1953 Maserati A6GCS/53 Spyder

Maserati's new post-war models and their racing endeavors helped improve business for the company during the early 1950s. The A6 featured a 1500-cubic centimeter six-cylinder engine and the A6G was given a two-liter six-cylinder powerplant, both designed by Alberto Massimino. More power, however, was needed to win races.

Maserati updated the two-liter engine resulting in the A6GCS, which evolved into the A6GCS/53, which was developed by Gioacchino Colombo and inspired by a Formula Two design used in the A6GCM. In the 'Mille Miglia' tune, the engine produced 170 horsepower. It had a short-stroke architecture with seven main bearings by Vandervell, which is supported by a nitrided crankshaft, a cast aluminum block with cast-iron cylinder liners, aluminum pistons, dual-plug ignition, and twin overhead camshafts.

The 'CS' represented 'Corsa Sport' and featured a tubular chassis generally made by Glico.

Between 1953 and 1955, just 52 examples of the A6GCS/53 were built, with 48 of those being open spyders. Four of them had Berlinetta bodies by Pinin Farina. Many of the spyders were clothed by Carrozzeria Fantuzzi from lightweight aluminum.

The combined racing history of the A6GCS/53 is rather impressive, with a 3rd overall and 1st and 2nd in class at the 1953 Mille Miglia. The cars were actively campaigned in the U.K., South America, U.S. and Europe.

This example is chassis number 2053. The Maserati factory delivered the car to the United States Maserati distributor and team owner Tony Pompeo, though his entity, P. Ducati Motors, in 1953. Juan Manuel Fangio drove the car in demonstration laps during the SCCA nationals at Thompson Raceway on December 12th of 1953. The car was then shown at the International Motor Sports Show in New York, where Pompeo found the car's first owner, Don McKnought. Mr. McKnought entered the car in the Sebring 12 Hour race but was forced to retire after 67 laps.

The car enjoyed an extensive racing career until it suffered an accident at the Brynfan Tyddyn Road Races in Pennsylvania and was sold to Fritz Koster in 1955. After racing the cars on just a few occasions, he sold the car in 1958 to James and Ben Diaz. The brothers raced the car briefly in its original configuration before refurbishing it, selling the engine number 2053 to Karl Ludvigsen, and installed a Chevrolet V-8 engine. With the new engine, the car was rather competitive. Gus Buscham purchased the car with the Chevy power in 1961, who in turn, sold it to Louis Casazza three years later.

The car would remain with Casazza for nearly 25 years, before selling it to Frank Mandarano, in 1989. Mandarano commissioned the creation of a reproduction Maserati engine, which was stamped 2053 to match the chassis. In an attempt to return the car back to its original appearance, Mandarano removed a faired-in headrest that it had been fitted with sometime during its life. Other features were restored as well.

Hiroshi Kobayashi purchased the car in 1955 before coming into the car of Dr. Julio Palmaz of the United States in 1999. A re-restoration to original cosmetic and mechanical specifications soon followed, at an expense exceeding $200,000. In 2003, Peter Hosmer became the car's next care taker before joining the current owner's care in 2006.

The exterior of the car is finished in red. There is a flat silver interior with pleated-red leatherette seats. The instruments are finished in teal, conforming to the original specifications. The car has the correct fuel pumps in the passenger's footwell, and it rides on painted Borrani wire wheels with new tires.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2014