7 replies to this topic

[O Volante]

For a while, there were two cars known under the s/n 1655.

 

The early history of 1655 has been undisputed. Finished by Maserati in autumn 1955, the car was directly purchased by Californian housing developer and road racing magnate Tony Parravano. Its first race appearance, however, was in support of the factory cars in the 1955 Targa Florio. For that round of the World Sports Car Championship the car was privately entered by Parravano, but fitted with a 2.0 liter 4-cyl. engine and driven by Fernando Mancini and Benoit Musy. Unfortunately the car retired. Re-engined with a 1.5 liter 4-cyl. motor, 1655 finally arrived in California. At Palm Springs in December 1955, Ken Miles drove the car for Parravano and won two races with it. In January and February 1956, the car is raced for Parravano at Torrey Pines and Palm Springs again. After that, 1655 disappears ...

 

There is no need to tell the Tony Parravano story here again. When the conflict with the IRS escalated in 1960, several Parravano cars were impounded. Other had been brought over the border to Mexico. After some time, however, all the cars were up for sale, both offered by the IRS and from Mexico. The Mexican cars returned to the US. Not much details known. After some more time, ex-Parravano cars were still rather special, but nothing unusual in the international market ...

 

So when a genuine 150S with a Californian background but apparently only little other documentation appeared around 1990, it was quite reasonable to think that this may have come from Parravano. Over the years this car became known as s/n 1655. About 20 years ago, however, this identification was first questioned and later further research revealed the car as 150S s/n 1674!

 

A main reason to doubt the above identification has always been the claim by another car to be s/n 1655. Who can detail the story and race record of the real s/n 1655? What happened to it after 1960? In Mexico? Impounded?

 

 

[WINO]

That's all you have to add, Don. Better keep your mouth shut then. We are here to help each other.

[WINO]

O Volante, the only piece of research on the 150S model that I could find is John de Boer's Registry of Italian Oddities. I have the fifth edition from 1990, so there must be a more recent version.

 

John lists chassis 1655/engine 1655 as finished in red on July 16, 1955, for Parravano. Then... "ex G. Borsari ". Current owner Guarnieri.

 

For chassis 1974/engine 1974, finished in red on August 13, 1956, with the only piece of information that it was a works car. No current owner

 

Willem

[WINO]

Another internet source suggests that chassis 1655 was bought by Italia Motors in 1956. The company was co-owned by Jack Brumby and Rey Martinez. I met Martinez once in Fred Chaparro's bookstore in Burbank, but the discussion centered on the 450S Maserati the two bought from the Parravano estate. Buying that 150S a few years earlier would have made sense, which means there was no longer a Parravano connection from 1956 on. Brumby entered the car at Palm Springs in April 1958 but apparently was a DNS.

 

Then there is Ted Peterson, who ran an early model 150S with 2-liter engine around California in 1960 and 1961. Same car?

Edited by WINO, 07 January 2025 - 19:27.

[WINO]

The only other Maserati 150S running around California in FM class was owned by Dusty Miller of Los Angeles. He used it first at Palm Springs in April 1957, where Bill Pollack did the driving chores. From then on Dusty, as well as Bob Oker, raced it during 1958 until Pomona in February 1959.

Here is a shot of Dusty Miller and his 150S at Cotati in May 1957.

Obviously a later model 150S, not the former Parravano 150S.

[68targa]

An evocative image, thanks for posting.   Do you know who the others are in this photo in particular the driver of the Lotus IX ?

[O Volante]

Many, many thanks for your contributions, Willem!

 

The production/delivery dates for both cars were originally published by Orsini/Zagari, I would think. You are right about John de Boer! The Registry of Italian Oddities became the The Italian Car Registry, but in its first edition from 1994 you find basically the same entry for s/n 1655. "ex G. Borsari " (sic) is now followed by the names Carrara, Guarnieri and in the space for current owner, Cutrera (?) – I ... apparently a new likely owner in Italy. For s/n 1674, it’s exactly the same information.

 

Other information was made available with the publication of the Tabucchi book in 2003. Accordingly 1655 was “fitted with engine No. 2431 Tipo 250S in 1957”, with the origin of the engine given as “2431 – Engine only” produced in 1957.

 

Orsini/Zagari have s/n 2431 under the heading Type 200S-200SI as a separate car, with 2431 engine, finished 31 December 1957 in red colour.

 

In The Italian Car Registry s/n 2431 is a 200S/”250S” (sic) with matching numbers, adding to the production date sale “per Shelby” and the Rosso Bianco Collection as 1994 owner. Later, for example in a comprehensive history of Sports Car Racing in the US South, 2431 was identified as the 250S raced by Bob Aylward …

 

The assumption has always been the new findings in Tabucchi’s book were the result of a careful re-reading of available official documents. No mention of a car s/n 2431, rather chassis 1655 with engine 2431. Nothing additional on s/n 1674.

 

What does this mean for the search for s/n 1655? An early update to a bigger engine may have happened, but does not really fit with the sale to Italia Motors – at Palm Springs Brumby was at least entered with a 1500cc car! The Peterson 150S, however, seems a better guess. How has this car got its 2-liter engine? Yes, the Dusty Miller 150S is a different animal. According to the net, it’s s/n 1675. Again according to the net, s/n 1674’s first owner was Chick Leson, which was possibly the 150S later raced by Chuck Sargent … Both cars originally delivered in 1957.

 

A real puzzle! And in any case, where does Tabucchi’s 250S update story come from?

 

Again, a big thank you, Willem, not the least for the Dusty Miller 150S picture: a good reminder what we are talking about here!

[WINO]

On to the ID of the competitors in the Dusty Miller 150S picture at Cotati in May 1957. This Under 1.5-liter race was won by Sammy Weiss in his Porsche 550RS, over Bob Drake in Joe Lubin's Bobtail Cooper/Climax. Neither are in the photo. We have Russell May in the #27 Porsche Special and Harry Banta in the yellow Bobtail Cooper/Climax. The Lotus driver is harder to pin down. If its race number was #39, it is Jim Lowe in an Eleven, who finished 5th overall. If it is a Nine, I don't know.

Edited by WINO, Yesterday, 14:50.