This 1957 Maserati 200SI is one of just 28 examples of the Sport Internazionale variant built during a single year of production. Originally designated for delivery to Maserati of America in July 1957, it is believed to have instead been retained as a factory works car.
Chassis number 2425 was reportedly driven to a class victory at the Giro di Sicilia in Italy and secured an overall victory at the Grand Prix Cadours in France before being shipped to North America. Under the ownership of Dick Hall’s Carroll Shelby Sport Cars, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, the car was driven by Jim Hall in SCCA events through the remainder of 1957. It notched impressive results including three second-in-class finishes at Hourglass and Palm Springs.
In 1958, privateer Bob Kuhn campaigned the 200SI at Watkins Glen and Lime Rock. The car was later sold to U.S. Navy veteran and Clean Air Act co-author Otto Klein, who drove it in several SCCA contests between 1962 and 1964. Toward the end of Klein’s campaign, the car was reportedly fitted with a Chevrolet engine.
Following Klein’s ownership, the Maserati was sold to its next custodian, who commissioned a mechanical refresh that included increasing the displacement of the twin-cam inline-four to 2.5 liters. During subsequent ownership, it participated twice in the Mille Miglia Storico during the 1980s before being sold to a London collector who commissioned further refurbishment.
A German owner then acquired the car and installed a reproduction 2.5-liter engine. Under this ownership, the Maserati was actively campaigned at historic racing events at Vallelunga, Spa, and the Nürburgring.
In 2007, the car was purchased by its current owner who imported it back to the United States. The new owner commissioned additional mechanical refurbishment work, and the car has since appeared several times at the Monterey Historics.
In 2024, this Maserati 200SI participated in the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and was subsequently reissued an FIA Historical Technical Passport.
### Design and Features
This Tipo 52 Sport Internazionale features aluminum spyder bodywork built by Fantuzzi and is finished in striking red. Power comes from a reproduction 2.5-liter DOHC inline-four engine equipped with an aluminum block and cylinder head, dry-sump lubrication, twin-plug ignition, and twin Weber DCO3 carburetors.
Other notable features include:
– Four-speed manual transmission
– Finned aluminum drum brakes
– Independent front suspension
– De Dion rear axle
– 16” Borrani wire wheels with two-eared knock-offs
– Riveted aluminum fuel and oil tanks (fuel tank fitted with a bladder)
– Passenger-side aluminum tonneau panel
– Bucket seats upholstered in red leather
Accompanying the car is a collection of original parts including the removed Tipo 4CF2 inline-four engine stamped with chassis number 2425, a transmission, and a differential.
### Historical Development
Maserati began developing a four-cylinder sports car in 1953 under the internal project name Tipo 52, which later evolved into two platforms: the 150S and the larger-displacement 200S. Early experimentation involved three Fiandri-bodied, in-house-built chassis with rigid axles. Maserati eventually shifted to underpinning the 200S with a De Dion-axle Gilco chassis clothed in open bodywork by Carrozzeria Fantuzzi.
The 200SI variant, introduced in 1957, incorporated updates to comply with evolving international racing regulations. These included a full-width windscreen with a wiper and a rudimentary soft top.
### Bodywork and Interior
This particular car’s aluminum Fantuzzi bodywork was refinished in red during a previous refurbishment, with additional areas freshened under current ownership. Its distinctive stylistic elements include:
– Removable hood and trunk panels with drilled release handles
– Curved hood and fender louvers
– Faired-in headlights
– Wrap-around plexiglass windshield
– Driver-side mirror
– Body-color aluminum passenger-side tonneau panel with windscreen segment
– Removable headrest fairing
– Central taillight
– Four-into-one side-pipe exhaust
The silver-painted Borrani wire wheels are wrapped in 5.50-16 Dunlop Racing tires. Stopping power is provided by hydraulic brakes with duplex actuation inside 320mm diameter aluminum finned and ventilated drums.
Inside the right-hand-drive cockpit, two ventilated fixed-back bucket seats trimmed in red leather provide support and comfort. Additional equipment includes Sabelt lap belts for the driver and passenger, a centrally mounted polished shift knob, a dashboard-mounted rearview mirror, and an onboard fire-suppression system.
The wood-rimmed steering wheel is positioned ahead of a Jaeger 8,500 rpm tachometer along with gauges monitoring oil pressure and coolant temperature. The car is not fitted with an odometer, and its total mileage remains unknown.
### Engine and Mechanical Details
The 2.5-liter inline-four was reportedly built by Olaf Kuester in the late 1990s and features:
– Aluminum block and cylinder head
– Dry-sump lubrication system
– Dual overhead camshafts
– Twin Weber 45 DCO3 carburetors
– Twin-plug ignition
This engine underwent an overhaul by Rick Bunkfeldt’s Vintage Restoration Services in Hartland, Wisconsin, under current ownership.
The rear compartment houses the riveted aluminum fuel and oil tanks, with the fuel tank lined by a safety bladder. The suspension setup includes coil-sprung independent front suspension and a De Dion rear axle with a transverse leaf spring. Houdaille shock absorbers manage damping at both front and rear.
### Additional Supporting Materials
The car comes with a comprehensive set of parts, including the original Tipo 4CF2 inline-four engine removed under previous ownership; chassis number 2425 is stamped clearly on the block. Also included are a transmission, shifter assembly, rear differential, a red leather-upholstered seat, a set of wire wheels with Dunlop Racing tires, and various other components.
Period photographs show the car competing in SCCA events, courtesy of Allen R. Kuhn, along with images from historic races and the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance under current ownership. The factory build sheet, avviso spedizione, Maserati Certificate of Origin, and FIA Historic Technical Passport are also included in the vehicle’s documentation, with the latter valid until December 2034.
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This exceptional 1957 Maserati 200SI Tipo 52 Sport Internazionale represents a rare and well-documented example of Maserati’s engineering excellence during a pivotal era in motorsport history. Now offered for sale on dealer consignment in Emeryville, California, it comes complete with factory documents, a Maserati Certificate of Origin, an FIA Historic Technical Passport, an HSMA logbook, and a clean Oregon title.
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