1957 Maserati A6G-54 Spider

The Maserati A6G/54 made its debut in 1954 at the Paris Auto Salon. The A6G/54 gran turismo was the final evolution of the A6 series, Maserati's first postwar sports car. The A6G/54 was given a tube-frame chassis and was developed from the highly successful A6GCS sports racing cars. It was given many features from the A6GCS, including its steering, suspension components, and braking. Power was from an all-aluminum twin-cam six-cylinder engine that Gioacchino Colombo had originally developed for competition purposes. Maserati engineer Vittorio Bellentani revisited the original design and added a wet-sump lubrication system, a revised valve train, and chain-driven camshafts.

The Maserati A6G/54 featured three Weber 40 DCO3 carburetors and could be fitted with an optional twin-plug cylinder head. Pietro Frua, Zagato, and Allemano each produced bodies from the A6G/54. The Frua coachwork was available in two body styles including a coupe and a spider. It is believed that just 10 A6G/54s were clothed with Frua Spider coachwork.

This particular example, chassis 2191, was completed in March of 1957 and is the fifth Frua Spider built. The Frua Spider's took design cues from earlier Frua-designed Maserati bodies built for two competition A6GCS chassis, both with a central bonnet stripe finished in a contrasting color to match the upholstery. Continuing this design theme, the Frua-bodied A6G/54 cars were finished in two-tone color schemes and given Frua's signature scripting and brightwork.

When new, this car was finished in Latte Scuro (Dark Milk) with a red central stripe, upholstery, and top. It was given Cibie lights, English-language instruments, an Abarth exhaust system, and Borrani outside-lace wire wheels with Pirelli Supersport tires.

It is believed that this car was delivered new to the United States in the spring of 1957. It may have been retailed through Charles Rezzaghi Motors, the Italian car dealer based in San Francisco, California. The car's first recorded owner was George N. Thompson of Marysville, CA. It remained in Mr. Thompson's care until 1969, when it was traded in to Wheeler Oldsmobile-Cadillac in Yuba City, CA.

An individual in Portland, Oregon advertised the car for sale in the mid-1980s. By this point in history, the car had been resting in storage for over a decade. The bodywork had been refinished in red with a black central stripe. The interior retained the original ivory-colored dashboard and red leather upholstery.

Seeing the advertisement, Mr. Frank Mandarano of Seattle, Washington acquired the car and over the next several years, performed a cosmetic restoration. After the work was completed, it was shown at the 1998 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

In the 1990s, the car entered the Alfredo Brener collection of coachbuilt and one-off Maseratis. While in his care, the car was restored to its original ivory color (with black rather than red stripe and upholstery). In this guise, it was shown at the Keels & Wheels Concours in Seabrook, Texas; Concorso Italiano in Carmel Valley, California; and the 2002 LA Auto Show.

In 2003, Mr. Brener's collection was sold at auction. This car was purchased at that auction by an individual who has kept it for the past 13 years. It has not been publically exhibited since then. In 2016, it was offered for sale by Gooding & Company at their Pebble Beach auction.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2016