Tag Archives: maserati

Fantuzzi Short Nose – Maserati A6GCS #2093

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The Maserati A6GCS was in it’s final year of production when today’s chassis #2093 is said to have been delivered to (Silvia?) Candini and (Francisco?) Landi in April 1955.

Maserati A6GCS, Hüni / Pearson, RAC Woodcote Trophy, Silverstone Classic

I’ve been unable to find any competition history for #2093 which is not the same thing as asserting that it never competed in any event in period.

Maserati A6GCS, Hüni / Stippler, Freddie March Memorial Trophy, Goodwood Revival

In fact the only information I have found on Francisco Landi is that he raced a Maserati 250F open wheel car to a 4th place finish with Gerino Gerini in the 1956 Argentinian Grand Prix.

Maserati A6GCS, Hüni / Stippler, Freddie March Memorial Trophy, Goodwood Revival

Since 2002 Lukas Hüni has been the owner of #2093 and he shared the car in the top and bottom photo’s at Silverstone with Gary Pearson in the RAC Woodcote Trophy at the Silverstone Classic in 2011…

Maserati A6GCS, Hüni / Stippler, Freddie March Memorial Trophy, Goodwood Revival

and with Frank Stippler in the Freddie March Memorial Trophy run in the evening at the 2012 Goodwood Revival.

Maserati A6GCS, Huni Pearson, RAC Woodcote Trophy, Silverstone Classic

Note that Medardo Fantuzzi produced aluminium bodies for the A6GCS in short form as seen here and a slightly more aerodynamic long form.

Thanks for joining me on this “Fantuzzi Short Nose” edition of Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I shall be looking at a Bugatti. Don’t forget to come back now !

08/09/14 PS Tim Murray has kindly informed me that Fransisco Landi was a Brazilian driver best known for winning the 1948 non Championship Bari Grand Prix driving a Ferrari.

Tim also wonders if the name of the other original owner is Sebastiao Casini and not Candini as I have been led to believe. If you can help solve this mystery please do not hesitate to chime in below or e-mail me.

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38kgs Of Filler – Maserati A6GCS #2085

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Between 1953 and 1955 Maserati built a run of 52 170hp 2 litre / 122 cui Maserati A6GCS sports racing cars that would win the 2 litre class at the Mille Miglia for three consecutive years.

Maserati A6GCS, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Todays featured car chassis #2085 was built in 1955 and delivered to Gaetano Starabba in Palermo Italy.

Maserati A6GCS, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Of the eight events Gaetano is known to have competed in with this car his best result was a win in the 1955 Trofeo Sardo.

Maserati A6GCS, Elicalbe Goodwood Festival of Speed

Gaetano also teamed up with Salvatore La Pira to finish 10th overall and 5th in class in the 1955 Targa Florio.

Maserati A6GCS, Goodwood Festival of Speed

In 1956 Gaetaano sold the car to Erasmo Simoni who raced under the alias “Kammamuri“ who according to Marque expert Walter Baumer scored a class win in the 1956 Rome Grand Prix driving #2085.

Maserati A6GCS, Goodwood Festival of Speed

According to Walter #2085 underwent restorations in 1971, ’78 and 2002.

Maserati A6GCS, Goodwood Festival of Speed

In 2012 #2085 underwent it’s most recent ‘back to bare metal’ restoration and the body was found to be carrying 38kgs of filler.

I believe current owner Manuel Elicabe is seen driving #2085 earlier this year at Goodwood Festival of Speed in the third photograph.

Thanks for joining me on this “38kgs Of Filler” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a 1923 Bugatti. Don’t forget to come back now !

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

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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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JK Car Corture – Maserati A6G 54 Frua #2114

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Like Pinin Farina bodied A6G I looked at last week today’s featured Frua bodied A6G is believed to have been shown at the Paris Salon albeit in 1955 rather than ’54.

Maserati A6G 54 Frua, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Pietro Frua was the son of a tailor and a mother who was a FIAT employee. He was an apprentice at FIAT where he was taught to become a draughtsman.

Maserati A6G 54 Frua, Goodwood Festival of Speed

At 22 Pietro became Director of Styling at the Stabilimenti Farina and in 1938 he struck out alone by founding his own styling studio. He was succeeded at Farina by Giovanni Michelotti.

Maserati A6G 54 Frua, Goodwood Festival of Speed

In 1944 Pietro bought a bombed out factory where he would design and build his cars.

Maserati A6G 54 Frua, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Among his early clients were Maserati for whom he built 26 cars to three different designs.

Maserati A6G 54 Frua, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Only seven of the 26 Frua Maseratis would be Coupés and only four were of the same design as today’s featured #2114, which is the third of the series.

Maserati A6G 54 Frua, Goodwood Festival of Speed

In 1954 Frua sold out to Ghia where he was appointed head of design.

Maserati A6G 54 Frua, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Frua fell out with Ghia and eventually became an independent designer of vehicles for the German company Glas which was taken over by BMW, Maserati and Monteverdi.

Maserati A6G 54 Frua, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Today’s featured car #2114, seen here at Goodwood Festival of Speed several years ago has belonged to Jamiroqui singing legend JK for around a decade and won many concours d’elegance awards during that time.

Thanks for joining me on this “JK Car Corture” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Bugatti. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Cartier Style Et Lux Winner – Maserati A6 G Berlinetta #2060

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It is believed that today’s featured Maserati A6 G fitted with a replica Pinninfarina Berlinetta body, one of four with such bodies, may have been taken to the 1954 Paris Show.

Scuderia Centro Sud owned the car through the 1950’s up until 1970 and had it fitted with barchetta bodywork by Fiandri. While #2060 was being used by the Scuderia Centro Sud racing school the original Pinninfarina body was fitted to another A6 G.

Maserati A6 G PF Berlinetta, Cartier Style Et Lux, Goodwood Festival Of Speed

In 1970 Count Hubertus von Dönhoff bought #2060 which was by now red and fitted with barchetta bodywork by Fantuzzi. Sometime between 1986 and 1996 #2060 was fitted with the replica Pinninfarina Berlinetta body after Count von Dönhoff had failed to secure an original.

At this years Goodwood Festival of Speed #2060 was awarded Best in the Cartier Style Et Lux Show held on the lawn in front of Goodwood House.

Thanks for joining me on this “Cartier Style Et Luxe” 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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Super Saturday Part 2/2 – Silverstone Classic

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Today’s blog continues on from yesterday with coverage of the second half of the Silverstone Classic Super Saturday race programme.

Porsche 911, Slater, Silverstone Classic

The 50 min Choppard International Trophy for pre’66 GT Cars was won convincingly by Sean McInerney driving the #64 TVR Griffith seen above about to thread it’s way passed the; #27 Porsche 911 driven by Adrian Slater, the #31 Lotus Elan driven by John Sheldon and the #91 Sunbeam Tiger shared by Neil Merry and Terry van der Zee.

Brabham BT4, Minshaw, Silverstone Classic

Jason Minshaw won the first of the weekends two Jack Brabham Memorial Trophy races driving the 1962 Brabham BT4 seen above. It is sad to have to report that in the second race for pre ’66 Grand Prix cars the following day Denis Welch was killed in an accident while driving his Lotus 18. I am sure you will want to join me in offering sincerest condolences to Denis’s family and many friends.

Ford Falcons, Voyazides, Gardiner, Silverstone Classic

Perversely the Mustang Celebration Trophy proudly presented by Pure Michigan was dominated by the type that the Mustang wiped off the sales floor, namely the Ford Falcons driven by Leo Voyazides #1 and Mike Gardiner #37. Leo is seen above sweeping into a lead that he did not relinquish for the rest of the race.

Maserati Centenary Trophy Start, Silverstone Classic

Light was fading at the start of the Maserati Centenary Trophy for pre ’61 Grand Prix cars and photographers such as your truely were having to resort to every trick in photoshop to get an image. Above Philip Walker driving the #1 Lotus 16 is seen streaking into what proved to be an unassailable lead ahead of; the #30 Offy powered Scarab driven by Bristol’s Julian Bronson, #88 ‘Toothpaste Tube’ Connaught C Type driven by Michael Steele, the, #27 Tec-Mech driven by Tony Wood, #35 Kurtis driven by Fred Harper.

Lola T70, Voyazides, Silverstone Classic

Leo Voyazides thirst for victory was unsatiated after winning the Mustang Celebration trophy and he is seen above driving his Lola T70 in the FIA Historic Masters Sports Cars race in hot pursuit of the cheeky 2 litre / 122 cui Chevron B19 driven by Martin O’Connell. No one knows exactly what happened to Martin, but he ended up in the rough stuff, uninjured leaving Leo and Simon Hadfield a clear road to victory lane.

Mercedes Benz C11, Berridge, Silverstone Classic

The final race of Super Saturday was my favourite not because it was the most closely contested, it was not despite the best efforts of Katsu Kobota driving a Nissan to take the challenge to the winning #31 Mercedes Benz C11 driven by eventual Group C Endurance winner Bob Berridge, but because the twin turbo V8 C11 driven at full speed is music to my ears and poetry in motion to my eyes. I could watch that car circulating all day and night as I did in 1991 at Le Mans, with out a care in the world.

Approaching 9pm it was all over time to return my photographers bib to the Media Office, jump into a courtesy BMW, driven by an ex Royal Protection Officer, which on the way back to the car park took me past the crowds waiting for Bonnie Tyler to give a rendition of “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”.

Thanks for joining me on this “Super Saturday Part 2/2” edition of Gettin’ a li’l pscyho on tyres. I’ll be staying with Silverstone Classic for the rest of the week I hope you will join me starting with Maserati Monday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Alfieri Ghisa Corsa Monoposto – Maserati A6GCM #2033

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Between 1951 and 1953 Maserati built 12 A6GCM’s (Alfieri, 6 Cylinder, Ghisa – Iron Block, Corsa – Racing, Monoposto – Single seaters).

Maserati A6CGM, Silverstone Classic

The 2 litre / 122 cui twin cam motors were initially developed by Alberto Massimino and Vittorio Bellentani to produce 160hp and by 1953 with further development by Gioacchino Colombo the motors are said to have produced 197hp.

Maserati A6CGM, Silverstone Classic

The chassis design featuring a rigid rear axle with leaf springs, coil springs for the independent front suspension and hydraulic brakes is credited to Medardo Fantuzzi.

Maserati A6CGM, Silverstone Classic

It would appear two chassis were given the number #2033, both of which are extent today. The first appears to have been a recycled ’49 single seater chassis while the second, today’s featured car seen with Julia de Baldanza at the wheel, was built fresh from the ground up in 1951.

Maserati A6CGM, Silverstone Classic

At least two of the later 1953 A6GCM’s were turned into 250F types in 1954, so there is nothing unusual, in the somewhat chaotic Maserati scheme of things, for two cars to have received the same chassis identity.

Maserati A6CGM, de Baldanza, Silverstone Classic

Both cars bearing the #2033 identity appear to have been used by the works Officine Alfieri Maserati team but the individual histories, unsurprisingly, appear to be not so well documented.

Maserati A6CGM, Silverstone Classic

Of the 151 races in which the A6GCM type is known to have participated 6 victories were recorded of which one, the 1953 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, was a World Championship event won by Juan Manuel Fangio 12 months after he had broken his neck at the same venue.

Juan’s Italian Grand Prix win was the only victory in a world championship event against the hitherto dominant Ferrari 500’s driven by Alberto Ascari, Piero Taruffi, Mike Hawthorn and Giuseppe Farina.

Thanks for joining me on this “Alfieri Ghisa Corsa Monoposto” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Bugatti. Don’t forget to come back now !

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