One to Buy: ex-Americo Giol 1949 Maserati A6 1500 Gran Turismo
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Having exclusively produced cars for competition use since 1926, Maserati decided to expand into the lucrative market for road-going passenger vehicles following the conclusion of World War 2.
The company’s first such model was the A6 1500 Gran Turismo which broke cover at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1947.
Based on a tubular and sheet steel chassis with double wishbone suspension up front and a solid axle at the rear, the new Maserati featured coil sprung hydraulic dampers and drum brakes all round. In the engine bay was a 1.5-litre single overhead cam straight six initially fitted with a single Weber carburettor. In this configuration, peak output was 65bhp at 4700rpm which was enough for a top speed slightly in excess of 100mph.
61 examples of the A6 1500 Gran Turismo were produced between 1947 and 1951, the ninth of which is currently on offer at the Fantasy Junction showroom in Emeryville, California.
Uniquely equipped as a long wheelbase Berlinetta with Amaretto coachwork by Pinin Farina, chassis 059 was delivered new in July 1949 to Americo Giol in San Polo di Piave. A short time later, Giol’s brother, Vittorio, took delivery of a similar albeit short wheelbase example,:chassis 078.
More recently, chassis 059 participated in the 2003 Mille Miglia while the current custodian, who has owned the matching numbers machine since 2015, has had the car looked after by the renowned Epifani Restorations in Berkeley, California.
