To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Amelia
Island event, 8 - 9 March 2019.
Estimate:
$800,000 - $950,000
- The first of only 10 examples factory-equipped with triple
Weber carburetors
- Originally sold to Isabella Quarantotti, famed writer and
playwright
- Well documented and fascinating ownership from new
- Period competition history
- Accompanied by extensive historical documentation
- Eligible for the Mille Miglia Storica and other vintage
events
Particularly noteworthy as the first production Maserati to be
fitted with triple Weber carburetors, the A6 1500 offered here,
chassis 086, was built around the midpoint of the series of 61
examples produced between 1947 and 1951. This desirable enhancement
significantly raised power from the single-carbureted base version
and signaled the marque's refocusing on performance instead of
accommodating post-war low-octane fuel constraints. Just nine other
A6 1500s were similarly equipped, and only one other is known to
survive in an Italian museum.
Sent to Carrozzeria Pinin Farina on 11 December 1948, for their
handsome fastback coachwork, the car returned to Maserati in July
1949 before being evaluated the following month by the factory's
famed chief test driver, Guerino Bertocchi. On 14 September,
chassis 086 was consigned to Peppino Santi of Rome and just one day
later was invoiced to the first owner on record: Isabella
Quarantotti, an aristocratic writer and playwright. Although
registered in Italy at Ms. Quarantotti's residence in Positano, her
new Maserati was delivered to a garage near the hotel in Paris
where she was living with her future second husband, English poet
Alexander Ronald "Alec" Smith. Quarantotti and Smith even explored
entry of the Maserati into the 18th running of the Le Mans 24
Hours, which would have made 086 the first Maserati entered in Le
Mans; however, it was not to be, and the car was never officially
entered.
In late December 1950, the A6 1500 was purchased by Donatello
Mennini, a textiles entrepreneur, champion skier, and soccer player
from Tessilprato. Maserati records indicate that Mr. Mennini
returned the car to the factory for servicing, and by April 1952
the A6 had been sold to Celestina Basini of Firenze. A little more
than one year later, on 12 July 1953, the car was registered to its
next owner, U.S. Army officer Larry James Pichichero of Ohio, who
was stationed in Livorno. Taking advantage of the car's heightened
state of tune, Pichichero entered several races where his friend
and fellow army officer, Thomas "Tony" Martin, took on driving
duties - even competing against two of the three original Abarth
205s. The first of these races was the 2nd Salita del Castellaccio
on 20 September 1953, followed by the 1st Coppa Commandante
Giovanni Braccini at Saline di Volterra a week later.
In late 1957, California noted gunsmith Ernest Nanson was
vacationing in Italy and spotted 086 on a sales lot. Mr. Nanson
imported the A6 to the U.S. and lovingly maintained the car during
his 22-year ownership. The car was then purchased by William
McKinley, who commissioned a full restoration from Brian Moore's
Performance Painting in nearby Rancho Cordova. It was during this
restoration that the car was thoroughly refurbished and refinished
in red.
Following restoration, 086 competed in the Monterey Historics in
August 1983, and the following June it took home Best of Show and
the People's Choice Award at the 6th Maserati International Meet at
Lake Tahoe. The A6 would pass through several owners over the next
decades, including Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan as well as
the Blackhawk Collection. Chassis 086 was also featured in The
Great Book of Sports Cars, as representative of Maserati's first
hand-built road cars.
Following a purchase in 2009, a second nut-and-bolt restoration was
undertaken, with final assembly performed by the highly regarded
outfit, Steel Wings. At an eyewatering cost of $350,000, the
restoration was research intensive and time consuming - the vehicle
was completely stripped and reassembled piece by piece before the
interior was refinished to an exceptional level of detail by
13-time Pebble Beach award-winner Gary Maucher.
Post restoration, the A6 was sold to the current owner, who wanted
to ensure the mechanical condition of the vehicle was as perfect as
could be. He sent the A6 to one of the top Maserati specialists in
the world, Candini Classiche in Modena, for a complete overhaul of
the engine, gearbox, clutch, differential, brakes, and suspension -
for a total cost of $85,000. During this restoration, the correct
Maserati steel wheels were sourced and fitted.
Today, this 1949 Maserati A6 1500/3C is as beautiful as the day it
left the factory and would be welcome at any number of classic car
rallies, international concours d'elegance, and vintage competition
events. Complete with a comprehensive history file detailing its
restoration and fascinating ownership history, chassis 086 is sure
to bring joy to the next lucky owner.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am19.