The Maserati 420M/58 Eldorado was a single-seater manufactured by Maserati in 1958. It was a one-off race car purpose-built for the second edition of the 500 Miles of Monza. It was the first single-seater in Europe to be sponsored by a brand not attached to an automobile industry. The internal Maserati classification was the Tipo 4, behind the 250F variants, and also referred to as the 420/M/58 for 4.2-litre displacement, Monoposto or a single-seater in Italian and 1958 year, or simply as the "Eldorado".
In 2020, Maserati paid homage to Sir Stirling Moss, who died on 12 April 2020 at the age of 90, by decorating a prototype of the Maserati MC20 with the 'Stirling Moss' script from the "Eldorado" single seater.
Currently the Maserati "Eldorado", with bodywork and livery restored to its 1958 specification, is part of the Umberto Panini's Maserati collection in Modena.
Development
Maserati was the last manufacturer from Europe to win Indianapolis 500 races in 1939 and 1940. In 1957 and 1958 Tony Parravano entered Maserati-engined racers in this race. Their engine, based on the V8 from 450S was also a basis for the Race of Two Worlds Maserati race car but with a shorter stroke to fit the Indy regulations.
By the end of the 1957 Formula One season, after securing World Championship won with Juan Manuel Fangio, Maserati withdrew from racing as a factory entrant. This decision was mainly dictated by financial situation but allowed Maserati to pursue building road and racing cars for private customers. For the second edition of the 500 Miles of Monza, Maserati was commissioned the creation of a suitable car to compete against American entries. This lucrative order was an idea of Eldorado Sud, ice-cream company as a sponsorship venture. The race car was built from parts of already existing racing projects, mainly the Maserati 250F. Within a space of a couple months, the chief-engineer Giulio Alfieri was responsible for creating the "Eldorado". It would use the modified Maserati 250F chassis with 450S-sourced engine.
Sponsorship
The change towards race cars commissions was ideal for privateer such as Gino Zanetti as it would allow him to promote his business and meant a lucrative deal for Maserati. Zanetti was the owner of the Eldorado Sud ice-cream company and had pioneered a racing world sponsorship. He would become the first major sponsor of a European racing team that was not related to any automobile industry.
The race car was not only adorned with a sponsor's logo but the entire car was painted in desired, company colours with the company trademarks added along the sides and front, with the company names and young cowboy logos featured in multiple locations on the car. Also a bright racing red "Italia" script was added to denote the nationality of the sponsor and that of the car's manufacturer.
This was the first instance when a sponsorship colours replaced the traditional, national colour assigned by the International Federation. This decision was monumental in motorsport history and would soon open the flood-gates for sponsorship deals and financial bakers from outside the race car world.
Bodywork
The bodywork was created out of aluminium as an open-wheel single-seater and was hand-crafted by Medardo Fantuzzi at his Carrozzeria in Modena. The characteristic vertical tail-fin was added, just behind the driver's head for stability as the speeds achieved could reach . Also an additional offset hood scoop for carburetors and a long and low nose. The small deflector was installed to serve as a windshield.
The bodywork was later modified after the first race and the original fin and the headrest were removed. Further the hood scoop was reduced and an additional, mandatory roll bar installed when the car raced at the Indianapolis 500.
Specifications
Engine and transmission
The 420M/58 engine was derived from the Maserati 450S sports car. The twin cam 90° V8 was modified with a shorter stroke to reduce the displacement to so it could also meet the Indy 500 technical regulations. The fuel was fed by four twin-choke Weber carburetors to produce at 8,000 rpm with 12:1 compression ratio. The engine was lubricated via dry sump system and was equipped with twin spark plugs per cylinder.
The engine produced so much power and torque that only a two-speed gearbox was used. The first gear was only used to start from the pits. Additionally, the De Dion rear axle had no differential at all, as the final drive was solid.
Both the engine and transmission were offset to the left by , with a better weight distribution in mind, taking into account the high banked corners at Monza.