The Maserati 250 F is one of the most successful Grand Prix racing cars of the 1950s. Practically all of the best and most talented drivers of the time took their place behind the wheel of this incredible racing car and drove it to legendary victories. To mention just a few, we must of course start with Juan Manuel Fango.
The Argentinian world champion achieved arguably the greatest victory of his career in a Maserati 250 F. In 1957, he had almost fallen hopelessly behind at the Nürburgring after a pit stop. He was just one lap behind Peter Collins and Mike Hawthorn in their Ferraris. But Fangio drove one record lap after another and put the two leaders under pressure, eventually passing them to take victory in the German Grand Prix, which was also his last victory and secured him his fifth world championship title.
But Sir Stirling Moss, Piero Taruffi, Gigi Villoresi, Phil Hill, Jean Behra, Jack Brabham, Luigi Musso and even Carroll Shelby also drove this magnificent 250 F at one time or another.
Juan Manuel Fangio won the races in Argentina and Belgium in 1954 with chassis number #2505 and in 1957 mainly drove the 250 F with chassis number #2529, with which he also won the German GP. It was a lightweight version.
Nowadays, the Maserati 250 F is very often seen at historic motorsport events. Almost all of them are painted in red, with the occasional dark green and ink-blue one popping up. But for a few years now, this ivory-coloured Maserati 250 F has been taking part in the Historic GP Car Association races. It only has a narrow red longitudinal stripe on the sides, otherwise it is painted completely in ivory.
It can be assumed that this Maserati 250 F is chassis number #2521. This 250 F was built in 1956 and was driven by Jean Behra in the Grand Prix of the 1956 season. For unknown reasons, the car was listed as chassis number #2018 in two races in Argentina. Jean Behra finished second and third in these two races. He also finished third in Monaco, Reims, Silverstone and the Nürburgring later in the year.
After the 1956 season, the racing car was sold to an American living in Switzerland, who sold it on to André Testut, who tried to qualify for the 1958 Grand Prix in Monaco, but failed. He tried again in 1959. This time he had the 250 F painted in the typical national racing colours of Monaco. It was this ivory colour with the narrow red stripe.
After several changes of ownership, this Maserati 250 F found a new home with Burkard von Schenk in 1989. He drove it regularly in various historic motorsport races with great success. Finally, chassis number #2521 came to its current owner in 2012. He then decided to have the racing car repainted in the colours that André Testut once used in the 1959 Monaco Grand Prix.
So today we have the opportunity to admire this fantastic Maserati 250 F in its extraordinary colour scheme and I always have the pleasure of photographing it. Find out more about our photographer Ralph Lüker.
