1957 Maserati 250F (Pinewood Derby Car Shell)

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The Maserati 250F was a Formula One racing car that won several races in 1954 and 1956, and then won four World Championship Grand Prix in 1957, as well as 4 non-championship races.

The blueprint I used for this car was really bad, so the model isn't very accurate. Also, I chose to use the standard Pinewood Derby wheelbase, which is quite a bit longer than the real car (which means that the front and rear of the car don't extend beyond the wheels as much as they should), so that it would qualify for races where the standard wheelbase is required. But I think it looks nice, anyway, so hopefully some people will like it.

BONUS: The car is pictured with show wheels and tires, not legal for racing. Models are included for the show wheels and tires, in case you'd like to use them. (The larger tires obviously are intended for the rear.)

What is a "pinewood derby car shell"?

A pinewood derby is an event created by the Boy Scouts many years ago. Each scout is given a pinewood derby kit typically consisting of a block of wood with slots for axles, 4 wheels, and 4 nails to be used as axles. The scout (and his dad, usually) will then carve the block of wood into the shape of a car, paint it and apply stickers, install the wheels on the axles, and then race it at the "derby", which involves a sloped track with a timekeeping apparatus.

An official scout derby will usually require that the parts in the kit be used for cars entered in the derby. Other organizations (including workplaces) often hold derbies, too, and some of them require the use of the parts in the box, including the block of wood.

These "pinewood derby car shells" are intended to be used with an official derby wood block, cut down to size, along with the axles and wheels included in the kit. A printable model of the shaped wood block is provided. You can either use the printed model or use it to accurately cut an official wood block down to size.