Maserati is less known in North America than Ferrari but the Italian firm has a long and honorable history in motor racing. This 1955 Maserati 300 S sports racing car, offered at RM Auctions in Phoenix, epitomises the glory days when Maserati was a force to be reckoned with on world circuits.

It was first owned by Swiss champion Benoit Musy who drove the car to outright victory in five races during the 1955-56 seasons. Completely restored in the UK from 1992-98, it began a new and successful competition career in European historic events, driven by Martin Stretton. It is now eligible for all the world's premier vintage races, including the Ferrari-Maserati Challenge series.

The Maserati factory has provided official authentication and the vehicle carries an FIA historic vehicle identity form. It also gets the official Philip Powell certificate as a beautiful and very desireable historic race car. I don't give those out every day. Actually, I've never given one out but you get the point.