1956 Maserati A6G-54

Sold for $2,365,000 at 2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island.
Between 1954 and 1956 Maserati built 60 A6G/54 bare chassis. The 2-liter engine was a Colombo-designed twin-overhead-cam unit with a lightweight alloy block, using dual ignition and triple Weber carburetors. It had a wet sump lubrication system and depending on the equipment used, the motor developed between 120 and 150 bhp. Of this total, 19 cars were bodied by Zagato, several by Allemano, and ten convertibles and seven coupes were bodied by Frua.

This car is the only surviving A6G/54 Series III Frua coupe. Most Frua convertibles were Series III cars and this car looks similar to the convertible but with a hardtop.

This Maserati A6G/54 is one of two third-series cars bodied as coupes, and the only example still known to exist. The chassis was delivered to Pietro Frua for coachwork in August of 1956. It was given a semi-fastback roof, scooped hood, and the trident-adorned grille. Its paint scheme is a two-tone paint finish of rosso capped with a nero roof.

From San Francisco, it was delivered in January of 1957 to the Pomona road races for display. The car was later sold to Stanley Sugarman, of Phoenix, Arizona. After passing to at least one more Arizona-based owner, possibly Frank Hoke of Phoenix, the car was sold around 1963 to J.S. Massa of California. It was later sold to an unidentified owner who removed the original factory twin-cam engine and replaced it with an American V-8. Later in the 1960s, the car was acquired by Maserati dealer Bob Allinger of Los Gatos, California.

Michael Adams of Valley Center, California acquired the car in 1978, and he installed the engine and gearbox from a Maserati 3500 GT. In 1991 it was purchased by Ed Morgan of San Francisco, and in 2007 it briefly entered the care of Peter Hageman in Kirkland, Washington.

In 2007, it entered the care of Volkmar Spielmann of Germany, who had the car re-imported to Europe and set about a full restoration. A correct A6G/54 dual-cam motor (number 2104) was sourced from the United States; a correct gearbox and suspension were found in Italy.

A FIVA passport was applied for and granted in March of 2011. In June of 2012, it was purchased by the current caretaker. In 2014, it was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where the Maserati Centennial was being celebrated as a highlight theme. The A6G won its class (Maserati Centennial Coachwork).