1950 Maserati A6GCS 2000

Officine Alfieri Maserati S.p.A. was founded on December 1st, 1914, in Bologna, Italy, and was named after its founders, the Maserati brothers (Alfieri, Carlo, Bindo, Mario, Ettore, and Ernesto). Of the six surviving Maserati brothers (Alfieri I was only one year old when he died; the next son to be born was also named Alfieri), all except Mario would go on to become motor engineers, but even Mario would make contributions, designing its famous Trident badge, which is said to have been inspired by the statue of Neptune in Bologna, where the factory was situated at Pontevecchio.

The company initially specialized in tuning and repairing Isotta-Fraschini motor cars. After World War I, Alfieri and Ettore were recruited to manage Diatto's racing program. When the company withdrew from competition in 1926, Alfieri, Ettore, and Ernesto established their own racing program, with Alfieri earning a class victory at the 1926 Targa Florio. The hand-built Maseratis were initially very successful, with the first Grand Prix victory earned by Baconin Borzacchini at the Tripoli GP in 1930 at the wheels of the V16-engined 'V4.' As the state-backed Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union teams gained momentum, Maserati and other teams lost their competitive edge. Maserati, instead, turned its attention to the voiturette class, which was not contested by the German manufacturers, enjoying considerable success in that category. The company's first voiturette race was the 1,100cc Tipo 4CM. When Alfieri passed away in 1932, the three other brothers (Bindo, Ernesto, and Ettore) kept the company going. In 1937, they sold their shares in the company to the Adolfo Orsi family, and by 1940, the company headquarters had been relocated to Modena.

The agreement to sell the company to the Orsi family included the stipulation that the brothers would remain with the company for a decade. With solid financial footing and the mechanical ingenuity of the Maserati brothers, a Maserati 8CTF driven by Wilbur Shaw won the 1939 Indianapolis 500. The following year, Shaw drove that same vehicle to victory at Indy, becoming the first driver in the history of the race to win in consecutive years (and his third victory in four years). Additionally, Maserati is the only Italian manufacturer ever to win at the Brickyard.

The Maserati A6

During World War II, Maserati halted automobile production to help with the war effort. When peacetime resumed, the company returned to making cars with the A6 series. The A6 1500 was named for Alfieri (Maserati), and the '1500' was in reference to the 1.5-liter SOHC straight-6 engine. This engine was based on the Maserati 6CM of the pre-war era and initially offered 65 horsepower. When installed with the 2.0-liter engine, it was denoted as 'A6 2000,' or 'A6G 2000,' or '2000 Grand Turismo.' Additional suffixes, such as '53,' reference the year of the introduction. The 2-liter engine retained the single overhead camshaft design but its bore and stroke were enlarged to 72 mm and 80mm, respectively. With three carburetors, output was as high as 100 bhp.

With coachwork provided by an exclusive list of prominent coachbuilders (including Zagato, Vignale, Bertone, Ghia, Frua, and Allemano; the majority supplied by Pinin Farina), coupled with the refined engine and chassis, the A6 1500 gained a reputation for its attention to detail and quality, spritely performance, exclusivity, and elegance.

The Maserati A6GCM

The 'G' in the name represented 'Ghias', an Italian word that means 'cast iron,' in reference to the material used to create the engine's block. The 'CM' was for 'Corsa Monopsoto', referencing its single-seater racing program.

The Maserati Tipo 6CS/46 (A6 Sport)

While most of the company's early development in the World War II era focused on the civilized A6 1500 road car, racing versions soon emerged that paid homage to the company's history and credence to the current road-going product's pedigree. Under the guidance of Ernesto Maserati, engineer Alberto Massimino was tasked with building a new low-slung tubular steel ladder-type frame fitted with a coil-sprung front independent suspension with unequal-length A-arms and Houdaille shock absorbers, along with finned aluminum drum brakes. At least two Barchettas were built for the 1947 season. Power was sourced from the 1,493cc (1.5-liter) straight-six engine.

The Maserati A6GCS

Between April 1947 and November 1950, approximately 14 examples of the first-series A6GCS were built with two-seater sports racing, torpedo style, hand-formed aluminum coachwork by Medardo Fantuzzi, distinguished by grand prix-style cycle wings. Most examples received a large centrally positioned headlamp positioned within the grille, earning the nickname 'Monofaro' (single headlight, although it was flanked on either side by round headlights, for a total of three). As these were hand-built, the designs and specifications varied. Predominantly competing in Formula 2 races, power was sourced from an enlarged 1,978 cubic centimeter, dry-sump, single overhead camshaft version breathing through triple carburetors.

Further development included a lightweight alloy cylinder block and a twin-cam cylinder head.

The Maserati A6GCS/53

The Maserati A6GCS/53 wore enveloping bodies, most in spyder configuration, and was introduced in 1953. Intended to compete in the World Sportscar Championship, a little over fifty examples were eventually built through 1955. Along with the standard Fantuzzi coachwork, Pinin Farina and Frua also created bodies.

The Maserati A6GCS/54

The Maserati A6GCS/54 had double overhead camshafts, and three twin-choke Weber DCO carburetors and developed approximately 150 horsepower. With the addition of dual ignition in 1956, output increased to 160 hp. Approximately sixty examples were built through 1956, with Carrozzeria Allemano building 21 examples to a design by Michelotti. Frua created six coupes and twelve Gran Sport Spyders, and Zagato built a single spider and twenty lightweight fastbacks.

by Dan Vaughan

Monofaro Monoposto by Fantuzzi
Chassis number: 2012
Engine number: 2012

This Maserati was ordered in October 1950 by the Automovel Club do Brasil. It is chassis number 2012 and is nearly identical in appearance to its sister car, chassis number 2019, with the exception of having two seats upholstered in Verde (coachwork finished in Giallo) instead of a single bench seat as fitted in #2019. This A6GCS was driven to a class victory in January 1951 at the Gran Premio di Interlagos by its first owner, Mario Valentin Dos Santos. It is believed that this Maserati competed in several other races in Brazil and Argentina during the early 1950s, earning a 6th-place finish at the Circuito Quinta da Boa Vista in February 1952. Annuar de Goes Daquer is believed to have piloted this Maserati in many of its competition outings.

Sometime during 1952, the Maserati returned to the factory, where its engine was rebuilt with the original head being removed and replaced with a dual-overhead-cam (bialbero) component with single ignition and an unusual cam design where the linguette rested inside of the head's V shape. This is believed to have been Maserati's first dual-overhead-cam engine head.

When the work was completed, the A6GCS 2000 was returned to Mr. Dos Santos in Brazil, and it presumably returned to a life of racing in South American events.

British enthusiast Colin Crabbe discovered the Maserati in 1972 in a São Paulo yard wearing a rosso paint scheme with its original nose having been modified with an egg-crate grille. After acquiring the Maserati, Mr. Crabbe had it shipped to the United Kingdom, where it was acquired in 1973 by Alan Smith of Derby. A restoration was planned, but only minimal measures were taken before it was sold in 1977 to dealer Danny Margulies, and a year later, the car passed through a proxy to Sid Colberg. Mr. Colberg would retain the car for twenty-six years and during that time, treated it to a restoration. The work began in the U.K. with the correction of the coachwork by Grand Prix Metalcraft in North London. Ted Bailey of Bourne, Lincolnshire, performed the mechanical refurbishment.

In 1980, the Maserati was shipped to San Francisco, where Phil Reilly & Co. in Corte Madera, California, continued the mechanical sorting. After the work was completed, Mr. Colberg campaigned the car in vintage events and rallies that included the Monterey Historics and the 1986 Mille Miglia Storica.

In 2004, the car was sold to its current taker, who would own it for eighteen years before offering it for sale at auction (RM Sothebys Amelia Island sale in 2023). Although in fine condition, the new owner commissioned a comprehensive restoration that included a freshening of the engine by Leydon Restorations in Pennsylvania. The Maserati was used in several events, including the 2005 Mille Miglia Storica and the 2006 Fall Festival at Lime Rock.

In 2007, the engine, gearbox, and steering system were rebuilt by Nino Epifani in Northern California. Additionally, the driveshaft, universal joint, and fuel tank were refurbished.

In 2010 the car participated in the Tutto Italiano. In May 2021, the Monofaro was entrusted to the specialists at Candini Classiche in Modena, Italy, where new purpose-designed pistons were installed. The head was fitted with new valves, guides, and springs, and new megacycle cams were installed.

This Maserati A6GCS 2000 'Monofaro' is one of fourteen to fifteen examples built and one of eight examples known to survive.

by Dan Vaughan

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