Description:

Maserati 250F Chassis and Engine Number 2505

In most people’s opinion the Maserati 250F is the epitome of how a Grand Prix car should look. It is also and it fast which is simply a basic requirement of a Grand Prix car.

Introduced in the 1954 season, the 250F continued for a full 7 seasons (rare for a race car) until 1960, although by then, it was not a winning car as the rear engined brigade had arrived. The 250F's were campaigned by all the greats during this period - Fangio, Moss, Hawthorn, Collins, Brooks, Brabham and Behra and all with success. Chassis No 2505 was built in early 1954 (it is agreed by most of the historians that it was the first 250F in this guise) for the Argentinian GP. 

The works team driver was Juan Manuel Fangio and he won first time out in Buenos Aires and repeated the feat in Belgium however between those two races Luigi Musso won the Pescara GP as well. The following season it was raced by Roberto Mieres and Harry Schell and sold to Andre Simon in time to win in Albi.  The car was lent to Scuderia Centro-Sud in 1957 and later to Joachim Bonnier. In the late 1950s the car returned to Modena and the chassis, frame and body lay fallow in the Biscaretti Museum, where it remained, until it was re-numbered 2500 and fitted with new mechanical parts and suspension and put on show. 

Cameron Millar, an ex RAF officer with a passion for both engineering, Grand Prix racing and Maserati in particular had been examining the chances of restoring old racing cars when he was contacted by Innes Ireland who was trying to rebuild Fangio’s 1957 season car after the Hon. Patrick Lindsay had crashed it in France. Having sorted out the chassis and frame of this car he realised just how many spares were available for 250F’s from the likes of Centro Sud, from whom he purchased all their spares, and decided to use these parts to build a number of recreations. 

CM4/2505

Cameron Millar lived in Potters Bar and it was sensible for him to use local craftsmen to help his plan. The first three (3) chassis, frames and bodies - CM1, 2 & 3 were made by Aubrey Finburgh - with CM3 being purchased by none other than Fangio himself and is in the Fangio museum just south of Buenos Aires.

Cameron Millar bought the entire parts from #2505 from the factory and sold them to Chris Mann who in turn sold them to Count Hubertus von Dönhoff. The chassis, frame and body for CM4 was manufactured by Paul Grist, confirmed by a letter from Cameron Millar dated 22.4.2000 (in the history file) and written to the then owner and head of Louis Vuitton Jean-Francois Bentz. Paul received the order from Count Hubertus Graf von Dönhoff (who had brought the blue Piccolo car back from New Zealand with a two seater body and given to Paul to restore) and all the parts for 2505 which Paul built into CM4/2505. Paul confirmed recently that Cameron Millar supplied all the parts for the build and he believed that they all came from the one car and effectively it was the parts for a complete car. #2505. She was built with a 1954 T1 style chassis and the body is quite probably the prettiest version of the car - it certainly is in my opinion.

Hubertus raced the blue car in the early 1980’s but never raced CM4 (confirmed by him at the HGPCA lunch 2022) which he bought in 1979. He sold CM4 to Count Giovanni Lurani and Corrado Cupellini in 1981/82 with Stephen Griswold racing her  at Monza and demonstrating her at the Monaco GP for Lurani in 1982.  She then passed to Count Luigi Castelbarco in 1983 and thence to Jacques Iuri in 1983. Iuri had the FIA papers prepared in 1988, in the history file, where it was accepted as an original car that had been restored and states the chassis and engine number to be the same. So for the first 20 or so years of her life it was believed that she was the original #2505 as can be seen from the FIA papers. It was numbered on the papers as 2505/C

The papers were signed on 20.5.1988 by: Iuri Jaques, Saint Anne and 84270 Vendene

Jean Francois Bentz, who was Chairman of Louis Vuitton, bought the car in 1998 and took it to Imola in 1999 although it did not feature in qualifying or racing but there was a free practice session on Saturday morning which he may have taken part in. (He wrote to Martin Grant Peterkin to apologise for the car not running). He raced with the VSCC between 2000 and 2002 and there are old printed results sheets in the office. 2000 – Brands Hatch and Silverstone; 

2001 – Pau, Spa and Silverstone; 

2002 – Pau, Dijon, Oulton Park, Spa and Imola. 

Whilst Jean Francois owned the car it was prepared by Hall and Hall. They have confirmed that the last work they did on the car for Bentz was in 2004 and after that there was no work or even parts supplied for the car. It lay as a garage piece, unused, until entered into the Bonhams Auction in Monaco in 2010 and was bought by John Brown and advertised by him, but without any success, until Michael Oliver bought it in 2012. It was advertised for £995,000 in Octane, a copy in the file, from which he did have a call from Italy but he had already sold it to Michael.

Michael Oliver, an old friend of Simon’s, who lives in Cheshire is an engineering powerhouse. He has an extensive collection and CM4 has been part of that collection since July 2012 completely unused apart from one trip to Prescott on a demonstration run. During its time there it had the fuel tank repaired and some other minor mechanical aspects were performed by non-specialist mechanics. Simon bought it from Michael in November 2022. 

Simon decided to go to the best and acknowledged expert on Maserati and 250F’s to recommission the car and prepare her for racing with the HGPCA. Steve Hart confirmed that it seems to have had a very easy life and raced little and still retains the original head from #2505, correctly stamped, and many other parts that are consistent with the original production of the car.

The car is still regarded as one of the original 250F’s despite its replica chassis - see the Orsini/Zagari MaseratI book page 210. It is also considered a fine example of a typical 250F. It was chosen to illustrate the 250F Saga in their ‘Maserati Revista Book published by Automobilia. It was also driven later in more than one event by Jean Manual Fangio for example in Tangier GP Revival (Morocco) in 1987 and in Charade in 1988. Maria Teresa de Filippis, who was the only woman to race a 250F F1 in a GP, drove this car in 1985 on the Santa Monica Race track during the factory event of Mindanao Adriatico. It appeared in Automobile Historique (October 2003) and in Classic and Racing (July 2004). She also starred at the 250F 50 year anniversary organised by Ferrari Maserati Continental Europe at Automobile de France and appeared in an issue of Vogue magazine where the pictures were taken by Rancinan and exhibited at the last FIAC in 2004.

The suggested ownership history is as follows:

C1979 Hubertus Graf von Doenhoff

c1981-1984 Count Lurani

c1985-1986 For sale in Classis Car in May 1985

c1986-1988 Count Luigi Castelbarco

c1988-19 Jaques Iuri (FIA Papers completed in 1988)

1998-2010 Jean Francois Bentz

2010-2012 John Brown

2012-2022 Michael Oliver OBE

2022…. Simon Hope

At some point paperwork also suggests that she was for sale with DK Engineering and Speedmaster but I have not investigated further.

Simon has raced the car with the HGPCA (a wonderfully friendly membership) over the last three seasons and I have all the paperwork, invoices etc for that period. Steve Hart and his team have done a wonderful job and she is a wonderful car that has never let me down. We’ve raced at some great venues - Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Sicily etc etc etc and I was very proud when she was asked to be part of the 100 years of F1 celebration at the Spanish GP in Barcelona 2025.

Unfortunately my ever diminishing health has ensured that I can no longer race a full distance and so very reluctantly she is now for sale.

The car is completely race ready as it was prepared for The HGPCA Brands Hatch race in July 2025 but unfortunately I was not fit enough to race so withdrew. It has been fitted with a starter button and has a variety of spares including a full set of original alloy wheels and spare gear ratios. They are partly photographed above in my garage but a full list is available on request.

One of the lovely aspects of racing under Steve Hart is that he will not compromise on what should be done to the car so she runs perfecl and saftely and that includes replacing tyres. It is I assure you very reassuring.

Both the FIA papers and the subsequent HTP papers (valid until 31.12.2033) are with the car as are various articles and history, some event brochures and other paperwork.

It is in most people’s opinion one of the very best looking 250F’s on the grid and eligible for the HGPCA, VSCC, any prominent global historic meetings like Silverstone Classic, Philip Island etc etc.

A gem.

Case History Chassis Number 2505

Jenkinson, 1967 – New car for Argentine races 1954. Driven by Roberto Mieres and Harry Schell 1954. Subsequent owners Andre Simon, Joakim Bonnier.

Jenkinson, 1975 – Completed for the Argentinean races at beginning of 1954. Driven by Roberto Mieres and Harry Schell later in the season. Subsequently owned by Andre Simon and Joakim Bonnier.

Pritchard, 1976 – New car for the Argentine races in 1954 and driven to victory by Fangio at both Buenos Aires and Spa. Later in the year it was driven by Roberto Mieres, Luigi Musso and Harry Schell. For 1955 it was sold to Andre Simon and it was acquired by Joakim Bonnier for 1957.

Nye, 1981 – New 250F for 1954 Argentine races, won on debut driven by Fangio and in Belgian GP, same driver. Later driven by Mieres, Musso and Schell. Later sold to Andre Simon and 1957 to Jo Bonnier. Car’s current whereabouts yet to be established.

Pritchard 1985 – 1954 works car the first appeared at the Argentine Grand Prix. Sold to Andre Simon in 1955 and Joakim Bonnier in 1957.

Jenkinson, 1986 – The car used by Fangio to win the model’s first race in 1954. Used as part of the factory team. Later passed to Andre Simon and Joakim Bonnier. Lay fallow in Modena in 1958. Subsequently "restored" by factory and presented to Biscaretti Museum in Turin as a typical 250F and given the identity 2500.

Nye, 1989 – 1954, first serial to be applied immediately to true 250F, works car, to Andre Simon, 1957 Joakim Bonnier, smartened-up by factory and presented to Biscaretti Museum, Turin, as ‘2500’. Won 1954 Argentine and Belgian GPs (Fangio), Pescara GP (Musso), 1955 Albi GP (Simon).

Nye, 1993 – Works car – Fangio, Argentine GP, January 1954 – NOTES – First 250F to appear. Later to Andre Simon – 1957 to Joakim Bonnier, freshened up by factory and presented to Biscaretti Museum, Turin, under identity ‘2500’ carrying original-style 1954 bodywork. Won 1954 Argentine and Belgian GPs (Fangio), Rome GP (Marimon), Pescara GP (Musso), 1955 Albi GP (Simon).

McKinney, 1995 – Works car, winner 1954 Argentine and Belgian GPs with Juan Manuel Fangio. Also raced by Onofre Marimon, Mantovani and Ascari before being acquired by Mieres (but still run as part of the factory team). To Schell late 1954, Andre Simon early 1955, loaned to Centro-Sud (Bonnier, Scarlatti and Gino Munaron) 1957 and then sold to Bonnier. Reacquired by factory, rebuilt, relabeled ‘2500’ and presented to Biscaretti Museum (present owners) in Turin c. 1960. Believed to be the only 1954 car to have retained its original (louvered) bodywork throughout its life.

Pritchard, 2003 – Driven by Fangio to a win in the 1954 Argentine Grand Prix. Works team car through 1954. Sold to Andre Simon and then Joakim Bonnier. Spent a long period at Modena before being refurbished and presented to the Turin museum as chassis number ‘2500’.

McKinney, 2003 – A works car during in 1954 by Juan Manuel Fangio, Onofre Marimón, Mantovani, and Ascari before being acquired by Mieres – but still run as a part of the factory team. To Harry Schell in late 1954, then André Simon in early 1955, then loaned to Centro-Sud (used by Bonnier and Scarlatti) in 1957, and then sold to Bonnier. Reacquired by the factory, rebuilt, relabeled as ‘2500’ and presented to the Biscaretti Museum in Turin about 1960. Won the 1954 Argentine and Belgian Grands Prix (Fangio), Pescara (Musso), and 1955 Albi (Simon). 2002 location: Italy – Museo Carlo Biscaretti.

Please click on the YouTube website link below to view the car running.

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