2000 Gran Turismo (54)

The experience gained with the successful 2000 Sport was used for a small series of high-performance GT cars available to a limited number of special customers. The 2000 Gran Turismo of 1954 delivered true GT performance: its 1,985 cc inline-6 engine, fed by three carburetors, developed 150 hp at 6,000 rpm (increased to 160 hp with twin-plug ignition from 1956), propelling the car to an impressive 130 mph, thanks to long gearing and coachbuilder Zagato’s lightweight aluminum body. The first Zagato-bodied A6G54 was displayed at the Paris Motor Show in 1954. The year is significant, the car being referred to as the A6G54 GT. The A6G54 was offered in the company’s sales brochure with four different body styles, including coupe and spyder designs by Frua and a more formal coupe design by Allemano. Altogether, 60 examples were built over three years, of which 20 were sold with the fourth option, Zagato’s competition-oriented coupe. Maserati’s technical refinement and Zagato’s relentless quest for aerodynamic purity resulted in the ultimate racing berlinetta of the 1950s.