The Maserati Tipo 61 was produced from 1959 through 1960. During its production lifespan, only 16 examples were created. The design had been conceived by Giulio Alfieri, Maserati’s chief design engineer at the time with the purpose of competing in SCCA competition.
The name ‘Birdcage’ was given to the Tipo 61 because of their tubular chassis. It featured a spaceframe chassis comprised of around 200 small aluminum tubes welded together. This gave the vehicle rigidity and strength while minimizing weight. The front suspension was wishbones while the rear was a DeDion axle.
The Maserati Tipo 61 was a bold departure from the previous racer, the 450S. Instead of the 4.5-liter V8, the Tipo 60 and 61 were powered by a dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine in a lightweight chassis constructed of a network of many small steel tubes, earning it the nick-name, ‘Birdcage’ Maserati. The inline four cylinder engine produces 250 horsepower at 7000 RPM. Production ceased in December of 1960.
