The A6 marks the transition point between Maserati's strict, racing-focused past and its road car future. Powered by a 2-litre inline 6-cylinder motor, the unit was developed for Formula 2 competition and became a winning proposition in sports car racing. In this respect, the A6 is counterpoint to the Ferrari 500—also powered by a motor developed for Formula 2 racing, built into a series of berlinetta and spider-bodied sports cars—and bears similarities to the Ferrari 166 MM as well.
Chassis #2101 debuted at the 1955 Geneva Salon, where Argentinian President Juan Perón requested that he purchase the car. First, however, Perón sent the car back to Zagato for a few cosmetic changes; these included a new windscreen, new grille, and new bonnet scoop. Thence prepared to the President's liking, this A6G never made the trip to South America owing to a coup d'état in September of 1955 that sent Perón and his wife into exile. Upon assumption of power, the new regime illustrated Perón's indulgence in luxury items, although this Maserati never had the opportunity to become evidence.
Close to becoming part of Argentinian political history, chassis #2101 went on to lead a quiet, well cared for life. The A6G returned to the Zagato stand for the 1958 Paris Salon, and soon after passed through the capable hands of two Americans living abroad in France—one a diplomat, and the other a lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Air Force. The Maserati then ventured state-side where it was maintained in running order for a brief spell before being stored for nearly 20 years. By the year 2000, the car's owner brought the Maserati out of storage and took the car through a full restoration. Never depleted from its 1958 Paris configuration, still bearing the changes requested by Perón, chassis #2101 remains a magnificent representative of vintage Italian motoring.
The Zagato firm became known in the post-War era for closed coupé bodies that delivered a sporting advantage due to their lightweight construction. Thus, with nearly all of their efforts dedicated to closed racing cars, a post-War Zagato spyder is a truly rare article. What's more, even though this is an open-top car, chassis #2101 conforms to a grand touring standard of execution. The plush interior, elegantly understated coachwork, and high-metallic paint are all attributes of a vehicle built for pleasure above all else. The car's colorful history combined with its rich appointments make chassis #2101 a true gem—visually arresting, and satisfactory to the highest degree of motorcar envy.
Motor: 1,986 cc straight 6-cylinder, cast iron block and aluminum alloy head
Valvetrain: DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder, gear driven
Aspiration: triple Weber 40 DCO3 carburetors
Power: 150 bhp at 6,000 rpm
Drivetrain: 4-speed gearbox, rear-wheel drive
Front Suspension: independent wishbones with coil springs, Houdaille dampers, and anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: live axle with coil springs, Houdaille dampers, and anti-roll bar
Architecture: steel tubular frame with aluminum body by Zagato
Kerb Weight: 840 kg (1,852 lbs)
Wheelbase: 2,550 mm (100.4 inches)
Top Speed: 210 km/h (130 mph)
Etymology:
The 'A' designation memorializes Alfieri Maserati, the firm's principal founder, a talented engineer and racing driver who died in 1932 following an accident. The firm itself was originally named Officine Alfieri Maserati when it began in Bologna in 1914. The '6' refers to the number of cylinders. The 'G' stands for 'ghisa,' or iron in Italian, denoting the cast iron block. The '/54' designation signals the ultimate development of the Formula 2 racing motor that powers the A6, introduced for 1954. The '2000' designation applied to a small number of cars that weren't materially different than other A6G examples, and merely underscores the car's 2 litre capacity. The word 'spyder' refers to the open bodywork, itself derived from the carriage trade. The body was built by Zagato, while we note that this is chassis #2101.
Figures:
A6 development began in the late 1940s. The firm experimented with a 1.5-litre racing motor fitted to one-off spyder and berlinetta cars, creating numerous gems of lightweight sports car fantasy. Eventually the A6 moniker was attached to a dedicated production run, and the car became Maserati's first mass-market product. The Barchetta registry online lists 214 cars produced among all of the A6 models, beginning in 1946 and ending in 1957. Of these, just 16 are listed under 2000 designation. Of those, Zagato bodied only one as an open-top spyder.
Value:
Chassis #2101 sold at auction in November of 2013 for $4.455 million. As it might befit a singular example of the Maserati A6, this car has appeared at the world's premier concours d'elegance—St. James in England, Villa d'Este in Italy, and Pebble Beach in the United States. What then the price of art? I do feel there is a greater quality of artistry in Maserati than, say, a comparable Ferrari. The overall beauty this A6 platform nourishes is captivating in its diversity, carried out by so many different coachbuilders, each leaving deep impressions. Then, knowing the care that went into each chassis before it left the factory—the hand work, the excessive need to stamp otherwise utilitarian components with numbers and tridents, and the desire to polish and finish more surfaces than necessary—this Maserati shines light on the purpose of motoring at a time when it's clear too many have forgotten.
Elegant Subtlety: Simple Classic Lines
The lines of chassis #2101 require a quarter perspective. In profile, there appears so little sculpting along the flanks and such slim margins over the front and rear arches that the spyder loses its shape. From any other angle, however, that same simplicity of line brings subtle details to the fore. Just the gentle curves crowning the headlamps and grille are remarkable—effortless, which leaves the eyes to consume the ornate grille. And at the tail, the mild little flips of the fins are perfectly understated. The car does not slap you with bravado from a distance; it draws you closer to take in the lavish passenger compartment, or perhaps open the bonnet to discover Maserati's beautiful twin-cam Formula 2 racing motor.
Sculpted Screen: Fully Frame Spider Windscreen
One of the more interesting features of the coachwork is that the windscreen does not use a typical chrome frame. Instead, the coachwork continues up and around the entire piece of glass, forming a curved structure that looks as if it could attach to a hardtop. Period photos show only a softtop in place, however. Meanwhile, the seam where this impressive frame joins the bonnet is rather complex, a deep joint below the line of the front fenders that is itself trimmed in chrome. Then, inside the glass, a strip of metal painted to match the body courses over the top of the dashboard. This mix of chrome and painted coachwork marries the exterior and interior, making the car look so complete that even the pedestrian wiper arm looks ornamental.
Plush Compartment: Grand Touring Appointment in an Open Zagato Spider
Adding to the luxury is an over-stitched door sill with matching teal pipes and stitching. The contrast color is a strange shade of pinkish lavender, much like a faded hyacinth. This upholstery color is difficult to detect in sunlight, but pairs with the metallic teal paint to transform the car into a piece of candied jewelry; and not to be disappointed about this point-of-no-return, it is a beautiful work of art.
Last Updated: Feb 10, 2024
