Romeo 158 and ERA when Maserati launched the new 4CL.
The car had a new inline-4 engine, an improvement of up to 50bhp on the predecessor with a more powerful supercharger. Wider and Lower due to a new suspension layout and Lighter with more aluminium parts, the car was superior to the 6CM.
With star driver Luigi Villoresi, the 4CL took pole position on its debut at the 1939 Tripoli Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes brand new W165, however all four of the new Maserati's retired with engine troubles however two races later, privateer Johnnie Wakefield picked up the cars first victory at the Naples GP. Two more wins were achieved by Wakefield and the factory cars picked up another two before the outbreak of war.
After the war, the Maserati's went through a period of dominance in the absence of the German cars with wins from Luigi Villoresi, Tazio Nuvolari and Giorgio Pelassa but it was in the hands of Frenchman Raymond Sommer that the car was at its most formidable in 1946.
1947 would prove even more successful despite Alfa Romeo fielding the revamped 158, Maserati drivers picked up 10 individual race victories.
In 1948 the Maserati factory team, Oficine Alfieri Maserati and leading Maserati teams switched to the new 4CLT/48, selling their 4CL's to yet more privateer teams and entrants.
4CLT/48
4CLT/50
Race Victories
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Complete Formula One Results
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