Tag Archives: DEI

’56 Italian Hillclimb Champion – Maserati A6G/54 Zagato Coupé #2148

Last in the current series of Maserati A6G/54 posts is one of twenty Zagato Coupé bodied models chassis #2148.

Maserati A6G/54 Zagato Coupé, Cartier Style Et Luxe, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The 21 Zagato bodied A6G/54’s are lighter than most of the other 39 A6G/54’s because their bodies are crafted from aluminium. This made #2148 and it’s Zagato siblings eminently suitable for use in competition.

Maserati A6G/54 Zagato Coupé, Cartier Style Et Luxe, Goodwood Festival of Speed

It is believed this car once belonged to Italian racing driver Adolfo Tedeschi who is thought to have used #2148 to secure the 1956 Italian under 2 litre hillclimb championship.

Maserati A6G/54 Zagato Coupé, Cartier Style Et Luxe, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Thereafter #2148 spent some time in the USA before passing into the hands of Peter Kaus and his Bianco Collection which included several vehicles that have featured in GALPOT blogs including several other Maseratis.

Maserati A6G/54 Zagato Coupé, Cartier Style Et Luxe, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Looking at this side vent trim I was struck by it’s similarity to the DEI (Dale Earnhardt Inc) stripes on the Dale Earnhardt Jr Limited Edition Chevrolet Impala, I wonder if Dale Earnhardt was a fan of the Maserati A6G/54 Zagato Coupé ?

Maserati A6G/54 Zagato Coupé, Cartier Style Et Luxe, Goodwood Festival of Speed

After a spell in France #2148 has passed through the hands of at least one other German before finding it’s way into the hands of current owner Klaus Busch.

Maserati A6G/54 Zagato Coupé, Cartier Style Et Luxe, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The most recent record of an A6G/54 Zagato sale by auction I could find was in 2010 for a slightly less aggressively styled Berlinetta variant which fetched over US$ 1.5 million.

Thanks for joining me on this “’56 Italian Hillclimb Champion” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for a look at a Bugatti tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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