By Willem Oosthoek and Michel Bollee. Almost 30 years have passed since the publication of the
first book about the famous Tipo 60 and 61 Birdcage Maserati race cars. A new,
more comprehensive description of their competition history has been long
overdue and Dalton Watson Fine Books are delighted to announce the publication
of Maserati Tipo 60 and 61: The Magnificent Front-engined Birdcages. Much
additional information has come to light in the last two decades which has
enabled the authors, Willem Oosthoek and Michel Bollée, to include numerous
updates, corrections, and further elaboration regarding the history of this
innovative design.
In 1959, while Ferrari and Aston Martin battled for
supremacy in the World Sports Car Championship, Maserati returned to the racing
scene with an amazing sports racer, revolutionary in concept: the 2-liter Tipo
60. The car received the nickname ‘Birdcage’ because of the design of its
chassis and was immediately successful.
The 3-liter version, the Tipo 61, appeared soon after in
response to demand from the many private owners and drivers determined to make
the Ferraris eat dust. Twenty-two front-engined Birdcage Maseratis campaigned
in a vast number of races during the nine-year period between 1959 and 1967.
Light and fast, by 1967 they had accumulated almost 170 victories. The new book
is a complete history of the car during those years and, for the first time,
includes the many Birdcage appearances in European events.
Part 1 of the book covers each individual year, divided in
segments on World Championship, North American and European events. Part 2
portrays the individual race history of each chassis number, as well as the
owner sequence over the years. At the end of the book each driver is linked to
the specific chassis number[s] of the Birdcages in which he competed.
The authors have had the benefit of input by many
personalities involved in the early history of the Birdcage Maseratis, both
drivers and car owners. The book contains first-hand anecdotes, the result of
interviews with Bill Krause [the 1960 Times Grand Prix victor, who also wrote
the Introduction], Chuck Daigh, Jim Jeffords and many more. In addition, making
the book come alive visually are the great images taken by professional
photographers such as Flip Schulke and Bob Tronolone, and photographs from the
personal collections of the owners and drivers, many of them previously
unpublished.
The book is supplied with a slipcase. In addition, a limited
number of double slipcases are available upon request that will also hold
Willem Oosthoek’s book about the rear-engined Birdcages, Maserati Tipo 63, 64,
65, Birdcage to Supercage. The books have been designed to match and can also
be purchased as a pair in the double slipcase for $225.
- 240mm x 330mm (portrait)
- 344 pages
- 275 black and white, and 140 color
photographs
The Magnificent Front-engined Birdcages 
