User:DatsunJoe/Maserati 8CTF

{You're off to an absolutely excellent start, Joe. You write well and have organized this nicely. Also, great photos. To flesh this out further, see if you can add to each of the parts below. You could also say something in some detail about its production life: when first produced; when last produced; number produced; that sort of thing. - DL}

Overview
The Maserati 8CTF is a single-seat racing car for the Grand Prix racing class. With financial backing from Adolfo Orsi, the 8CTF was developed by Ernesto Maserati. The car debuted in 1938 at the Tripoli Grand Prix. The chassis was based on the Maserati 6CM with a three-liter straight-eight engine derived from two 1.5 liter four-cylinder engines put together. Three hundred sixty-five horsepower was achieved with double overhead camshafts and twin roots style superchargers. The block and head were integrated as a fixed head which is known as "testa fissa" in Italian, represented in its name "TF". The eight cylinder engine was mated to a four-speed transmission. The body was constructed of aluminum over the channel-section steel frame, and the car weighed 1720 lbs. Independent double wishbone suspension with torsion bars was utilized in the front, and a simple solid axle with leaf springs was used in the rear. The 8CTF used hydraulically assisted magnesium drum brakes in order to minimize brake fade.

Racing
The Maserati 8CTF was developed to compete against the then dominating German Grand Prix cars from Auto Union and Mercedes. During the Tripoli Grand Prix, Count Felice Trossi achieved the fastest lap in chassis #3031; however, he had to retire due to mechanical failure. Trossi drove the same chassis at Coppa Ciano, setting the fastest lap and leading the race until engine problems arose. Chassis #3031 was also driven by Paul Pietsch and led the German Grand Prix until engine problems set him back. Pietsch finished in third place after multiple pitstops. Overall, the 8CTF had difficulties in the Grand Prix due to reliability issues. Success, however, was found across the Atlantic in the United States.

Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis driver Wilbur Shaw and Mike Boyle purchased chassis #3032 from Maserati in 1939. This car became known as the Boyle Special. Shaw was confident that he would be able to win the Indianapolis 500 with the European car. Although the 8CTF was not as powerful as some of the competition, the car made up pace in handling and braking. Acceleration out of corners was also a strength due to the Roots-style superchargers which built boost at low rpm. He won the 500 mile race in 1939 and 1940, becoming the first driver to win in two consecutive years. In an effort to win a third time, Shaw entered the 1941 race, but he suffered a tire puncture and crashed. The Maserati 8CTF #3032 is recognized by the American Historic Vehicle Association as the most successful automobile to compete in the Indianapolis 500.

Pikes Peak
The Pikes Peak Hillclimb is a challenging and treacherous twelve mile stretch of road in Colorado Springs that finishes at 14,115 ft. The infamous high elevation hillclimb track was left unpaved until 2011 and is known to test the maximum ability of the car and the driver. Louis Unser entered the Maserati 8CTF chassis #3031 to Pikes Peak Hillclimb and won in 1946 and 1947.