| Maserati Tipo 26M | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Maserati |
| Also called | 8C 2500 |
| Production | 1930-32 |
| Assembly | Bologna,Italy |
| Designer | Alfieri Maserati |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Race car |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
|
| Transmission | 4 speedmanual transmission |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2640 mm (103.9 in) |
| Curb weight | 800kg (1764lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Maserati Tipo 26B |
| Successor | Maserati 8C |
TheMaserati Tipo 26M was a model ofGrand Prixrace car produced by Italian manufacturerMaserati inBologna, for a total of 13 units, between 1930 and 1932.[1][2]
Before the Tipo 26M, the originalTipo 26 from 1926 had evolved into versions such as 26B, 26C and 26R. Based on these, the Tipo 26M was designed in 1930 as mostly single-seaters (M meaningmonoposto) and also referred to as8C 2500 (8 cylinder, 2500 cc).[3] Six of the 26M were made intoTipo 26M Sport for long endurance purposes. The26M Grand Sport byCarrozzeria Castagna and theSport Tipo1000 Miglia byUgo Zagato were two-seater models for road use. Two four-seaters were later referred to as the company's first attempt at non-racing cars.[4]
The Tipo 26M dominated the1930 Grand Prix season having its debut atVI Premio Reale di Roma (Luigi Arcangeli won, 25 May 1930),IV Coppa Ciano (Luigi Fagioli won, 21 July 1930),VI Coppa Acerbo (Achille Varzi won,Ernesto Maserati second, 17 August 1930),III Gran Premio di Monza (Varzi won, Arcangeli second, 7 September 1930) and theVII Gran Premio de España (Varzi won,Aymo Maggi second, 5 October 1930).[5] In the first half of the1931 Grand Prix season it lost to theAlfa Romeo 8C andBugatti T51.
The engine was astraight-eight with a displacement of 2495.4cc. The bore and stroke are 65 and 94 mm, respectively. The horsepower delivered was 185 hp (136 kW) at 5600 rpm, while thecompression ratio was 5.5:1.
A bored out engine with carburetors fromEdoardo Weber ofBologna, became the8C 2800. Thanks to a 69 mm (2.72 in) bore, this engine's displacement is 2811.9 cc; maximum power is 205 hp (151 kW). The 8C 2800 won at theIV Gran Premio di Monza (Luigi Fagioli, 6 September 1931) andI Mountains Championship at Brooklands (Tim Birkin, 17 October 1931). Other drivers of 26M this year wereClemente Biondetti,Luigi Parenti,George Eyston,Pietro Ghersi,Umberto Klinger andRené Dreyfus.[6]
Later victories were withTim Birkin's 26M,III Mountains Championship (Whitney Straight, 21 October 1933) and as an8C atCircuit d'Albi GP (Buddy Featherstonhaugh, 22 July 1934).[2]
| Technical data | 8C 2500 | 8C 2800 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine: | Front mounted 8-cylinderin-line engine | ||||
| Displacement: | 2495 cm³ | 2812 cm³ | |||
| Bore x stroke: | 65 x 94 mm | 69 x 94 mm | |||
| Max power at rpm: | 185 hp at 5 500 rpm | 205 hp at 5 500 rpm | |||
| Valve control: | 2 overheadcamshafts, 2valves per cylinder | ||||
| Compression: | 5,5:1 | ||||
| Carburetor: | Single Weber 55AS1 | ||||
| Upload: | Roots compressor | ||||
| Gearbox: | 4-speed manual | ||||
| suspension : | Stiff axles, longitudinal leaf springs | ||||
| Brakes: | Mechanical drum brakes | ||||
| Chassis &body: | Box beam frame with aluminum body | ||||
| Wheelbase: | 275 cm | ||||
| Dry weight: | 820 kg | ||||
| Top speed: | 205 km/h | 220 km/h | |||
A marque ofStellantis | |||||||||||||||
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