A selection of postwar Maseratis will be offered at the 2016 Gooding and Company Pebble Beach Auctions, to be held August 20-21 in California during Monterey Classic Car Week.
“Historically significant, high-quality Maseratis such as these rarely appear for public sale,” stated David Brynan, Senior Specialist at Gooding & Company. “These limited-production coachbuilt models, ranging from the original A6/1500 model to the exclusive 4.9 SS Ghibli Spider, showcase the many qualities that have made the Maserati name famous.”
As one of five Maseratis offered from a single collection, the 1961 Maserati 5000 GT Indianapolis Coupe (Estimate: $1,500,000 – $2,000,000) is one of 34 examples of the 5000 GT between 1960 and 1965. Regarded as a “Car of Kings,” the 5000 GT was the fastest road-going automobile of its day, with its fuel-injected, four-cam V-8 engine derived from the 450S sports racing car. The 5000 GT offered here, chassis AM103.014, was the first of 22 examples to receive Coupe coachwork by Carrozzeria Allemano. This one-off “Indianapolis” coupe was featured in the Maserati 100th Anniversary Exhibit in Modena and has been restored to the original factory colors of Grigio Montebello over red leather upholstery.
The 1960 Maserati 3500 GT Spider (Estimate: $900,000 – $1,200,000) is one of 242 Spiders with coachwork by Carrozzeria Vignale. The 3500 GT that will cross the block in Pebble Beach, chassis AM101.775, is one of the early “pre-series” cars, with unique features and its original Peacock Green livery. Gooding called it “undoubtedly one of the finest examples to appear for public sale in recent years”.
The introduction of the A6/1500 ushered in a new era for Maserati, as it was the company’s first true production car, with 61 examples built and 59 bodied in aluminum coachwork by Pinin Farina. This 1948 Maserati A6/1500 Coupe, chassis 060, features a factory three-carburetor setup and has race history, winning its class at the Monza Coppa Inter-Europa in 1949 and 1950 (Estimate: $800,000 – $1,100,000).
Another coupe for sale at Gooding’s 2016 Pebble Beach event, the 1962 Maserati 3500 GT (Estimate: $400,000 – $500,000) is connected to three Hollywood icons — Eddie Fisher, Elizabeth Taylor and Anthony Quinn. In January 1962, Eddie Fisher purchased this 3500 GT Coupe (chassis AM101.2102) as a gift for his wife, Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor barely drove the car, so Fisher sold it to friend and car enthusiast, Anthony Quinn, who brought the Maserati to his home in Beverly Hills. Upon learning of the 3500 GT’s early history, the current owner restored the car to its original glory.
The last Maserati offered from the single collection, the 1995 Maserati Ghibli Open Cup (Estimate: $60,000 – $80,000) is one of 27 Ghibli Open Cup cars to compete in the 1995 Ghibli Open Cup Championship. This car, chassis 361220, was the 11th car built. In its car nine races it took first place in the professional class and second overall in the series at the hands of Federico D’Amore. The car has been upgraded with Maserati’s “evolution kit” and is ready to clip apexes at the next owner’s favorite track and club events.
Additional Maserati offerings at the 2016 Gooding Pebble Beach sale include a 1957 Maserati A6G/54 Spider, 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Spider, 1963 Maserati Sebring Series I and 1960 Maserati 3500 GT.
The A6G/54 featured a race-bred chassis and twin-cam six-cylinder engine. Just 10 of these Maseratis received coachwork by Pietro Frua, whose designs for the A6G/54 are characterized by their contrasting central stripe. This 1957 Maserati A6G/54 Spider, chassis 2191, was built in March 1957 and is one of two originally finished in Ivory. Sold new through Charles Rezzaghi Motors in San Francisco, the Frua Spider remained on the West Coast until it was eventually discovered in the late 1980s by Maserati collector Frank Mandarano. In the early 1990s, this car joined the Alfredo Brener collection of custom-bodied Maseratis and was restored under his ownership. This A6G/54 Frua Spider retains its original engine and would be welcomed in a wide variety of rallies and events (Estimate Available Upon Request).
The 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Spider, chassis AM115S/49.1237, is one of 24 examples shipped to the US with the five-speed ZF gearbox. After an extensive five-year restoration in 2009 by specialist, Martin Logé, the car went on to win a Best of Marque award at Concorso Italiano in 2014 and a Best in Class award at the Greystone Mansion Concours d’Elegance in 2015. The car is presented with a rare factory hardtop, fitted luggage, correct tool kit, as well as other factory literature (Estimate: $1,750,000 – $2,250,000).
The 1963 Maserati Sebring Series I (Estimate: $350,000 – $425,000), chassis AM101.01563, offers full factory documentation and a known history, while the 1960 Maserati 3500 GT (Estimate: $250,000 – $325,000), chassis AM101.930, has been maintained and preserved. The car has been Maserati Classiche certified with matching-numbers engine and presents with its original black leather upholstery and the original cream livery.
Gooding and Company 2016 Pebble Beach Auction
Dates: Saturday, August 20 at 5:00pm and Sunday, August 21 at 6:00pm
Location: Equestrian Center, corner of Stevenson Drive and Portola Road, Pebble Beach, CA
Public preview: Wednesday, August 17 – Sunday, August 21
Auction catalogues: $100, includes admission for two to the viewing and the auctions
General admission: $40, includes admission for one to the viewing and the auctions
Bidder Registration: $200 includes a catalogue, admission for two to the viewing and auction with two reserved seats, subject to availability.
For further information, visit GoodingCo.com.
[Source: Gooding & Company]
