Fantasy Junction

Description

1954 Maserati A6 GCS
s/n 2065 Eng. No 2065
Burgundy with Navy Interior

The A6GCS was a very important model for Maserati and had great racing success from its debut. Maserati won numerous races with the A6GCS, including the 1953 Mille Miglia (1st and 2nd in class, 3rd Overall), against brutal competition from the Ferrari and Mercedes factory teams. Additionally, the A6GCS had success at the Targa Florio and Pescara, as well as elsewhere in Italy, South America, and in the UK, in addition to several wins in the US. In total 52 examples were built between 1953 and 1955, 48 with Spyder bodies and 4 cars with the ‘Berlinetta Pininfarina’ body. All were originally delivered with a 1985cc aluminum block, overhead twin cam, twin plug engine producing approximately 170 horse power.

This car was originally released to Parisian distributor Garage Mirabeau on 11 April 1954, finished in French blue. A friend and customer of the owners of Garage Mirabeau, Armand Roboly, raced the car on the 19th of April in Morocco, finishing 3rd in class at the Circuit de Marrakech. Roboly raced the car in the 1954 season in several events, including at Montlhery (1st in class), at Circuit des Sables d’Olonne in July (3rd), and La Baule Grand Prix in August(10th). The car also participated in the 12 hour race at Reims, although the car retired. Roboly also raced the car at the Coup d’Automne at Montlhery in October, where the car finished 2nd behind A6GCS s/n 2070.

The car passed on to another French owner, Adrien Loens, who raced the car in 1955 and 1956. Its first appearance in his care was at the Grand Prix des Frontières at Chimay in May 1955. He raced the car along with J. Bonnier at the Irish Tourist Trophy in September of 1955. In 1956, Loens raced the car at Elacinthare in Finland, the Grand Prix des Frontières again, the Grand Prix de Sables d’Olonne, Coupe d’Automne, and the Coupe du Salon at Montlhery.

In April 1957, Loens entered the car in the 6 hour race at Forenz, though the car retired from the event. Loens returned the car to the factory in September 1957, and bought a 200SI to replace it. The Maserati factory refurbished the car, repainting it racing red and adding a head fairing, which was then in vogue. The mechanical components were overhauled and the car was offered for sale by the factory in early 1958.

Another Frenchman purchased 2065 in early 1958, a fellow by the name of Urbane Esmingaud. Esmingaud had previously raced a 4-cylinder monoposto Maserati and was from southeast France. He raced the car from May 1958 to July 1959, including twice at Mont Ventoux, where he finished 4th in 1958, and 3rd in 1959.

The car returned to the factory in late 1959, and eventually sold to a South American buyer. Like many Italian sports cars that ended up in South America, the car fell into disrepair, but was repatriated and restored many years later. The car emerged from South America in approximately 1986, and returned to Italy via La Spezia. A restoration was undertaken some years later by Carrozzeria Garuti Elis of Reggio Emilia. The car arrived substantially complete, with bodywork, chassis, brakes, and engine, and all of the correct type, and likely the same as when the car left Europe.

The restoration was completed in the late 1990’s, and the car was invited for display by the Maserati Factory at the Galleria Ferrari as part of a celebration of Maserati’s racing heritage in November of 1999. The car then passed on to a German owner, who sourced the only missing component, a gearbox of the correct type.

The car was imported to the United Kingdom in 2004, where it remained until 2011. It participated in the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2008, and in 2009, about £26,000 was spent on the car, including new paint, rebuilt master cylinder, fuel pumps, brake hoses, new tires, and miscellaneous other work. The car was airfreighted to the US to an American owner in April of 2011.

While in the UK, famed vintage racecar specialists Hall & Hall assessed the car, and concluded that all major components (including most of the body) appeared to be of the correct type and period, and were likely to be original Maserati components. John de Boer, the highly regarded historian of Italian cars of this vintage, spent several days examining this car its accompanying documentation in December 2011-January 2012, and believes it to be a restoration of a genuine and historic car. Additionally, the car has FIA papers.

The car displays nice racer cosmetics. Very little filler was used during the repaint so the craftsmanship of the body is evident, giving the car a wonderful vintage feel. The surfaces are not perfectly smooth, and the occasional seam is visible through the paint. The paintwork itself is very nicely done and in excellent shape, and the trim and badges are very nice, including the neatly detailed drilled latches for the doors, hood, and rear deck lid. The outside lace wheels are excellent and wear Blockley tires. The interior is in similar shape, with an honest and vintage feel, not the over-restored appearance of many vintage cars. The correct flat silver finish is applied to the interior. The wood steering wheel is weathered, which adds to the car’s historic feel. The instruments are evocative Jaeger items, and the dark blue upholstery is in fine shape.

This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a world-class sports racing car from the golden age of sports car racing. The car has fascinating history and is extremely well-documented with two binders showing many period photos of the car in competition, photos from the restoration, invoices, correspondence, copies of the build sheets, and FIA papers. The possibilities for this car are almost endless. It is an eligible and welcome entrant in virtually every prestigious event in the world, from the Pebble Beach Concourse to the Mille Miglia as it has completed the FIA Heritage Certificate and FIVA certification process. As one of Maserati’s most historically significant and attractive sports cars, it is sure to stand out in any collection. And as values for cars of this genre continue to rise, it will likely prove to be an excellent investment as well.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608