The A6GCS sports cars and A6GCM monopostos were consistently successful, and competitive buyers took notice until in 1954 Maserati responded with the A6G/54 (later named A6G/2000) Gran Turismo, a barely disguised competition car with wider and more-comfortable bodywork from a variety of coachbuilders.
One of the competitive-minded individuals attracted to Maserati was an American living in Europe, Richard “Dick” Cicurel, who purchased this A6G/2000 with coachwork by Allemano in 1956 while making a long series of specific requests of Maserati for his intended use of it in rally racing. The surviving copies of the Maserati build sheets show some 50 specific details. It has been confirmed by Maserati historian Ermanno Cozza as the sole rally-equipped A6G/2000 built by Maserati.
Marchal fog lamps, special backup lights, a competition differential, a large fuel tank with quick-fill cap, a Halda Speedpilot, a folding armrest and map light for the navigator, a Becker Europa multi-band radio, extra instruments and even a Jaeger-LeCoultre chronograph (supplied by Cicurel from a Bugatti he owned) were among the many special features. It was at the time the most expensive Maserati road car ever built.
It has since been restored by experts in Italy, where great care was taken to present it in its original, singular rally-equipped configuration and original colors and materials as delivered by Maserati in 1956. Seldom used by its most recent long-term owner, it has been carefully stored among his extensive collection of sports, sports-racing and grand-touring cars from the 1950s and ’60s.
(Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams Cars.)
