Dappled sunlight dancing across blood-red aluminium bodywork; the visceral scent of burning rubber and simmering engine oil; the animalistic howl of eight perfectly synchronised cylinders screaming in your ears.

Nothing comes close to a flat-out drive in an original Maserati 450S—or almost nothing.

When it comes to recreations, few are as evocative of the original machine’s spirit as this 450S, a replica of Maserati’s famous 1950s World Sportscar Championship contender brought to life in the Belgium-based Apal workshops of Edmond Pery.

The origins of chassis “4511” can be traced back to Houston-based collector of Italian exotics, Stephen Forristall and one-time owner of the ex-Kimberly 450S.

According to marque historian Richard Crump, Forristall commissioned the construction of a replica chassis in England and it is believed that this chassis was sold as "4511" to Pery in 1992; an invoice describing the sale accompanies the car.

Parts for the project were obtained from as far afi...