Many thanks for posting these great photos. This one makes an interesting comparison with the same car later at posts #226 (with hubcaps and trim rings) and #403/459.
...shows this splendid A6G-1500. Not sure about the VIN but I would opt for #104 which was sold on 12 May 1949 to Andrea Starita from Rome. Possibly the car still exists in the USA today. Anybody knows where? Ciao! Walter Image Unavailable, Please Login
Gilberti & Santi: This business handled a few Maserati A6-1500 and I think it most likely that the Auto Italiana foto (from a few days prior to 1 February 1949) shows chassis N. 062. It was invoiced to Santi's dealership a few days later. The cars N. 075 and N. 065 also went to Santi during April and May but the dates seem too late for the photo. 104 went in 1951 to Dei (as dealer) rather than in 1949 to Santi so I think it is completely out of the running. The Alfa Romeo 6C2300 showing its nose behind Villoresi is 815073 according to the Forli plate that was researched by Corrado Bellabarba. It was registered from 1939 to May 1948 with four different owners in Roma but had gone to Alberto Neri in Forli only to return to Roma to be sold again. It was re-registered 22 February 1949 to Spartaco Borghesi of Viterbo.
John, I have a copy of the registration doc for #104! It was in 1949 and he paid 2,800,000 Lira for it and sold it in 1952 to the 2nd owner. #065 was sold by dealer CORTESE in Milano who sold it to Guislio Sorgato also from and Milano. The car was imported to theUSA early in 1980. #075 was completed in April `49 - too late for the photo. I agree with you that #062 coud be also a candidate for the car. Ciao! Walter
Or, less likely, was it set to be reborn? Registration documents are not infallible. But then again, neither are factory records. There is more head-scratching to do on this. According to the Maserati ledger devoted to these cars, this chassis spent the time period 13 March 1950 to 13 July 1950 at Pinin Farina and was tested 18 July 1950 as a car. As such, it fits into the dates recorded for cars numbered similarly. If 104 was sold earlier to the customer, it seems unlikely that it was in the form of a completed car. There is also the possibility that there were some confusions even at the time?
...know this car? It was restored by EXOTICCARS in Frenchtown., PH, USA. Don? Anybody? Ciao! Walter Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Bravo to Boudewijn, although maybe not so difficult with the old Portuguese plate. Still a work in process at various shops. Exoticars (home of the "scratch built Mazzer roadster" on this forum) has done primarily the mechanical work. The 1980s red is now completely gone. Don Image Unavailable, Please Login
Walter, To be honest, no. The original color was dark gray. In March of last year we located an elderly gentleman of Livorno who saw, and incredibly seems to clearly remember, #086 racing nearby in September 1953. He specifically mentioned the dark gray, and opined "bad color". So I decided to change to amaranto, the most popular color for these cars, used on 40% of total production. Not a single one of these cars, by the way, was originally painted rosso. Best regards, Don
Don, although I like a 1500 in grey, are you sure that this old Signore clearly confirm the car raced near Livorno in Sept. 1953 as #086? There was another 1500 in grey in that area at that time... Ciao! Walter
Walter, At that time #086 was registered on Livorno plates to a US Army officer. I have the registration and the signed entry form for the race, both with chassis number. I have a photo of the paddock of the race, with only one A6 1500 visible. The old gentleman seems to know his cars - his father raced Erminis. I don't think there is any room for doubt. Don
Who did all this magic in its workshop then? Never knew that the best engine shops for Maseratis are in Germany these days...
There are some very good Maserati-mechanics in The Fatherland: SCHMITZ for the S6-, V8- and 5000GT-engines! CAPRICORN (like a clinic!!!) for the A6GCS-, 450S-, 300S- and 5000GT-engines DIE SPORTWAGEN SPEZIALISTEN for the A6G-2000-engines METHUSALEM for the 300S-engine E. BERG for the pre-war Maserati-engines Ciao! Walter
This looks like an interesting promotional exchange of messages. I'm sure it is an absolutely unique and delightful car ! Anyone willing to provide a chassis number ? Maybe #068 ? Walter, I just saw your earlier posting as somehow my thread subscription became deactivated. I would prefer not to post bits of documentation just now, while work is still in process. Don
