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1954 Maserati A6G/54 2000

Spyder
Chassis number: 2101
Engine number: 2101

In the pre-war era, Ugo Zagato's Milan-based firm grew its reputation by clothing the 6C 1750 and 2300 platforms. Their passion for motorsport and voluptuous, aerodynamically flowing bodywork continued in the post-war period, as Ugo's son Elio Zagato took the helm.

The two-liter version of the A6G-based sports-racing model was introduced in 1950 and powered by a twin-cam single-plug ignition variant of the company's long-running inline-six cylinder engine. Twin-plug ignition was added in 1954, complementing the advanced chassis and large-finned aluminum drum brakes. Of the sixty examples of the A6G/54, Zagato 21 chassis were dispatched to Zagato for coachwork.

This Maserati A6G/54 chassis wears spyder coachwork by Zagato and was presented at the 1955 Geneva Salon. It was the first A6G/54 chassis to be bodied by Zagato and the only example (of the 20 bodied by Zagato) to receive Spyder coachwork. The chassis was dispatched to Zagato for coachwork in early November 1954 and completed two weeks later. It wore a Grigio Piombo (lead grey) exterior, had a standard flat hood, unadorned fenders, and a front end characterized by a large, unconventional chrome trident that stretched across most of the grille, complemented by two inset fog lamps. The interior was finished in suede upholstery that unusually extended to the top edges of the doors.

At the Geneva Salon, an individual named Juan Perón (the Argentine president) offered to buy the spyder, but he requested a few cosmetic changes. So after the show, the car returned to Zagato for coachwork modifications. Per his request, the original grille was changed with the removal of the foglamps and an exchange of the outsized trident for a more standardized version of the Maserati logo. The hood received a prominent hood scoop and straked fender vents, the windshield was changed, and the exterior was refinished in Blu Algisto Scuro (Cold Dark Blue).

Before the work was completed, Peron was enduring a popular revolt, and the order was canceled. The Maserati was placed into storage where ti rested for several years before it was shown at the Paris Salon in 1958, this time by the French marque importer Thepenier. At the show, the car once again lured a world-class diplomat, this time an American embassy staffer named Louis W. Schroeder. who purchased the A6G/54 and took delivery in April 1959. He drove the car to La Sarthe to watch the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans where he witnessed Carroll Shelby win the event with an Aston Martin.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sherod Santos acquired the Maserati in April of 1960 and commissioned the factory to rebuild the engine in August of 1962. Additional work was performed by a French specialist as the issues were not resolved; the issues continued after his return to the United States, so Santos ordered new exhaust valves and a head gasket from the factory.

The car was sold into unknown ownership in 1966 and acquired in 1968 by Carmel, California, resident George Sackman, who retained possession for 12 years. When it was sold in 1980 to Angelo Ferro of San Rafael, California, the Maserati wore a red paint scheme. Used sparingly, the car was put into storage where it remained for two decades. In 2001 Mr. Ferro recommissioned the Maserati, entrusting Genoa Racing in San Francisco to perform a comprehensive restoration to the 1958 configuration (per the Perón modifications) that was completed in 2003. Paul Hasselgren performed the engine rebuild and Rob Etcheverry repainted the car in Blu Algisto Scuro.

When the restoration was completed in 2003, the Maserati was displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. A year later, it was shown at the Quail, A Motorsport Gathering, where it won a class award. A year later, it won Best of Show at Concorso Italiano.

In the early 2010s, the car was purchased by a collector based in the United Kingdom who continued to show the car at various, prestigious events including the 2013 Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza and the St. James Concours d'Elegance. Near the close of 2013, Osca Davis became the car's next custodian.

by Dan Vaughan

Spyder
Chassis number: 2101
Engine number: 2101

The Maserati Brothers - Aflieri, Bindo, Carloe, Ettore, Ernesto and Mario - began building race cars in Italy in the 1920s. They won early and often, including the Targa Florio in 1926 in their first race with a new car. In 1937, Omer Orsi took control of Maserati, though the brothers stayed on until 1947 when they left to found OSCA.

The A6G were two-door coupe and spyders bodied by Zagato, Pininfarina, Frua, Ghia, Bertone, Allemano and Vignale. Most were fitted with Maserati's characteristic grille, headlight and taillight assemblies.

This is the only Maserati A6G Zagato convertible ever built and the first Maserati road car to use the twin plug/twin cam engine. Completed in 1954, it premiered at the 1955 Geneva Auto Show, where it caught the eye of Juan Perone, who made arrangements to purchase the car. It was then sent back to Carrozzeria Zagato for a few detail changes prior to being shipped to Argentina. Unfortunately, due to Mr. Perone's political problems at home, he was never able to take delivery of the car and ownership reverted back to Zagato. In 1958, the car was shown on the Maserati stand at the Paris Motor Show and soon after, found a home with an American diplomat living in Paris followed by a lieutenant colonel in the US Air Ford. The car came to the US and was sold to a California collector.

It changed hands again in 1979, and a restoration was contemplated, but the car was garaged for 20 years. Upon emerging from storage, Genoa Racing restored the car back to its Paris Motor Show appearance, completed in time for a grand unveiling at the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The Maserati stunned the crowds with its voluptuous curves, incredible paint work, and interior details. It was shown at numerous other Concours events in the Golden State.

Sometimes lost in the beauty are the specifications: a two-liter alloy engine making 150 horsepower, triple Weber carburetors, drum brakes, live axle, and an independent front suspension. Top speed is 130 MPH.

Currently in possession of the sixth owner, it underwent a ground-up restoration by Genoa Racing in 2001, won the Post-War Sports Award at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in 2004 and Best of Show at Concorso Italiano in 2005.

Even though the company was not in financial difficulty, the Maserati brothers sold their shares of the company to the Orsi family from Modena in 1937. The headquarters were moved from Bologna to Modena. When they sold the company, the brothers had agreed to stay with Maserati for another ten years performing duties as chief engineers. In 1948, after their ten-year agreement was satisfied, they left the company and formed OSCA.

With the chief engineers gone, the company was positioned for failure, but the company did have a strong history and more importantly, they had a newly developed straight-six engine, courtesy of the Maserati brothers. The engine produced by Maserati brothers was nothing spectacular; the 1.5-liter power-plant produced 65 horsepower. It was, however, a good starting point and would prove to be very tunable in the years to come. The primary intention for the engine was competition, but Orsi understood that money needed to be made so that it could be spent. So Orsi commissioned a sports road car that could be produced for exclusive clientele.

In 1947 Maserati introduced the Maserati A6 with custom coachwork by Pinin Farina. Under the hood was the 1.5-liter single overhead camshaft engine matted to a four-speed gearbox. The steel tubular frame was suspended by a live rear axle and a front wishbone suspension. Even though Pinin Farina is noted for its elegant styling, its design of the A6 was not well received. Coupled with poor performance, the vehicle was not well received.

Modifications were performed on the engine resulting in an increase to 2 liters and 100 horsepower. Three updated versions of the A6 were displayed at the 1951 Paris Motorshow. The Berlina body styles were created by Pinin Farina and were the standard style; the Spider variants were created by Frua, and the Coupe was courtesy of Vignale. With all the mechanical improvements and body style options available, the two-liter A6 was poised for success. With only 16 examples created, the A6 proved it needed more work.

The famous Gioacchino Colombo, known for his work with Ferrari, joined Maserati in 1953. His first task was to modify the A6GCM to include a DOHC valve train, dual-spark ignition, and more. Horsepower rose to nearly 200. The success of Maserati in racing was heightened with the new engine and new drivers such as Fangio, Gonzalez, Marimon, Bonetto, and de Graffenried. Fangio had won the 1953 Italian Grand Prix driving a Ferrari.

The third iteration of the A6 occurred in 1954, dubbed the A6G/54. This was the same year for the introduction of the Maserati 250F, which, in the hands of the capable Fangio won the Argentine Grand Prix on its debut. The A6G/54 was outfitted with a competitive engine and wonderful styling from Frua and Zagato. Production lasted until 1954 with multiple types of body styles being created. One of the most memorable body styles was the 19 lightweight Zagato bodies which could often be seen at race tracks. All of the Zagato hand-formed body styles were unique, even the interior.

The Maserati A6GCS was produced from 1953 through 1955 with a total of 52 examples being constructed. Four where Berlinetta bodies by Pininfarina while 48 were in Spyder configuration and bodied by Fantuzi. The A6GCS was very important to Maserati and scored many victories for the marque. In 1953 the A6GCs won its class at the Mille Miglia in its inaugural debut.

The Maserati A6G/2000 was produced from 1954 through 1957 with 60 examples being created, all receiving custom bodywork from prestigious coachbuilders such as Zagato, Pinin Farina, Vignale, and others. Serafino Allemano constructed twenty-one examples of the A6G/2000. All of these cars were equipped with the DOHC engines. The A6G/2000 is sometimes referred to as the A6G/54. These second series cars used many mechanical components from its predecessor, such as its twin parallel tube design. The engine, however, had been modified which resulted in an increase in horsepower.

The A6G/54 was replaced by the 3500 GT. The A6 endured many growing pains but by the final iteration, the A6 variants were respectable and stylish machines. With the mechanical prowess of Colombo and the driving talent of Fangio and others, Maserati could continue to provide competition on the race track. While back at home, the A6 provided the bread-and-butter to continue racing and further development.

by Dan Vaughan