Beschreibung:

In the company's own words, "Maserati's production has always been characterised by highly aristocratic and elegant performance cars," arguably the finest embodiment of these two most desirable attributes being the legendary 5000GT. An exclusive car even by Maserati's exalted standards - in 1960 it cost more than a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II - the range-topping, V8-engined 5000GT was custom built to special order only, recalling an era when wealthy connoisseurs would commission a preferred coachbuilder to body a factory-supplied chassis in their chosen style. Commencing at '103.002', chassis were even-numbered up to '103.066', just 33 being completed between 1959 and 1964, making the 5000GT much rarer than its closest rival, the Ferrari 400 Superamerica, 47 of which were built in the same period. Chassis number '020', the car offered here, was manufactured in October 1961 as an Allemano coupé finished in blue with beige leither interior, and exhibited at the '61 Turin Motor Show. It was sold after the show via Paris dealer Thepenier to a Mr Roussell in France. In 1964 the car was owned in France by Mr Lacourbe Devost who returned it to the factory at 17,000km for the fitting of 15" instead of the original 16" wheels. In total, the car has enjoyed just four known owners prior to the present. It was converted to cabriolet configuration by its previous owner in the USA around 1994/95, the interior leather being replaced and a custom-made stainless-steel exhaust system fitted at this time. Subsequently imported into Germany, it benefits from recent extensive renovation, the original engine being overhauled, together with the clutch, brakes and electrics, by Gianni Torelli in Campagnola, who also fitted a new fuel pump and cleaned and re-sealed the fuel tank. The oil cooler was cleaned and pressure tested and new cooling and heating matrixes installed. German specialist firm Messrs Steinbreder, of Melle, re-painted the body after the latter had been bare-metal stripped and been given new stainless-steel sills. Mercedes-Benz SSK specialist Klinke overhauled and adjusted the soft-top and irons. The accompanying hard top appears to be the car's original fixed-head coupé top minus the rear screen. The vendor advises us that the car's odometer read 48,650 kilometres when purchased, all documented, and that just 600-or-so have been added since the restoration's completion. Finished in blue with red leather interior, '020' has carburettor induction, ZF five-speed gearbox and disc brakes. Presented in superb condition throughout, it is offered with extensive documentation, restoration photographs, valid TüV (expires May 2005) and German historic vehicle registration papers. La production Maserati s'est toujours distinguée par des voitures performantes hautement raffinées, définition qui s'applique sans aucun doute à cette légendaire 5000GT. Voiture exclusive, même d'après les normes de la marque (en 1960, son prix dépassant celui de la Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II), la 5000GT avec moteur V8 était fabriquée sur mesure et sur commande spéciale. Commençant au numéro "103.002", les châssis iront jusqu'à "103.066". Ainsi seuls 33 exemplaires sortiront des ateliers entre 1959 et 1964, faisant de la 5000GT une voiture encore plus rare que sa rivale, la Ferrari 400 Superamerica (47 exemplaires produits durant la même période). Avec un châssis portant le n° "020", la voiture présentée ici a été fabriquée en octobre 1961. Elle a été convertie en cabriolet en 1994/95 par son propriétaire précédent. L'intérieur en cuir a été remplacé et un système d'échappement sur mesure en acier inoxydable installé. Importée en Allemagne, elle a été entièrement renovée, le moteur d'origine, l'embrayage, les freins et le système électrique ont été révisés par Torelli qui a également posé une nouvelle pompe d'alimentation et nettoyé le réservoir d'essence. Le vendeur nous informe que le compteur affichait 48'650 kilomètres lorsqu'il a acheté la voiture, avec toute sa