16 replies to this topic

[Michael Ferner]

In 1936, Australian Freddy McEvoy bought a 6CM Maserati, apparently chassis "1535" with corresponding engine number (the fourth complete car, and the sixth engine of the type). Now, in every source I can find the 6CM is described as a 65*75 mm 6-cylinder without fail, but McEvoy's was entered for the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup with the bore given as 2.264 inches, and a stroke of 3.75 which roughly equates 57½*95 mm! Of course, these are not the measurements taken at scrutineering, but only the data given by the entrant on the entry blank, but it still puzzles me: if they were taken out of thin air, then why do they add up to the correct displacement? Perhaps it was a "development engine", but then why the strange sizes and bore/stroke ratio (very atypical for Maserati), why was it sold to a privateer (and a gentleman driver at that), and why is there not a single word to be found in the Maserati literature - or, is there and I haven't looked in the right places?

[hansfohr]

Why don't you first figure out if there's a thread on McEvoy? Don't look any further than here, could be helpful:
http://forums.autosp...p;#entry3680033

By the way: this is McEvoy's former 6CM, fitted with the original (?) 1.5L sc engine.
http://www.maserati-.../alfieri85c.htm

Edited by hansfohr, 26 May 2010 - 16:38.

[Alan Cox]

Why don't you first figure out if there's a thread on McEvoy? Don't look any further than here:
http://forums.autosp...p;#entry3680033

The thread to which you refer is concerned with personal details of McEvoy. Fascinating though it is, there is nothing at all about the technical details of his 6CM, or of McEvoy's dealings with Maserati, which is what Michael is seeking.

Edited by Alan Cox, 26 May 2010 - 16:44.

[Michael Ferner]

Why don't you first figure out if there's a thread on McEvoy? Don't look any further than here, could be helpful:
http://forums.autosp...p;#entry3680033

I did, but I am not looking for information on McEvoy. It's the Maser I'm interested in!


EDIT

Thnx Alan, couldn't have said it better!

Edited by Michael Ferner, 26 May 2010 - 16:45.

[Michael Ferner]

By the way: this is McEvoy's former 6CM, fitted with the original (?) 1.5L sc engine.
http://www.maserati-.../alfieri85c.htm

I'm not an expert on prewar Masers, but if this car incorporates parts of "1535" then it's probably a restoration cock-up. I don't think it ever looked that way in period.

[fuzzi]

I am notoriously bad at sums, but a friend of mine who pursues the trade of motoring historian has pointed out to me that the quoted cubic capacity of many engines is not actually correct when worked out using a modern calculator.

His theory, which has some merit in my view, is that the original calculations were done on a slide rule, which while accurate up to a point is only as good as the person working it. Could it be that the calculation of the original bore and stroke when rendered to cubic inches on a slide rule is not a mile away from the figures quoted? (and would it not also depend upon the conversion factor used?).

[Michael Ferner]

You're right, of course, but it doesn't explain this abnormality.

Original (factory) data: bore 65 mm (2.56"), stroke 75 mm (2.95"), capacity 1493 cc (91.1 ci), bore/stroke ratio 87 %

McEvoy data: bore 2.264" (57.5 mm), stroke 3.75" (95.25 mm), capacity 90.56 ci (1484 cc), bore/stroke ratio 60 %

All calculated with a modern (?) calculator, but too far away from each other to describe the same engine (if true).

[Vitesse2]

Just a guess, but looking at his numbers, rather than taking the engine apart to measure the bore might he have simply done a measurement of the crank throw and back-calculated to come to an approximately correct figure?

[JoBo]

In 1936, Australian Freddy McEvoy bought a 6CM Maserati, apparently chassis "1535" with corresponding engine number (the fourth complete car, and the sixth engine of the type). Now, in every source I can find the 6CM is described as a 65*75 mm 6-cylinder without fail, but McEvoy's was entered for the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup with the bore given as 2.264 inches, and a stroke of 3.75 which roughly equates 57½*95 mm! Of course, these are not the measurements taken at scrutineering, but only the data given by the entrant on the entry blank, but it still puzzles me: if they were taken out of thin air, then why do they add up to the correct displacement? Perhaps it was a "development engine", but then why the strange sizes and bore/stroke ratio (very atypical for Maserati), why was it sold to a privateer (and a gentleman driver at that), and why is there not a single word to be found in the Maserati literature - or, is there and I haven't looked in the right places?

I came across registration documents in Italy for chassis 1535. The car never belonged to Freddy McEvoy. According to that papers this 6 CM had a continuous history in Italy from June 1936 until 1966.

JoBo

Edited by JoBo, 21 October 2012 - 00:37.

[ERault]

Interesting ! Of course, that does not necessary mean 1535 was not the car raced by McEvoy, does it ? Maybe it could have been borrowed from an italian legal owner instead of bought to avoid taxation ? I think Parnell had that sort of arrangement with Scuderia Ambrosiana for his Maseratis postwar.

[bradbury west]

Presumably you have checked with TNF's own pre-war Maserati guru Adam ferrington, of whom it might be asked, "where is he?"?
Roger Lund

[David McKinney]

I believe Adam is no longer a member...

[bradbury west]

Something of a loss to this place, in that case. I am often concerned at the number of "old hands" who appear to post seldom, or seemingly never, these days. I know nostalgia is a thing of the past, but their knowledge and contributions have always been a great asset here.
Roger Lund

[Roger Clark]

More a statistic than a tragedy.

[JoBo]

Interesting ! Of course, that does not necessary mean 1535 was not the car raced by McEvoy, does it ? Maybe it could have been borrowed from an italian legal owner instead of bought to avoid taxation ? I think Parnell had that sort of arrangement with Scuderia Ambrosiana for his Maseratis postwar.

I have 3 race events with McEvoy in a 6CM in `36. Yes, could be possible that he rented the car. But he never owned it.

[Ted Walker]

Im sure Adam is out there somewhere !!!!!!!

[Michael Ferner]

Well, to pick this one up again, in the meantime I had realized that the engine dimensions quoted on the entry list were actually ERA dimensions, probably printed in error. But the puzzlement continues: having now had a look at the contemporary specifications sheet (from "Motor Age") on the Vanderbilt Cup site, I notice that it lists the engine as a 62 * 100 mm six!! Now, those dimensions are fairly near to the original 4C-1500 size, namely 69 * 100, only that was a four, of course - oh, dear! Does that mean the car actually had a 4-cylinder engine (the only pictures of the car I've seen merely show the off side), and is the bore a simple misquote? Did they, perhaps, build an enlarged six with a 100 mm crank, and using pistons from the earlier 26B??? Doesn't really sound likely, though! Questions over questions...

Edited by Michael Ferner, 28 February 2013 - 17:20.