Controversial birdcage Maserati takes Best in Show European at Keels and Wheels

1960 Maserati Tipo 61 “Birdcage” racer. Image courtesy of Mecum Auctions.

When the ex-Briggs Cunningham 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 “birdcage” earned the Best in Show European award over the weekend at the Keels and Wheels Concours d’Elegance, it was surely recognized for its advanced engineering and svelte aluminum body, not for the accusations that the car is largely a reconstructed replica.

The birdcage, chassis number 2459, currently owned by Ken Dougherty of Houston, Texas, was the subject of some controversy when it was announced for sale at the Mecum Auctions Monterey 2011 event. Ahead of the auction, some questioned the authenticity of the former Briggs Cunningham car, which was destroyed in a 1962 crash and parted out, then more recently rebuilt by Steve Hart Racing in Norfolk, England. Mecum Auctions was quick to respond, clarifying that the car had been fully certified by the FIA; documentation of the car’s restoration process was included as part of the sale. “The owner/seller’s opinion is he is selling a re-constructed current rendition of the original,” Mecum explained.

Bidding reached $1.85 million, perhaps proving that even a significant restoration has little impact on a car’s value among collectors. On the other hand, the reserve was not met and the car was not sold, and it’s unclear if the Keels and Wheels Best of Show win was for the same owner selling the car in 2011. While Mecum typically maintains listing pages for cars from past auctions, it has since removed the listing and description for the birdcage.

Named for the seemingly delicate steel tubing that composes their primary structure, birdcage Maseratis were built with one goal in mind: winning races. Following on the success of the Tipo 60, the Tipo 61 increased displacement from 2.0 liters to 2.9 liters, bumping output to 250hp. Given that the car’s trellis frame weighed less than 80 pounds (and was wrapped in aluminum bodywork, producing a curb weight of under 1,300 pounds), performance was impressive, and the car’s top speed was nearly 180 MPH. One of multiple birdcage Maseratis that Cunningham owned, chassis number 2459 largely served as Walt Hansgen’s ride and took several overall wins in SCCA racing in 1960 and 1961. It also competed at the 12 Hours of Sebring both of those years, but DNF’d both times. On its final outing, in February of 1962 at Daytona with Augie Pabst at the wheel, the birdcage blew its engine, hit a wall, and catapulted end over end. Pabst, who was thrown from the car in the crash, survived with some broken ribs.

1932 Stutz DV-32 Rollston Convertible Victoria. Image courtesy Keels and Wheels.

Less controversial is the 1931 Stutz DV-32 Rollston Convertible Victoria that took Best in Show American at Keels and Wheels. Owned by Richard and Irina Mitchell of Montgomery, Texas, it was recently treated to a full restoration completed earlier this year. In its first outing at this year’s Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, the Stutz collected a Best in Class award, and its next appearance will be at this year’s Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s. The Mitchells, who bought the Stutz in 2010, are no strangers to the concours winner’s circle, having taken three Best of Shows and a Best in Class with their Lancefield-bodied supercharged 1929 Stutz Model M over the last couple of years.

Image courtesy Keels and Wheels.

Stutz was known to be a very forward-thinking automaker, delivering amenities such as safety glass and a hill-holder transmission to its customers, years before safety features like this were common. In 1931, Stutz introduced a modified version of its Frederick Duesenberg-designed inline eight-cylinder SV-16 engine in an attempt to deliver more power without adding cylinders. Called the DV-32 (for Dual Valve head with 32 valves), the new engine featured four valves per cylinder, dual overhead camshafts and hemispherical heads, increasing output to 156hp, or roughly 40 percent more than the SV-16 engine.

1937 Trumpy Mathis Fan Tail, the Flying Lady. Image courtesy Keels and Wheels

As for keels, the Best of Show Big Boat award went to a 1937 Trumpy Mathis Fan Tail (named the Flying Lady), owned by Scott Monroe of Seabrook, Texas. The Best of Show Small Boat award was presented to the 1949 Chris Craft Special Runabout (named Unfinished Business), owned by Loyd Kirchner of Houston, Texas.

For a complete list of Keels and Wheels class winners, visit Keels-Wheels.com.