Maserati Tipo 26

Builder	Maserati
Class	Race Car
Type	Formula Grand Prix
Production	from 1926 to 1932
Motor	1.5 Liter 8-cylinder in-line engine
Length	3670 mm
Height	1250 mm
Weight	780 kg

The Maserati Tipo 26 was the first racing car that Officine Alfieri Maserati , founded in 1914, produced under its own name. The vehicle appeared in 1926 and was produced until 1932 in several versions in one to two dozen copies. An advanced version with a larger engine was called Tipo 26B , a roadster version with modified body Tipo 26MM .

History

Officine Maserati, founded by Alfieri Maserati, designed a racing car for Isotta Fraschini after the end of the First World War . From 1922 worked Maserati for the Turin carmaker Diatto . First, Alfieri Maserati developed a race car with 3.0 litres displacement, with which he went in 1922 at a race in Italy at the start. The following year, the Diatto Tipo 20 was born, a road vehicle that was equipped as standard with a 40-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Maserati derived in 1924 from a racing version called 20S, which allegedly made 70 hp. 1925 was a pure racing car, which was used only sporadically, because Diatto had now come into financial difficulties. In the early autumn of 1925 Diatto gave up its motorsport commitment completely. Alfieri Maserati took over the construction for free in September 1925 and continued the motorsport program from 1926 under his own name.  He developed his last Diatto construction in some detail further and presented the otherwise unchanged Car 1926 Maserati Tipo 26 The term took on the year the presentation reference. On the technical basis of the Tipo 26 or 26B developed Maserati 1929 a racing car with 16 cylinders, which received the designation Maserati V4 .

The Tipo 26 was an open race car. This had two seats, because at that time it was still common to take a mechanic to the races.  The structure was made of aluminium. It was made by the Carrozzeria Fantuzzi in Modena .The Maserati Tipo 26 corresponded technically largely to the last Diatto racing car of 1925. Some sources assume that the first copy of the Tipo 26 presented in the spring of 1926 was also physically identical to the Diatto. The Tipo 26 had a ladder frame and front and rear rigid axles . The rear axle was suspended from semi- elliptic steel leaf springs. In its original version the car was driven by a 1.5 Liter in-line eight-cylinder engine, which had two overhead camshafts and provided 115 hp. By default, a Roots compressor was installed. According to one source, the cylinder head of the Maserati was made of cast iron, while Diatto had used an aluminium cylinder head. It reached a maximum speed of 180/200 km/h.The bodywork was a two-seater in aluminium , the chassis was composed of two longitudinal members with crosspieces in steel profiles .

The engine was an in-line eight-cylinder and had a displacement of 1492.9 cm³ . The bore and stroke were 60 and 66 mm respectively . The power output varied between 120 and 128 HP at 5300/6000 rpm . The compression ratio was 5.8:1.The ignition was single with magneto . The fuelling was forced , with a Roots type compressor and two Memini brand carburettors upstream of the compressor itself (only 1 since 1927). The distribution was two valves per cylinder arranged in a 90° V, with a double overhead camshaft.

The brakes were drum brakes with hydraulic control, while the steering was worm screw. The suspension was leaf spring with friction shock absorbers . The gearbox initially had three gears, then increased to four plus reverse .

Tipo 26B

1927 appeared the Tipo 26B. This corresponded technically and externally to the previous Tipo 26, but had an enlarged to 2.0 litres capacity; the power of the engine was now 130 hp. In one case, the engine of the 26B was subsequently enlarged to 2.1 litres. Some Tipo 26 models were also retrofitted with the engine of the 26B.The maximum speed of the Tipo 26B was about 160 km / h.Approximately eleven 2-litre versions were built during 1928 and 1929. Some Tipo 26 examples were also fitted with the 2-litre engines.

Tipo 26MM 

The original version of the car was intended for circuit racing which took place mostly during the day; in order to take part in the Mille Miglia , a "Sport" version of the Tipo 26 was prepared, with the modifications suitable for a race like that, which took place on roads open to traffic. In order to participate in the 1928 Mille Miglia, the second edition of the famous race, the car was equipped with side motorcycle mudguards , doors, headlights, a small windscreen and a canvas top . The truncated tail could now accommodate two spare wheels while a toolbox and battery were placed on the footrests . Bosch supplied the electrical system , which also included the starting system .

Maserati constructed two vehicles with independent body, which received the additional designation MM (for Mille Miglia ). They had curved fenders, side footboards and a removable fabric hood. Technically, they were identical to the conventional 26B.The engine had a cast iron block . The exhaust was equipped with a silencer  . The wheelbase had been shortened to 2,580 mm and the weight, compared to the open-wheel version, had increased to 840 kg  .Two examples were built, reserved for Carlo Tonini and Pietro Brunori, which debuted on 31 March ; the car, which also had a larger fuel tank suitable for long-distance races, finished in 23rd position  .

The Maserati Tipo 26 and 26B was a free-for-sale race car, which was manufactured in small series. The exact scope of production is unclear from about 20 copies,  with the Tipo 26 about nine and account for about eleven vehicles on the Tipo 26B. The exact distribution cannot be clarified because some Tipo 26 models were retrofitted with the engine of the 26B, which was partially, but not always associated with changes in the VIN.  Chassis numbering commenced at number 10, and there were at least nine examples built from 1926 to 1928.chassis and engine markings were stamped with the last two digits only.

Racing 

Alfieri Maserati drove 1926 from the factory numerous races with the Tipo 26. In addition, the cars were often used by private drivers.

The Maserati Tipo 26 debuted on 2 May 1926 at the Targa Florio . Driver was Alfieri Maserati, mechanic and co-driver was Guerino Bertocchi. Maserati finished ninth in the Bugatti- dominated race (out of twelve cars) and won in the 1.5-liter class. At the Italian Grand Prix in Monza appeared two Tipo 26 for Alfieri Maserati and Emilio Materassi ; both failed prematurely as a result of compressor damage. During the year, Maserati riders won several sprints and Hillclimb races .

1927 Alfieri Maserati's brother Ernesto with the new Tipo 26 at the Gran Premio di Tripoli overall third and class winner. A little later came Alfieri Maserati with the new 26B at the Targa Florio also finished third. Diego de Sterlich won several uphill races with a private Tipo 26 during the year.

1928 appeared the further developed Maserati 8C . From the factory side, Maserati started to use this vehicle, but for some years Tipo 26 and 26B were also at the start. Their best results achieved the cars at the Coppa Acerbo 1927 in Pescara and the Grand Prix of Tripoli 1929 , where they came second in each case.