Graham McRae was one of New Zealand's most accomplished and gifted racing drivers and constructors.

He won virtually every Formula 5000 championship available worldwide, remarkably doing so in cars of his own design and construction. Many believe that, given the opportunity in a truly competitive Formula One car, McRae possessed the talent to win a World Driver's Championship.

Born on 5th March 1940 in Petone, Wellington, Mc Rae attended Rongotai College and Wellington Technical College before beginning an apprenticeship at his father's engineering firm at just fifteen. His passion for motorsport was ignited at seventeen when he attended his first race meeting at Levin.

With a deep appreciation for engineering beauty, particularly the aesthetics of WWII aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang and Spitfire, McRae completed an engineering degree in 1961. At only twenty years of age, he constructed his first sports racing car for road use, hill climbs, and competition: the legendary "Masararri"

ABOUT THIS CAR

• The Masararri featured a striking aluminium body crafted by Wellington artisan Jack Patterson, blending the styling cues of a Ferrari 250 Testarossa and Maserati 300S. Beneath the skin sat a tubular space frame with Renault steering and front suspension, Citroen half shafts, a Ford Model A differential, and a Jaguar gearbox. The rear suspension was entirely McRae's own design, using unequal wishbones and helical coils.
• Initially powered by a canted Austin A70 engine, dry sumped to address lubrication issues, the car later recieved a four cylinder Lycoming engine, whose prodigious torque proved too much for the drive train. This was subsequently replaced with a 1592cc Humber 80 unit. As was common at the time, the car was road registered (CT1218) and campaigned extensively in club racing, hill climbs, and sprints. Its most notable performance came at the 1963 Levin International, where it famously defeated the Ferrari GT of Englishman Geoff Richardson.
• The Masararri passed through several owners after its sale in 1963, including Lance Crawford, Dr Dave Bruton, and J.M Mete-Kingi, before being acquired by Ron Roycroft. In 1987, it was traded to Auckland collector Ken White and was sold to the previous owner in 1992.
• Wearing race number 59, the Masararri has undergone several restorations over the years. Some paint distress is visible on the aluminium body. It is currently fitted with a Hilman Hunnter 1725cc engine and a starter motor was added by a previous owner once push starting was no longer practical.
• While some recommissioning will be required, this car represents a cornerstone of New Zealand motorsport history. The ingenuity ond success of a young Kiwi competing locally, across the Tasman, and internationally in such a machine stands alongside the foundational legends of the sport, no less potent thatn the story of Bruce Mclaren.

SELECTED CAREER HIGHLIGHTS OF GRAHAM McRAE

• NZ 1.5 Litre Champion - 1969
• Driver to Europe Scholarship Winner - 1969
• NZ Gold Star F5000 Champion 1970
• Jim Clark Trophy Winner - 1970
• NZRDS Champion - 1970
• Tasman Series F5000 Champion - 1971, 1972, 1973
• Australian Grand Prix Winner - 1972, 1973, 1978
• US Continental F5000 Champion - 1972
• 3rd Overall, European F5000 Championship - 1972
• Indianapolis 500 "Rookie Of The Year" - 1973
• Australian Formula One Champion - 1978
• Inductee, NZ Motorsport Wall Of Fame

Graham McRae passed away on 4th August 2021, but his legacy endures and everything began with this remarkable car.

A good investment for those in the know. Pricing a legendary race car like this Maserati is no easy task. Vehicles of this calibre are not commodities with clear market benchmarks; their value is shaped by history, provenance, condition, rarity, and the story attached to the car. Each example is unique, and sales are infrequent, which means there are very few truly comparable transactions to rely on.

Because of this, arriving at a price inevitably involves a degree of judgment and interpretation. One must weigh historical significance, past competition history, originality of components, restoration work, and the sentiment that collectors and enthusiasts attach to such machines. In many ways, the value of a car like this sits at the intersection of history, passion, and the market at a given moment in time.

Even more so in this case, the car has genuine international appeal, which broadens the pool of potential buyers and makes it particularly desirable to the right collector. For that reason, if you have a genuine interest, we would welcome you to put forward an offer for us to consider. We have a good sense of where its value sits and will always give fair consideration to any sensible offers.

Note: Being sold as a piece of history, as is where is - not currently running, not road registered, so no WOF, Registration etc.

Transport / Shipping to anywhere in the world can be organised on Buyer's behalf at Buyer's cost.

Viewing Business Hours Monday to Friday By Appointment Only.

PLEASE READ: The Purchaser is encouraged to personally fully inspect the vehicle and also to have the vehicle inspected, and fully assessed by an experienced, independent, specialist garage - before committing to purchase. While the Purchaser is entitled to rely on statements given by Waimak Classic Cars as being correct, where goods such as vehicles are concerned, with so many moving parts and rust being an issue with older vehicles; a Purchaser who chooses not to seek independent professional assistance when assessing the quality of what they propose to buy is considered as buying at their own risk, and if the vehicle then turns out to be of less than the represented quality, or not up to the Purchaser's expectation, or in the Purchaser opinion not fit for purpose; then the Purchaser is considered to have contributed to their own loss and should not expect any refunds or betterment from Waimak.