Shah of Iran Maserati 5000:is it a twin for first Ferrari 400SA?

In trying to find pictures of the first 400SA I ran across this Maserati 5000 that looks like a twin to the Ferrari.

Picture here: Maserati 5000 GT - Wikipedia

This is probably a well known car in Maserati world, and looks like it was restored. I am curious if it ever a project car, sold cheap? (I heard the Ferrari with that body style hit a tree and saw it in the SF valley while it was still unrestored).
Here's how Wikipedia describes the Maserati with that body (when translated via computer) Incidentally when I saw the Ferrari version using this body in Pasadena at an FCA concours on Colorado I was surpised the lower half of the body is clad with stainless or aluminum, brushed. I don't know if the Maserati version had that.

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From Wikipedia (IT): Among the first buyers of the then bon vivant playboy Gianni Agnelli , who made "dress up" the chassis (No. AM -103 -008) by Pininfarina , with a line almost identical to the Ferrari 400 Superamerica , which was commissioned at the same body shop a few months before , and without the hallmarks of the brand and model."

I don't know what they mean by "Hallmarks" but that could mean without badges, or it could mean without any "design cues" of Maserati, which ain't a bad word choice in English...

 

5000's are about the rarest of Maseratis and would probably be a $1M car - if one ever came to market. The last one I remember selling as many years ago at auction in Europe. Every one was bespoke. Several different coach makers as well, so they are different externally as well. I am pretty sure not one is a wreck needing restoration.

 

I have a line on a Frua bodied 5000 GT. Ask is $750K plus com. Please PM me if interested.

 

Are you referring to the brown 5000GT with the standard V8 engine? That car is well known to many of us.

Ivan

 

Yes,
I have a little history. According to the book "Maserati 5000 GT A Significant Car" info on VIN 103.100: The 3rd and last Frua bodied car. Originally commissioned by Englehardt, an architect who worked for Prince Karim Aga Khan, who also had a Frua bodied 5000 GT.

Englehardt's car was the 2nd to last 5000 built, and as such has an early 4.7 litre engine as the factory had used up it's stock of the 5 litre units by then.

Or so Khawam's book asserts.

I figured there were no secrets, really, as to this car.

 

Yes, it's a well known car. The car was sold "cheap" if you consider "todays" asking price for it. It's the least desirable of the the Frua 5000's. Some collectors have serious reservations about the interior. It's been with Motorcargallery for longer than a minute.

I'll only ask a 5% commission on the sale if "anyone" is interested!

 

Hi,

Just wondering where the Shah of Iran Maserati 5000 is these days ? Anybody know ?

Best Regards,

Ramin

 

There are actually 2 cars, the Shah's car and the Basil Reed car. The Reed car is in Northeast US
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I normally get excited about rare Maseratis but this particular 5000GT left me flat. The front view is attractive but from the side to me it looks like a Mistral in need of a weight lost program. The interior has no color contrast ..... everything is fuzzy and brown. If you like brown suede, this is the car for you.

I do not think in today's market Ed's asking price is unreasonable. It is after all a very rare 5000GT with many original features.

Ivan
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Hi,

Thanks for the update about the Reed car, but I am still wondering where the Shah of Iran car is these days. If possible, do you have any photo's of the Shah's car like the Reed car ?

Best Regards,

Ramin

 

This is probably a well known car in Maserati world, and looks like it was restored. I am curious if it ever a project car, sold cheap? (I heard the Ferrari with that body style hit a tree and saw it in the SF valley while it was still unrestored).
Here's how Wikipedia describes the Maserati with that body (when translated via computer) Incidentally when I saw the Ferrari version using this body in Pasadena at an FCA concours on Colorado I was surprised the lower half of the body is clad with stainless or aluminum, brushed. I don't know if the Maserati version had that.

From Wikipedia (IT): Among the first buyers of the then bon vivant playboy Gianni Agnelli , who made "dress up" the chassis (No. AM -103 -008) by Pininfarina , with a line almost identical to the Ferrari 400 Superamerica , which was commissioned at the same body shop a few months before , and without the hallmarks of the brand and model."

I don't know what they mean by "Hallmarks" but that could mean without badges, or it could mean without any "design cues" of Maserati, which ain't a bad word choice in English...[/QUOTE]



It seems every one has misunderstood your original post.... Gianni Agnelli had two cars built by PininFarina one was a Ferrari 400 Superamerica, the other built on a Maserati 5000 chassis.
Both cars are now fully restored the big difference, design wise, between the two cars is the Ferrari has a sun roof. Also as I recall the Maserati had no stainless. Both cars have showed at Pebble beach with in the last 10 or so years... As I remember I spoke with the owner of the Ferrari be for its restoration was complete, I understood the car had been in rather poor condition....You would know better as you'd seen the car....
I have many pictures of the Maserati version from its day at Pebble Beach, I'll look for those and post them.

 

It seems every one has misunderstood your original post.... Gianni Agnelli had two cars built by PininFarina one was a Ferrari 400 Superamerica, the other built on a Maserati 5000 chassis.
Both cars are now fully restored the big difference, design wise, between the two cars is the Ferrari has a sun roof. Also as I recall the Maserati had no stainless. Both cars have showed at Pebble beach with in the last 10 or so years... As I remember I spoke with the owner of the Ferrari be for its restoration was complete, I understood the car had been in rather poor condition....You would know better as you'd seen the car....
I have many pictures of the Maserati version from its day at Pebble Beach, I'll look for those and post them.[/QUOTE]

Bitzman,

It took me a while too to understand your question. To me your original title of the post is confusing. There is only one "Shah of Persia" car in the small 5000 series. That happens to be chassis number AM 113 002, the first car and produced to fullfil the Shah's wishes. One can say the Shah was the reason for the development for what can be described as a road going version of the 450S! Because after seeing the brochure of the 450S the Shah requested Maserati if they could do a comfortable road car for him on the 450S specs. The #002 is built on a strengthened 3500 chassis and has a Touring body with the sculpted 250F nose to reflect its race car connection, very similar to the Reed car discussed above, was dark blue with an almost white leather interior and uplevel features such as the radio fitted in the rear view mirror.
I had the car in my posession in the early nineties after we bought it in the USA. I got it running very nicely and was most likely I was the last person to make donuts with it sitting on its hard Pirelli Cinturatos on a damp street... It had massive power and torque and was a beast to handle, very, very front loaded!
For a longer period of time it was on display at the entrance hall of a car leasing company here in the Netherlands after which it was sold through a well known Dutch exclusive classic car trader to a French collector near Paris. I lost track where it resides today.

Meanwhile, I think that your basic questions about the similar bodied Ferrari 400SA and Maserati 5000 have been answered?!

Happy new year,

Bart