Elegantly aggressive
The 1953 A6GCS Twin-Cam (or Maserati Sports 2000) was a highly successful customer two-seat racing car designed by ex-Alfa Romeo and Ferrari engineer Gioachino Colombo. In 1954, Maserati developed the concept of the A6GCS for high-performance road car use and supplied chassis complete with updated engines, along with sophisticated coachbuilding by Frua, Allemano and Zagato. The first two produced elegant, fast and luxurious GTs, while Zagato concentrated on racing berlinettas for the well-heeled sportsmen of the day. The new A6G/54 was the last short-run Maserati before the introduction of the Trident’s first production car, the 3500 GT in 1957. In total, 60 were built from late 1954 to early 1957, including one spyder and 20 competition berlinettas by Zagato.
The typically Zagato, hand-beaten coachwork was different on each car, although it followed the same principle: an aggressive grille with big Maserati trident, open headlamps, abrupt tail and low roofline. Few cars bore a double-bubble roof from new. Bumpers varied from full width, to small, quarter bumperettes and, while most carried a ‘spine’ that ran down the bonnet to the top of the grille, some did not. Likewise, bonnet air-intakes ranged from one to two to none, and instrument panels could be made to plush production car standards or only fit for a stripped-out racer.
Every A6G/54 2000 Zagato was a testament to the coachbuilder’s art, an aggressive machine meant to be raced hard and fast and most, like this car, certainly were.
This stunning example, a 1956 Maserati A6G/54 2000 Berlinetta which features the ‘double-bubble’ roofline – although this was added at a later date – is currently available from Kidston. Click on the link below for more information, including a detailed history of the car. Photos: © Kidston SA.