The making of Fangio

The Maserati 4CLT was the car that launched the Argentinian ace, and this new work tells its story, says Gordon Cruickshank

Fangio Maserati Reims

The master Fangio lines his Maserati (34) up in the middle of the front row at Reims in 1949

LAT Photographic

Browse pages
Current page

1

Current page

2

Current page

3

Current page

4

Current page

5

Current page

6

Current page

7

Current page

8

Current page

9

Current page

10

Current page

11

Current page

12

Current page

13

Current page

14

Current page

15

Current page

16

Current page

17

Current page

18

Current page

19

Current page

20

Current page

21

Current page

22

Current page

23

Current page

24

Current page

25

Current page

26

Current page

27

Current page

28

Current page

29

Current page

30

Current page

31

Current page

32

Current page

33

Current page

34

Current page

35

Current page

36

Current page

37

Current page

38

Current page

39

Current page

40

Current page

41

Current page

42

Current page

43

Current page

44

Current page

45

Current page

46

Current page

47

Current page

48

Current page

49

Current page

50

Current page

51

Current page

52

Current page

53

Current page

54

Current page

55

Current page

56

Current page

57

Current page

58

Current page

59

Current page

60

Current page

61

Current page

62

Current page

63

Current page

64

Current page

65

Current page

66

Current page

67

Current page

68

Current page

Current page

70

Current page

71

Current page

72

Current page

73

Current page

74

Current page

75

Current page

76

Current page

77

Current page

78

Current page

79

Current page

80

Current page

81

Current page

82

Current page

83

Current page

84

Current page

85

Current page

86

Current page

87

Current page

88

Current page

89

Current page

90

Current page

91

Current page

92

Current page

93

Current page

94

Current page

95

Current page

96

Current page

97

Current page

98

Current page

99

Current page

100

Current page

101

Current page

102

Current page

103

Current page

104

Current page

105

Current page

106

Current page

107

Current page

108

Current page

109

Current page

110

Current page

111

Current page

112

Current page

113

Current page

114

Current page

115

Current page

116

Current page

117

Current page

118

Current page

119

Current page

120

Current page

121

Current page

122

Current page

123

Current page

124

Current page

125

Current page

126

Current page

127

Current page

128

Current page

129

Current page

130

Current page

131

Current page

132

Current page

133

Current page

134

Current page

135

Current page

136

Current page

137

Current page

138

Current page

139

Current page

140

Current page

141

Current page

142

Current page

143

Current page

144

Current page

145

Current page

146

Current page

147

Current page

148

Current page

149

Current page

150

Current page

151

Current page

152

Current page

153

Current page

154

Current page

155

Current page

156

Current page

157

Current page

158

Current page

159

Current page

160

Current page

161

Current page

162

Current page

163

Current page

164

Current page

165

Current page

166

Current page

167

Current page

168

Current page

169

Current page

170

Current page

171

Current page

172

Next from the busy Porter premises, this landscape-format work is another single-chassis work listing one car’s complete life cycle – in this case a car with a prime record. Not a grand prix car in itself, yet a grand prix winner – twice. It’s a Maserati 4CLT voiturette, one of the pair which gave Juan Manuel Fangio the tools to break into European racing and begin his remarkable grand prix career.

As expected, the book kicks off with a sweep through the Trident’s racing past up to the point where the 4CL is gasping in the wake of the Alfettas and Maserati decides to up the pressure, notably with twin superchargers on the 16-valve four, mounted in a new chassis with improved suspension, all detailed here in photos and drawings.

A debut victory at San Remo in 1948 indicated that the new 4CLT was the best thing a privateer could buy if he couldn’t land a works Alfa seat. As Bertschi explains, aspiring Argentinians at this time had the crucial support of the ACA – Automóvil Club Argentino, a sort of Racing for Britain equivalent but with political backing from General Perón and the funds to buy cars. And they did – a pair of the new 4CLTs, one being chassis 1600, the book’s subject.

In their blue and yellow livery, the cars brought Fangio six grand prix victories, two in 1600, the others in 1599, and Bertschi includes small biographies of the JMF and team-mate Benedicto Campos, who baled out as he didn’t want to have to thank Perón personally for any success, as well as its other pilots Marimón, González and Rosier.

Each of its races is covered, although this section is short compared to later years when it received a Ford V8, and then  disappeared in the 1950s to be tracked down much later. I’m not qualified to adjudicate on the research on its identity, but the tale of creating a spare engine from scratch is impressive, while the current owner ably describes maintaining and racing the car.

Lavish studio photography is balanced by many period shots – I liked the photo of the slightly too short transporter with a hole in the tailgate for the car’s tail to project through. Neither cars nor people were so precious then.

Maserati 4CLT book

Maserati 4CLT Chassis 1600
Cristián Bertschi
Porter Press
£30,
ISBN: 978-1-907085-75-8.
porterpress.co.uk

 


The Last Open Road audiobook 

Burt Levy
Here’s something different: a full-performance audio motoring novel – a mix of narration and acting from book one of Levy’s well-known cycle.

Taking its hero Buddy deep into sports car racing in 1950s West Coast USA, it’s full of period atmosphere and detail, with background sound effects from all the right cars. Plus real racing people: the fun is trying to identify who’s playing which role: is that Brian Redman, or David Hobbs? Hang on, that mechanic’s voice sounds like Marino Franchitti… GC

On CD or MP3.
Thinkfast Ink, lastopenroad.com, $55


Formula 1 All the races – The first 1000
Roger Smith
This is a sizeable recap of the history, statistics and spectacular details of F1’s path from Silverstone in 1950 to Shanghai in 2019. Smith’s substantial limited-edition book rates each race by incorporating an F1 journalist jury, as well as including a 2019 season recap available for download.

Race recaps, photos and headlines alongside ratings, records and trivia offer a straightforward one-stop shop for F1 history. JWS

Published by Veloce, £65 ISBN 978-1-787115-66-8


Grand Prix Icon: Lotus 72
DVD by Supercharged Broadcast
In a world monopolised by fake news and creative editing, this is a throwback: a nuts-and-bolts tale presented in a nuts-and-bolts manner, bereft of frills and nonsense. It features a brace of discs, the first comprising the main documentary (almost two hours) and the second (even longer) rammed with extra material.

It includes some brief action clips and illustrative stills, but for the most part it is a series of interviews with those at the heart of the Lotus 72 story, including drivers (not least Emerson Fittipaldi), engineers, mechanics and other key team personnel. It’s more for those happy to crack open a mature brandy and engage in the old-fashioned art of listening. SA

lotus72dvd.com, £20