52A Maserati 4 CLT racer

[Ecclesley]

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Maserati was a family name. In fact there were seven Maserati brothers, six of whom were fascinated by the automobile and who found work with several Italian car manufacturers. Alfieri Maserati eventually opened a workshop in his own name to build engines and was soon joined by two brothers. However it was 12 years later that the first true Maserati car came out.

The 4CLT was a development of the 4CL which had been strong opposition for the Alfa Romeo 158 and the ERA in the pre-war voiturette classes. The CL was upgraded with tubular chassis and two stage supercharging becoming the CLT by 1948. The development continued at a steady pace each year and into the new formula one era.
It was a good car for privateers and Maserati supported customers quite well. Many of the great names drove Maserati 4CLTs at some point in their careers, names like Alberto Ascari, Reg’ Parnell, Luigi Villoresi, Louis Chiron, Baron de Graffenried and Juan Manuel Fangio

Fangio's car:

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Maserati 4CLT 1948 British GP winner.

The entry list for the race was a right mixed bag of pre-war cars and post war works entries. Works teams from Maserati, Talbot-Lago and Ferrari were backed up by privateer entries including a variety of ERA models, local specials and even the pre-war Alfa Romeo Bimotori to be driven by Tony Rolt.

The favourites were the new Maserati 4CLT/48s to be driven by works driver Luigi Villoresi and British guest driver Reg Parnell, a second works driver Alberto Ascari was added later followed by a fourth car that was a reserve entry again to be driven by a British guest driver, Leslie Brooke. Notable by their absence were the Alfa Romeo works team, and the dominant 158 Alfettas.

The 65-lap Grand Prix was won by Italian Luigi Villoresi, driving a Maserati 4CLT/48 that had arrived too late to qualify and had to start from 24th place on the grid. In the race the two late arrivals quickly started carving their way through the pack. Villoresi, setting the fastest lap of 2:52.0. Maserati cars finishing a clear first and second.

Luigi "GiGi" Villoresi winning at the1948 British GP:

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[Idris]

I really like these thumbnail sketches of the rear racing cars behind the 1-75 models. Thank you for making the effort to compile and post them.