First built in 1929, when it was called a V4 for its 4-liter displacement, Maserati's first twin-engine GP racer did win a race and also set a speed record. A later 4.9-liter version of the 16-cylinder engine, dubbed the V5, was recently refurbished and installed in this recreated chassis. Photo: Pete Lyons - www.petelyons.com
Fast Lines

Maserati Rinascita

Pete Lyons
Pete Lyons

Mr. Cozza lifted the right side of the center-hinged bonnet and bent over the long, bristling racing engine. His colleague, Mr. Torbelli, flipped switches in the stark open cockpit. There was a complexity of mechanical grunting noises, then a sudden, staccato burst of machine gunfire—16 cylinders raucously voicing their gioia di vita.

Through oil smoke rising from the headers I saw Cozza’s leathered face break into a radiant grin. To me that said it all about Maserati’s rinascita—the renaissance this once nearly moribund Italian automaker is enjoying today.

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Steve Natale has been playing with cars ever since he was old enough to first hold a matchbox car in his hand. A lifelong enthusiast of anything old with an engine in it or wheels on it, Steve has been active in the hobby for over 35 years. Currently he owns a successful marketing company with his wife Mary, is an automotive photographer, blogger and writer for several automotive magazines and regular contributor to various automotive websites. Steve has attended vintage car events and visited car museums and collections around the world.
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