The Maseratis of the past are coveted objects by many, many of whom are also willing to pay astronomical sums to acquire them. This is the case of a 1959 Tipo 61 Birdcage, which was sold for 4.24 million dollars during the prestigious Pebble Beach Auctions 2026 by Gooding Christie’s. The auction was held in California last August 14. According to the official results published by the auction house, the result represents the new world record for the auction sale of the Maserati Tipo 61 model.
A record Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage
A figure that exceeded all expectations. The car, with a body made by Allegretti, actually went beyond the pre-auction estimate, which was between about 3 and 4 million dollars. The sale celebrates one of the most iconic racing cars of the Trident brand precisely in 2026, the year marking 100 years of the Maserati Trident and 100 years of the Italian company in the world of motorsport. The specimen belongs to the Birdcage family, cars designed by engineer Giulio Alfieri starting from the search for a solution capable of combining lightness and high torsional rigidity.
A particular nickname
The nickname, explains the company, derives from the revolutionary lattice frame, composed of about 200 steel tubes just 10-15 mm in diameter, joined in a complex structure that resembled a birdcage. This architecture made the two-seater barchetta particularly rigid and light, making it one of the most advanced expressions of the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout of the time.
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Engine and performance
Under the hood, the four-cylinder engine of the Tipo 60 made progress and was brought to 2,890 cc. The power increased instead up to 250 HP at 6,800 rpm, while maintaining the layout and main technical solutions of the Tipo 60. The weight reached 600 kg, while the top speed reached 285 km/h. The Tipo 61 was produced in 17 units, becoming one of the rarest and most sought-after Maserati racing cars of its generation. The Tipo 61 Birdcage also tied its name to two consecutive overall wins in the 1,000 km of the Nurburgring.
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