Phil Cade was a Maserati enthusiast who bought an ex-Philippe Etancelin Maserati V8RI in 1950. The chassis had also been entered five times in the Indianapolis 500 but never qualified. Cade raced the car in SCCA events on the East Coast – replacing the original engine after it blew up with a Chrysler V8 unit.
He won the 1954 SCCA Formule Libre title and Seneca Cup at Watkins Glen four years later. Jo Bonnier then sold his Maserati 250F to Cade and the American amateur entered the 1959 United States Grand Prix. He was the penultimate qualifier but failed to start due to a recalcitrant engine.
After his brief brush with Formula 1, Cade continued to race in regional events before suffering a heavy shunt in the 250F at Watkins Glen in September 1962. He always planned to restore the car but finally sold it in 1988. He did drive the V8RI at a historic meeting late in his life.
