The Maserati Tipo 61, commonly referred to as the "Birdcage“, can be considered as one of the best known racing cars of the early 1960s. The race car was produced between 1959 and 1961 by Maserati to compete in endurance races as well as hill climbs. It became famous for its intricate tubular space frame chassis, consisting of about 200 steel tubes welded together, hence the nickname "Birdcage“. This method of construction provided a more rigid and lighter chassis equally. None of the other race cars had such a design at that time. By recessing the windscreen base into the bodywork, Maserati was able to reduce the impact of the new Le Mans rules demanding a tall windscreen.

 

The Tipo 61 featured a 2,9 liter 4-cylinder engine with an output of 250 hp. The engine, was mounted in the front and had a 45° angle. A weight of only 1323 lb allowed the race car to reach a top speed of 285 km/h (177 mph). Despite being faster than the competitors, the "Birdcage“ proved to be unreliable and often retired from races due to gearbox problems. One of the best known drivers of the Birdcage was Caroll Shelby. At the LA TIMES/MIRROR GP FOR SPORTS CARS 1960“, held at Riverside, California, he drove Frank Harrison’s Birdcage and finished in 5th position. Unfortunately, the only international result worth mentioning was a glorious overall win at the 1960 ADAC 1000 Km race held on the infamous Nuerburgring North Loop.

 

This 1/12 scale model depicts Shelby’s car and is made from 278 fine detailed parts.