The automotive industry has evolved dramatically over the past 70-years, and many traits once considered to be relatively common have now disappeared into the mists of time. One of those is the work of specialist coachbuilders. Manufacturers had the option to send their creations to these artists to have them weave their magic in steel, aluminum, or fiberglass. With body-on-frame making way for unitary construction, this has enormously reduced the scope of this type of work. However, it was an option that was still available in the 1950s, and companies like Maserati utilized it to produce some achingly beautiful cars. One of these was the Maserati A6G/2000 Spyder, and this vehicle is 1-of-3 built on a short wheelbase chassis by renowned coachbuilders Carrozzeria Pietro Frua. This car has undergone a recent painstaking restoration, and it is as beautiful now as the day it rolled out of the Frua studio. The owner has decided to part with this rare Italian thoroughbred, so he has listed it for sale here on eBay. The Maserati is located in Reno, Nevada, and the bidding has reached $42,600. However, I suspect that there is some way to go before the reserve will be met.

The owner provides a comprehensive history of this Maserati, and it has led quite a life in both Italy and the US. The company delivered the A6G to Carrozzeria Pietro Frua in July of 1950, and it took Frua six months to create the beautiful bespoke body. It was instantly snapped up by its first owner and then changed hands several times before finding its way onto US soil in around 1957. It plied Californian roads for a few years before it was used in SCCA competition for a while by one of its owners. The car was later retired to a single-car garage and remained untouched until the owner passed away. His daughters inherited the vehicle, and after years of negotiation, the car changed hands in 2000. The new owner returned the Maserati to Italy, and it was here that the body was painstakingly restored to its former glory. The panels are laser straight, with no evidence of ripples or other marks. The deep blue paint shines beautifully, with a glass-like appearance. The trim and chrome are faultless, but these caused some heartache during the restoration process. Some pieces had been damaged or lost, but the restoration company managed to produce replacement parts utilizing molds taken from another A6G. The wire wheels are correct for the vehicle, as is the soft-top. Overall, this is an Italian classic that would seem to need nothing.

The Maserati isn’t a number-matching classic, but the engine bay houses a correct 1,954cc OHC 6-cylinder engine. Maserati bolted a 4-speed manual transmission to this, which sends the six’s 110hp to the rear wheels. It seems that almost every aspect of this classic has a story to tell, and the motor is no exception. The car retained its original six (#2017) until it came to California. The owner at that time decided to perform a transplant, and a Corvette six found its way under the hood. This probably made sense because maintenance and performance upgrades for a Corvette motor would be easier to find in California than for a thoroughbred Italian sports car. When the restoring owner purchased the car, he also managed to find another engine. This was engine #2013, which had been fitted to another A6G. That car was competing in the 1948 Mille Miglia when it was involved in a fatal accident. The vehicle was dismantled, and it was that engine that we find in this car today. Incredibly, engine #2017 also exists, but it currently resides in an A6/1500 that is in Italy. When the restoring owner shipped the Maserati to Italy, he entrusted it to the specialists at Officine Candini to return the A6G to its factory specifications. The work has been completed, and this classic is ready to be driven and enjoyed by its next owner.

The Maserati’s interior presents just as beautifully as the rest of the vehicle, and its restoration is the handiwork of Italian specialists Interni Maieli. All of the upholstered surfaces are trimmed in rich red leather, and this appears to be flawless. All of that leather gives the interior a luxurious and inviting appearance, but components like the beautiful Jaeger gauges add a touch of purpose for the sporting driver. The wood-rimmed wheel is free from wear, and the carpet is just as impressive. The Maserati doesn’t come with niceties like a radio, but there is a clock fitted into the dash on the passenger side. Entertainment on the road is restricted to talking to your passenger or listening to the sweet song being played by that glorious Maserati six.

This 1951 Maserati A6G/2000 is a beautiful car, and you will almost certainly be waiting a long time before you see another example of the short-wheelbase version. The quality of the restoration work is difficult to fault, and it is one of those classics that is much a sculpture as it is a car. I have sat admiring these photos for hours, and I continue to find small details that add to the vehicle’s overall beauty and appeal. I said that there was probably some way to go before the auction reaches its reserve, and I have said this with some justification. With only three examples built, they rarely come onto the market. However, this car was sold at auction back in 2019. The sale price was an eye-watering $2,755,000! Since then, a lot has changed globally, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see this magnificent car break through the $3 million barrier. Would you drive it for that price, or is its fate to serve as a museum exhibit?