Maserati A6 (1949)

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Mille Miglia Eligible, one of 61 examples Built Very well documented by extracts provided by Maserati Historian Adolfo Orsi For 40 years in the same ownership The A6 1500 grand tourer was Maserati’s first road car Early Maseratis are considerably more rare than Ferraris of comparable years Presented in its original colors Well-documented and fascinating ownership from new, originally sold to Vittorio Giol, Giol, Italy’s oldest prosecco Winery It has a lovely combination of performance and luxury that set the pattern for Maserati road cars of later years The restoration is well documented, with an accompanying file containing hundreds of photos detailing the entire process Possessing a wonderful rare elegance, Maserati A6s are rarely available for purchase “When I look back over the sixty-seven or so races in which I drove a Maserati, I remember a few frustrations and many exhilarations. The sort of exhilaration that one gets only from driving a thoroughbred, cars conceived to give battle with the best and pleasure to their drivers.” Stirling Moss, London, 1975. The Maserati A6 1500 grand tourer was the company’s first production road car. It was introduced at the Geneva Salon in 1947 to considerable excitement, and a total of sixty-one were produced through 1950. They were named “A” for Alfieri Maserati (one of the Maserati brothers, founders of Maserati) and “6” for their straight six-cylinders engine. The A6 1500 was powered by a 1.5 litre (1.488 cc) aluminium and magnesium engine, that was the basis for any racing and street cars produced by Maserati in the following years. The straight six-cylinders engine was named A6 TR (“Testa Riportata” for its detachable cylinder head), it was based on the pre-war Maserati 6CM unit and is similar to the A6GCS “monofaro” sports car’s 2.0-litre unit. It had a single overhead shaft and a single Weber carburettor, producing 65 hp at 4,700 rpm. The price at the time was 4.5 million Italian Lire. Orders quickly grew for the A6 thanks to the brilliant victories achieved on the tracks. What the factory would produce in function, Pinin Farina would clothe with form. The body of the A6 1500 is an elegant two-door fast-back coupe body of timeless beauty. This series of Maserati’s has become recognized as a landmark of both mechanical and coach building history. Beloved for its beautiful lines, spritely performance, attention to quality and luxury details, the Maserati A6 1500 was not only a success in its own right but also served as a strong foundation for the company’s success in the years to come. These cars had a lovely combination of performance and luxury that set the pattern for Maserati road cars of later years. The Maserati A6 1500 was produced in only 61 units. ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE The Maserati A6 1500 chassis was produced at the factory in Modena in 1948. The 8th of September 1948 the rolling chassis of the Maserati was delivered to Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in Turin and the 9th of April the car returned to Maserati from Carrozzeria Pinin Farina wearing a beautiful “Blue Scuro” (Blue) painted body. Three days later this beautiful car was completed and offered for sale. Subsequently it was sold in Treviso and delivered at the 3rd of May 1949 to the first owner, Mr. Vittorio Giol. A wealthy landowner and winemaker living in San Polo di Piave, Treviso, Italy. Giol is known as Italy’s oldest prosecco Winery. In 1953 the Maserati was sold to an American, Mr. Lemuel R. Ladd, who was stationed in Munich, Germany in the US Army. He is supposed to be the same Lemuel Ladd who was a racing driver before WWII. An important figure in East Coast sports car racing, Lem Ladd was an active member of the Automobile Racing Club of America. From 1953, there are several Maserati Invoices for the supply of engine spare parts to a new owner, a Mr. Lemuel R. Ladd in Munich, Germany.