Bonhams has announced that it will offer one of the most desirable of all 1950s sports racing two-seaters - the Maserati 300S Sports-Racing Spider - at its annual auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
 The 300S is one of Stirling Moss' favourite cars |
The sale will take place on July 12, the second day of the UK motoring festival which runs from July 11-14. The Maserati has not yet been given an estimated value.
Also starring in the sale is Juan Fangio's 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 Formula 1 car.
The Maserati, a 3-litre, 6-cylinder racing model, has been described by legendary driver Sir Stirling Moss as "one of my favourite front-engined sports Maseratis - one of the easiest, nicest, best-balanced sports racing cars ever made".
The example at auction was the third ordered by great American collector Briggs Swift Cunningham for his friend and team driver, Bill Spear. It was then co-driven by Spear and Sherwood Johnston in the 1955 Sebring 12-Hours race, where it finished third, beaten only by a Ferrari and a Jaguar D-Type.
It was then passed between several prominent Maserati authorities, before ending up in the hands of leading expert Dr Thomas Bscher in 1986. Bscher maintained the car in original order, and also successfully campaigned it in historic racing events for 20 years before it was sold to the present owner.
"A car equally at home on road or track, offering impeccable handling and - crucially - able to accommodate two in comfort, it is the perfect all-rounder and eligible for all the great historic events, including the Mille Miglia, Le Mans Classic and Goodwood Revival," commented Bonhams' James Knight.
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