1949 Maserati A6/1500 Berlinetta

Alfieri Maserati, along with brothers Ettore and Ernesto, founded Società Anonima Officine Alfieri Maserati in Bologna in December of 1914. They specialized in the tuning and preparation of Isotta Fraschinis for road racing. Their first Grand Prix car was built in the early 1920s which formed the basis of the very first Maserati, the Tipo 26 of 1926. They enjoyed some success during the 1930s but their most remarkable early achievement was when Wilbur Shaw won the Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and 1940.

The first true Maserati road model was the A6 1500, introduced in the post-war era. It made its debut in 1947 at the Geneva Salon, as a Berlinetta wearing coachwork by Pinin Farina. The all-aluminum body had elegant hidden door handles and the classic Maserati grill. Power was from a 1488cc single-overhead camshaft six in aluminum and magnesium, similar to the A6GCS sports car's 2.0-litre unit, which produced its maximum output of 65bhp at 4,700rpm. They had a ladder frame chassis with a double-wishbone front suspension derived from their racing endeavors, with a coil-sprung axle located at the rear. Depending on the coachwork, the top speed was in the 90-95 mph neighborhood.

This Maserati A6 1500 was the ninth car built in the sixty-one car production run between 1947 and 1951. It is believed that this car is the only Pinin Farina Berlientta completed on the longer wheelbase chassis. The car was delivered new in July of 1949, wearing Pinin Farina's Berlinetta coachwork and finished in a dark red Amaterro color.

The car's first owner was Mr. Americo Giol, resident of San Polo di Piave in Italy's Veneto region. It migrated to the US and then to the UK in the 1970s, before returning to Italy in 1993. In the late 1990s, it was treated to a sympathetic restoration, before purchased in the year 2000 by a Japanese collector. In 2003, it participated in the Japanese running of the Mille Miglia event; La Festa Mille Miglia. The car remained in this ownership for the next decade before it was purchased by its current caretaker in 2010.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2015

From the very beginning, the brothers Maserati would demonstrate an incredible talent developing automobiles. Having gained experience preparing and tuning Isotta Fraschinis for racing purposes, the brothers, Alfieri, Ettore and Ernesto, would follow a path quite similar to another Italian. Unfortunately, the brothers' talents would be better practiced developing and producing automobiles than business. Sadly, they would need help just to survive. With the help, the brothers could put their efforts to work. Following the Second World War, those talents would produce some truly inspiring results.

Following the Second World War, the Maserati brothers would resume building grand prix cars and would continue to be quite successful. Their talents and gifts would also branch out into building racing sports cars and, even, road cars for production.

Road cars were something the Maserati brothers knew very little about in reality. They knew racing cars, production cars not so much. Still, they had the skills; they just needed to let them come forth.

The strength of Maserati's builds were their chassis. They would approach this new endeavor the same they had any other project, and the result would be no less. Known as the A6, the chassis would be a strong foundation for Maserati's first road car. Powered by a 1.5-liter inline 6-cylinder engine capable of producing 65hp, the A6 was a capable design.

What the brothers could produce in function, Pininfarina would clothe with form, creating a striking Berlinetta that would be hailed when the car made its debut at the 1947 Geneva Salon.

Beloved for its spritely performance, attention to quality and detailed with luxury, the A6 1500 would serve as a strong foundation for the years to come.

Chassis 059 would be one of those landmark Maserati A6 1500s. Its place in Maserati's history is important as it would be just the ninth example of a total of 61 that would ever be produced between 1947 and 1951. Another rare and intriguing note about this chassis is that it is believed to be the only one ever fitted with a Pinin Farina Berlinetta body on the longer A6 wheelbase chassis.

The car would be completed during the first half of the 1949 season and would end up being delivered in July of that same year. Finished in dark red Amaterro, the Berlinetta would be purchased by a Mr. Americo Giol of San Polo di Piave.

Giol would own the car for an unknown period of time, long enough for his brother to be inspired to purchase the same, his chassis would be 078.


At some point, chassis 059 would make its way to the United States, and then the United Kingdom. This would happen during the 1970s and then into the 1980s. Then, in 1993, the Maserati would return home, to Italy.

The late 1990s would see the Maserati undergo restoration and then be sold to a collector in Japan. This collector would be taken by the achievement of the Maserati brothers and recognized just where the car needed to be. Therefore, in 2003, the A6 1500 would take part in the special event, La Festa Mille Miglia.

For more than a decade the Maserati would remain in the care of the Japanese collector. Then, in 2010, the car would change hands being sold to its current owner.

One of just 61 to ever be produced, and from a period of production when Italian car making was just rebuilding from the war, this particular car is of a vintage rarely seen. Coming with a FIVA Identity Card and Maserati factory build records, this Maserati is truly one of a kind.

Offered as part of Bonhams' 2015 Quail Lodge auction, the 1949 Maserati A6 1500 Berlinetta would be a welcome addition earning a sales price, inclusive of buyer's premium, of $312,888.90.

By Jeremy McMullen