A6GCS/53 Berlinetta Pinin Farina

A very special car was presented at the Turin Motor Show in 1954: a 2000 Sport fitted with an elegant closed “berlinetta” body from Pinin Farina. The 2000 Sport (project name A6GCS), a highly successful open two-seater designed for road races, was much beloved by the racing drivers of the era for its excellent driving qualities. The 1952 edition of the Mille Miglia race had been run under torrential rain. Therefore, some Maserati customers taking part in the competition the following year asked Pinin Farina to create a berlinetta version of their 2000 Sport. Maserati could not directly commission Pinin Farina to fit their chassis with bodies, as the Turin-based company had just signed a deal with Enzo Ferrari. Rome-based Maserati dealer Giuglielmo “Mimmo” Dei bought six bare A6GCS/53 chassis, and then commissioned Pinin Farina to fit them with elegant berlinetta bodies. Eventually, four of the six chassis were fitted with Pinin Farina-designed bodywork, and one, displayed at the 1954 Turin Motor Show, created no little disappointment to the Ferrari contingent. The elegant berlinetta proved to be one of the most beautiful creations in automotive history, as well as the last Pinin Farina design to wear a Maserati badge for the next 50 years. All four examples survive today, and are among the most sought-after historic Maserati cars. One of them is on display at the Umberto Panini Collection.