5000 GT # AM103.010

I have received the following email from one of our European Maserati friends. If anyone can help him with his questions please feel free to reach out to Mr. Jan Fidjeland directly at his email below.


To:Frank G. Mandarano
Dear sir,
I am writing to you concerning AM 103.010, the third Touring bodied 5000 GTs.
The car was owned by a Swedish gentleman a short time during the mid-1970s.
About this period of ownership, I have written an article in the latest issue of the Swedish Maserati Magazine.

The story of how he was able to buy the car directly from the Maserati company is both interesting and quite amusing.
I also have scanned photos of the car taken during that time.
I would like to pass this material over to the present owner of the car.
The car is presently located the USA.

John Bookout purchased it in 1999 but sold it about 8 years ago.
Unfortunately, Bookout is now over 90 years old very fragile wherefore I do not wish to contact him.

Do you by chance know who the present owner is?
I am fully aware that this could be a delicate matter and that the owner may feel uncomfortable at being contacted.
At the same time, I would image that it would be of interest to fill in a gap in its history.
Kind regards,

Jan Fidjeland
Med vänliga hälsningar,
Jan Fidjeland
Arkitekt SAR/MSA

FIDJELAND OCH PARTNERS ARKITEKTER AB
RENSTIERNAS GATA 12
116 28 STOCKHOLM
08-54515758, 0733-414340
[email protected]
www.fidjeland.se

 

Bookout used to have a manager who dealt with everything in his collection. I have no idea about the current status of that collection or where that person is now but I'd bet that Andey Heywood at Bill Mcgrath's would know where she is. I had conversions with both of them about his Ghibli Open Cup collection after I bought the yellow one at auction.

 

Thanks Bob,
Perhaps someone else could weight in on this.
FGM

 

Adolfo Orsi Jr used to oversee the restoration of Bookout's cars. When I indexed his photo archive the first six months of 2006 in Modena we went to Brandoli's workshop with Fiorenzo Fantuzzi and Raffaele Gazzi, Adolfo's co author for the Classic Car Auction Yearbook, to see the blue A6 1500 or 2000 spyder that was being restored for him. All three were very picky with minute adjustments, it was a real comedia dell'arte to see them argue over placing a light a tiny bit higher or lower: ma no, ma si
It paid off: at Villa d'Este it got an award.

I have to email him anyway, will ask if he knows who owns 010 but I think I already suggested to Jan some time ago to contact him, can't remember.

 

Hi Marc, No you didn´t so I would really appreciate if you can contact him re.010.Ciao, Jan

 

Hi Jan, I emailed Adolfo yesterday, will let you know if and when he answers.

 

Jan I have been in touch with Adolfo and just sent an email introducing you to each other; take it from there, he knows the owner of 010.
Just note that he is rather busy as he is introducing his annual Classic Car Auction Yearbook in Padova at the Auto & Moto d'Epoca show next Thursday but he will answer when he has a minute.

 

Thank you Marc. Ciao, Jan

 

Hi from Padova Jan, just drove 830kms phew...
Will see Adolfo tomorrow at his book launch press conference.

 

Ah, please give us a report on the occasion!

Many Thanks, RF.

 

I am doing two separate articles, for Ferrari Market Letter in the USA and for a new magazine title to be launched in the Uk after the new year.