The 4CLT
Category | Voiturette / Formula One | ||||||||
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Constructor | Maserati | ||||||||
Designer(s) | Ernesto Maserati Alberto Massimino Vittorio Bellentani Arialdo Ruggieri |
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Technical specifications | |||||||||
Chassis | Light alloy tubular ladder | ||||||||
Suspension (front) | Independent, coil springs and hydraulic dampers | ||||||||
Suspension (rear) | Live axle, leaf springs and hydraulic dampers | ||||||||
Axle track | F: 1,250 mm (49.2 in) R: 1,200 mm (47.2 in) |
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Wheelbase | 2,500 mm (98.4 in) | ||||||||
Engine | Maserati 1491 cc straight-4, two-stage supercharger, front-mounted | ||||||||
Transmission | Maserati 4-speed manual | ||||||||
Tyres | Pirelli / Ernesto / Dunlop | ||||||||
Competition history | |||||||||
Notable entrants | Officine Alfieri Maserati Scuderia Platé Scuderia Ambrosiana Scuderia Achille Varzi Automóvil Club Argentino Scuderia Milano |
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Notable drivers | Luigi Villoresi Reg Parnell Toulo de Graffenried Juan Manuel Fangio Louis Chiron B. Bira Harry Schell Giuseppe Farina |
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Debut | 1948 Sanremo Grand Prix | ||||||||
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Chassis and engine changes made to the experimental 4CLs eventually coalesced into the 4CLT, the appended T denoting its tubular chassis. The improvements in torsional rigidity that the tubular construction brought were required to counteract the increases in torque and power resulting from the twin-supercharger upgrade of the elderly inline-4 engine. Power was up to approximately 260 bhp (194 kW), from the 4CL's 220. Other changes included the use of roller bearings for the crankshaft, forged (rather than cast) rear suspension components, and the chassis was designed to run with hydraulic dampers from the outset.
Read more about this topic: Maserati 4CL And 4CLT