- Maserati 26M
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Maserati 26M 
Manufacturer Maserati Production 1930-32 Successor Maserati 8C Class Race car Layout FR layout Engine 2.5 L Straight-8
2.8 L Straight-8
(185 bhp)
(205 bhp)Transmission 4 speed manual transmission Wheelbase 2640 mm (103.9 in) Curb weight 800 kg (1764 lb) Designer Alfieri Maserati The Maserati 26M were thirteen Grand Prix race cars made by Maserati in Bologna between 1930 and 1932.[1][2]
Before the 26M, the original 8-cylinder Tipo 26/8C 1500 from 1926 had evolved into version such as 26B, 26C/8C 2100 and 26R. Based on these, the 26M was designed in 1930 as mostly single-seaters (M meaning monoposto) and also referred to as 8C 2500 (8 cylinder, 2500 ccm).[3] Six of the 26M were made into 26M Sport for long endurance purposes. Special two-seaters for road use, were the 26M Grand Sport by Carrozzeria Castagna, and the Sport Tipo 1000 Miglia by Ugo Zagato. Two four-seaters were later referred to as the company's first attempt at non-racing cars.[4]
The 26M/8C 2500 dominated the 1930 Grand Prix season having its debut at VI Premio Reale di Roma (Luigi Arcangeli won, 25 May 1930), IV Coppa Ciano (Luigi Fagioli won, 21 July 1930), VI Coppa Acerbo (Achille Varzi won, Ernesto Maserati second, 17 August 1930), III Gran Premio di Monza (Varzi won, Arcangeli second, 7 September 1930) and VII Gran Premio de España (Varzi won, Aymo Maggi second, 5 October 1930). [5].
In the first half of the 1931 Grand Prix season it lost to Alfa Romeo 8C and Bugatti T51. A higher bore and carburators from Edoardo Weber of Bologna, became the 26M/8C 2800 that won at the IV Gran Premio di Monza (Luigi Fagioli, 6 September 1931) and I Mountains Championship at Brooklands (Tim Birkin, 17 October 1931). Other drivers of 26M this year were Clemente Biondetti, Luigi Parenti, George Eyston, Pietro Ghersi, Umberto Klinger and René Dreyfus. [6]
Later victories were with Tim Birkin's 26M, III Mountains Championship (Whitney Straight, 21 October 1933) and as an 8C at Circuit d'Albi GP (Buddy Featherstonhaugh, 22 July 1934).[2]
References
- ^ "Maserati 26M Sport". http://www.maserati.it/maserati/it/it/index/models/heritage/sport/26m-sport.html.
- ^ a b "Cars (Part 8): Maserati". The Golden Era of Grand Prix Racing. http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/c8.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
- ^ facts and pictures about the 26M
- ^ facts and pictures about the 26M Sport.
- ^ "1930 Grands Prix". http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1930.html.
- ^ "1931 Grands Prix". http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1931.html.
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