Supercars.net

Built to contest the 1957 World Sportscar Championship, the 450 S was the biggest threat to Jaguar, Ferrari and Aston Martin. At the forefront of its competitor's minds was the awesome 400 bhp V8.

Ferrari was immediately scrambling to produce equal horsepower, but their quad cam, twin spark V12 was limited to 390 bhp on its best day. The Maserati benefited from slightly more displacement and rectilinear intake tracts that helped it produce 400 bhp.

With such an engine, some the great drivers just as Stirling Moss agreed to race the entirety of the seven races for the World Sportscar Championship. In the end, it was a dead tie between Ferrari and Maserati at the final round, and Ferrari took the cake once almost all the Masers dropped out.