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Maserati 450S Re-Creation Listed for Sale in England
A hand-built aluminium re-creation of the Maserati 450S, constructed in Germany in 2020, is offered for sale in Chichester with a V5C that lists it as a 1960 Maserati convertible.
By Edward Beaumont · 4 min read
A hand-built re-creation of the Maserati 450S, the V8 sports racer that gave the Italian marque second place in the 1957 World Championship of Makes, has been offered for sale in Chichester, England. The car was constructed in 2020 by Andreas Graf of Barchetta Sportscars in Kaltenburg, Germany, and is being sold by the seller on behalf of its current owner, who purchased it in 2024.
The re-creation pairs aluminium coachwork with a tubular steel spaceframe chassis, a combination that echoes the lightweight engineering philosophy of the original. Power comes from a 4.9-litre Maserati Tipo 107 quad-cam V8 with an aluminium block and cylinder heads, dual overhead camshafts on each bank, and induction through quadruple dual-throat Weber 42 DCNF carburettors with dual intake stacks. Electronic ignition, an aluminium radiator and a Kenlowe electric cooling fan complete the engine package. Drive is sent to the rear wheels through a ZF five-speed manual transaxle and a Salisbury Power-Lok differential.
Finished in dark blue, the bodywork includes drilled release handles for the hood and trunk panels, a hood scoop set among louvers, faired-in headlights, a wraparound plexiglass windscreen, a headrest fairing, louvers behind each wheel, dual side-exit exhausts and Monza-style fuel filler caps accessible through the trunk panel. The car rides on silver-finished 15-inch Borrani wire-spoke wheels secured by three-eared knock-off spinners and fitted with Dunlop Racing tyres measuring 6.00-15 at the front and 6.50-15 at the rear. Braking is by four-wheel discs, with the rear units mounted inboard, and the independent suspension uses a double-wishbone front setup with rear lower control arms and adjustable coilovers all round.
The right-hand-drive cockpit houses a pair of fixed-back bucket seats trimmed in tan leather against bare aluminium panels. Tenzo-R multi-point harnesses are fitted for both occupants, and a fire extinguisher is mounted in the passenger footwell. A wood-rimmed steering wheel fronts Jaeger instrumentation that includes a 220 km/h speedometer, an 8,100-rpm tachometer that operates intermittently, and gauges for voltage and fuel level, alongside Smiths auxiliary gauges. A riveted 100-litre aluminium fuel tank and a tool roll are stored in the trunk compartment. The five-digit odometer shows 660 kilometres, or roughly 410 miles, said to reflect the distance travelled since the build was completed; total mileage is unknown.
The sale includes a tonneau cover and a UK V5C registration that lists the vehicle as a 1960 Maserati convertible. The original 450S had a short but significant competition life. Development began in 1954 under the project name Tipo 54 and resumed in 1956, when Maserati was tasked with producing a V8 for use in an Indianapolis 500 chassis. After the powerplant was tested in a 350S chassis, a new platform was designed by Valerio Colotti to accommodate the increased power. The model secured second place for Maserati in the 1957 World Championship of Makes before production ceased in 1958, after approximately ten chassis had been built.
That brief run has made the 450S one of the more evocative machines of the 1950s sports-racing era, and the re-creation is intended to bring its proportions and mechanical character within reach of a modern owner. The car is offered with its tonneau cover and UK registration, and the listing presents it as a usable tribute to a model whose competition career lasted barely two seasons.
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