I don’t know about you, but if I can’t get a Philips 45 rpm record player in my Maserati 5000 GT… well, I’m sending it back to the factory. And if I were the Aga Kahn – former owner of our subject car – Maserati would have said, no problem, we’ll have that for you in a jiffy. We’re looking at a car for kings, conceived originally by the Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, who commissioned the first 5000 GT: he was impressed by the 3500, but pined for a more powerful, exclusive vehicle. The obvious solution was to swap the 3500’s six-cylinder for a V8. The Shah had driven Maserati’s V8-powered 450S and suggested installing its motor into a strengthened 3500 chassis. The first 5000 was made from the 3500’s components, with a bored-out 450S engine, and clothed by Carrozzeria Touring. The Shah was thrilled with his purchase, but then of course other luminaries needed bespoke 5000 GTs. Thirty-four were made from 1959 to 1966, each different from the others. Eight coachbuilders were commissioned, chosen by prospective owners to produce their personal interpretations of Maserati’s masterpiece. Your chance to own one of three Frua-bodied Maserati 5000 GTs arrives on January 29th, at Gooding Christie’s Retromobile Auction in Paris, when this 1963 coupe will be sold. You’ll need €750,000 – €950,000 floating around in your checking account for acquisition costs, plus transportation and import fees. Thanks to Araknid78 for spotting this fantastic classic.
The engine is your basic work of art: 4953 ccs worth of snarl, cradling Lucas fuel injection, shocked awake by twin plug ignition, with chain-driven dual overhead camshafts, an aluminum block and heads, hemispherical combustion chambers, and high crown pistons. The engine runs at a compression ratio of about 8.5:1; output is around 325 hp, and torque is prodigious at 330 lb-ft at 3600 rpm. It’s an eager package, matched with a five-speed ZF manual and four-wheel Girling disc brakes. This example has been coddled by wealthy collectors for most of its existence, one of whom completely restored the car to its original specifications in 1997. The car has won numerous concours awards since, under several different owners.
The interior is swaddled in Chiaro Beige leather. The huge tachometer sits front and center, perfectly framed by a three-spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel wearing Maserati’s trident. Typical of Frua, the cabin is brimming with brightwork – on the door panels, the dash, the console. The two individual rear seats are separated by a leather-covered divider, forming them into something like living room chairs. A deep parcel shelf runs beneath the slanted back glass. The trunk shows the same attention to cosmetic perfection evident throughout.
Frua’s coachwork is taut and distinctive – not as lovely as other examples perhaps, but just as desirable in its way. The paint color – Penombra Metallizzato – is at once lilac, grey, and blue depending on the light. The Aga Kahn ordered his car with wire wheels, a limited-slip differential, and a complete tool kit. It arrives at auction with substantial documentation, including period photographs. These cars are so idiosyncratic that it’s difficult to value one versus another. This Allemano-bodied example failed to sell in mid-2024, bearing an estimate of $600k to $700k. But a year earlier, this Allemano sold for over $1 million. We’ll see soon enough how favorably the market views this example.
What a gorgeous car ! …I’d feel like James Bond driving
this. 😎
The way things are going, there may be a new Shah in Iran looking for a car with nostalgia for the good old days.
Lots of bad karma with this one. The Iranian revolution was on account of the Shah. Still, it’s a beautiful car.
As pretty as this car is, the ventilation(?) opening on the passenger side is unfortunate.
Ach! Zee stupidity of engineers in the early 60’s (LOL!)
Stunningly beautiful car! Art on 4 wheels!
Che bello!
Lordy, even the hood supports are a work of art…
My God… Molta bellissima!
Beautiful automobile! The Philips branded record player is interesting. The first automobile mounted record player was produced by a company christened “Motorola”. You may have heard of them.
Motor/Victrola
Memory says Chrysler offered record players in some vehicles in the 1950’s.
They used 16 rpm records but still had a tendency to skip on rough roads.
Didn’t last too long.
Correct – Mopars was the Highway Hi-Fi….1956-59….they are still sought after and show up from time to time….
The salesman who sold this car to the Shah told me he loved the car as delivered but wasn’t able to to live with the Bakelite steering wheel… So a new wood one was manufactured for him and that is the one pictured in here. Happy Shah, happy salesman!
And what happened to the “old” Bakelite steering wheel you might ask? Well that one is now adorning my shop walls as conversation starter!
It’s a small world. Now all the readers of this comment are now linked to this steering wheel of this car via one person and that is you Maurice. I’ll bet the old Bakelite steering wheel has been the subject of many a conversation.
Haha, sorry about that! It hangs between Iso, Bizzarrini and Porsche steering wheels and yes, its distinctive shape makes it stand out. I for myself am just happy that through that wheel I could be part of an experience that happened back when I was just a glimmer in my parent’s eyes!
Haha, sorry about that! It hangs between Iso, Bizzarrini and Porsche steering wheels and yes, its distinctive shape makes it stand out. I for myself am just happy that through that wheel I could be part of an experience that happened back when I was just a glimmer in my parent’s eyes!
Wonderfully exotic, bespoke creations with a pedigree; the fastest of them apparently could touch 170 mph which in the pre-Miura era was extraordinary. The Fura cars all have the motifs associated with the house (they appeared on the Maserati Mistral, AC 428, Monteverdi 375 etc) and despite the Allemano bodies being the most numerous, collectors seem to prefer their early ones, presumably because they lines are closest to the Shah’s original.
Nice write-up Michelle. Thanks for the acknowlegement. Keep writing them up and I’ll keep sending them.