Maserati 450S Costin-Zagato Coupe I (Tipo 54) gallery (1956–1958)

The Maserati 450S (factory project code Tipo 54) was engineered under the direction of chief engineer Giulio Alfieri in the mid-1950s to compete for outright victory in the FIA World Sportscar Championship. The chassis was constructed around an advanced tubular steel spaceframe developed from the successful 300S architecture, featuring independent front suspension with double wishbones and coil springs, alongside a sophisticated De Dion rear axle with a transverse leaf spring and large finned hydraulic drum brakes. At the heart of the 450S was an all-aluminum naturally aspirated 4.5-liter (4,477 cc) 90-degree V8 engine equipped with four overhead camshafts, two valves per cylinder, dry-sump lubrication, and four twin-choke Weber 45 DCO3 carburetors, producing an immense 400 horsepower. This powerhouse was paired with a rear-mounted five-speed manual transaxle integrated with a limited-slip differential for optimal weight distribution. Most chassis were clothed in lightweight aluminum open-cockpit roadster/barchetta bodywork styled and hand-formed by Carrozzeria Fantuzzi, though one famous chassis received a bespoke aerodynamic coupe body designed by Frank Costin and executed by Zagato for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The model did not undergo formal commercial facelifts due to its specialized racing nature, and production ceased when the FIA introduced a 3.0-liter engine displacement limit for sportscars in 1958. Chassis were delivered to the factory racing team as well as prominent privateers across Europe and North America.