A 1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Zagato that participated in the Mille Miglia was announced as a highlight for the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2018 classic car auction.
RM Sotheby’s will offer an exceptionally rare 1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Zagato Berlinetta at its annual Monterey sale in August 2018. This Maserati A6G/2000 was Maserati’s factory demonstrator in the 1956 Mille Miglia race and was subsequently also campaigned in period by private owners. It was also regularly seen at the Mille Miglia Storica. The comprehensively restored Maserati retained its original engine and gearbox and was rewarded First in Class at the 2015 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, as well as Second in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2015. The pre-auction estimate is $4,250,000 – $5,250,000.
RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2018 Classic Car Auction
RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2018 classic car auctions are scheduled for 24 to 25 August 2018 at the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, California, USA.
In 2017, RM Sotheby’s earned $132,993,810 with a sell-through rate of 88%. RM Sotheby’s sold 32 cars for over a million dollar. The top result was $22,550,000 paid for a 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 – a marque and British-made car record.
In 2016, RM Sotheby’s grossed $118 million from just over 100 cars – 21 cars were sold for over a million dollar including three that sold for over $10 million and setting new marque records: a 1955 Jaguar D-Type, 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Lungo Spider and a 1962 Shelby 260 Cobra CSX2000 – the most-expensive American car ever.
The world’s single auction record remains RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 when three days of auctions grossed $172.7 million and million-dollar results for 35 cars.
1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Zagato Berlinetta
The 1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Zagato Berlinetta, chassis no. 2124, estimate $4,250,000 – $5,250,000, is the most-expensive car thus far announced for the annual RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2018 sale. It joins the 1968 Porsche 908 Works Short Tail Coupe as early announcement lead cars.
This car is one of just 21 Maserati A6G/2000 examples custom-bodied in lightweight alloy by instantly recognizable coachbuilder Zagato. Zagato used aircraft streamlining and purpose-built the car for competition. Chassis no. 2124 was Maserati’s factory demonstrator in the 1956 edition of the legendary Mille Miglia race, piloted by Luigi Taramazzo. Following its Mille Miglia debut, the A6G/2000 went on to compete in numerous period events internationally under private ownership, remaining remarkably intact throughout its life.
After making multiple appearances on the Mille Miglia Storica in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, the Maserati was sold to the United States, where it was the subject of a painstaking, $800,000+ restoration by the craftsmen at Epifani and Steel Wings. The restoration earned the car First in Class at the 2015 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, as well as Second in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance that same year.
Today, incredibly, the A6G/2000 Zagato retains its original engine and gearbox, one of less than a handful of examples that have remained numbers-matching over the last six decades. Boasting Maserati Classiche certification, chassis no. 2124 is offered in Monterey with an exhaustive history file documented by Adolfo Orsi, alongside books, tools, and restoration receipts. A rare sight at auction, with custom coachwork by none other than Zagato and period competition history at one of racing’s greatest events, the Maserati is sure to be the jewel of any collection of Italian thoroughbreds (Est. $4,250,000 – $5,250,000).
RM Sotheby’s on the Maserati A6G/2000 Zagato
“You get in this car, you turn the key, you fire it up, you get out on the road and it feels like you might be the first guy driving it out of Maserati in 1956—it’s that authentic,” says David Swig, Car Specialist, RM Sotheby’s. “An A6G/2000 Zagato is hands-down one of the best GT cars of its era, and this particular example is truly among the best of the best, thanks to its original components, race history, documentation, restoration, and incredible good looks.
For me, this car represents the zenith of Italian coach building. Zagato is widely considered one of the all-time sexiest coachbuilders, and the A6G/2000 is one of their best designs from Italy’s “la dolce vita” period. With unique styling cues all its own, chassis 2124 had all the right hands touch it – from Maserati, to Zagato, to its renowned restorers. What’s more, it is your ticket to absolutely anything you want to do in the realm of collector car events. It is instantly eligible for premier motoring events around the globe, and would certainly be welcome at the world’s top concours.”
Top Maseratis at Public Auctions
Maseratis generally sell for less than contemporary Ferraris but at least 20 have sold for over a million dollar in the past four years. The highest price paid for a Maserati A6G/2000 was $4,455,000 for a Spider by Zagato at the RM Auctions New York Art of the Automobile sale in 2013.
The Maserati marque record was set in 2013 when a 1955 Maserati 300 S Sports Racing Spider sold for $6,646,757 at the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed sale.
Monterey Classic Car Week Auctions 2018
Monterey 2018 Auction Results
- List of the 69 Cars Sold for at Least a Million Dollar at Monterey 2018 (and 47 unsuccessful million-dollar highest bids).
- 2018 RM Sotheby’s Monterey Sale Auction Results
- 2018 Mecum Monterey Sale Auction results
- 2018 Gooding Pebble Beach Sale (Auction Results)
- 2018 Bonhams Quail Lodge Sale (Auction Results)
- 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO – Most-Expensive Car Ever Sold at Public Auction
- 1935 Duesenberg SSJ – Most-Expensive American and Most-Valuable Pre-War Car Ever Sold at Public Auction
Auction Previews:
- 2018 Bonhams Quail Lodge Sale (Auction Preview)
- 2018 Gooding Pebble Beach Sale (Auction Preview)
- 2018 RM Sotheby’s Monterey Sale (Auction Preview)
- 2018 Mecum Monterey Sale (Auction Preview)
Pre-Sale Announcements
Bonhams Quail Lodge 2018:
- Golden Age Automobiles: 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport, 1931 Bentley 8-Liter Saloon and 1911 Mercedes 28/60 Tourer
- 1928 “W.O. Model” Bentleys: 6 ½ -Liter Open Sports Tourer by Barker & 4 ½-Liter Open Tourer by Vanden Plas
- 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
Gooding Pebble Beach 2018:
- 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial Series II: the only Ferrari factory team entry not to have raced in red!
- Unrestored Icons – the first production Bentley R-Type Continental, a Gullwing and garage-find Ferrari Lusso.
- Competition Ferrari Berlinettas: a 275 GTB/C, a 250 GT Tour de France, and a 166 MM/195 S Berlinetta Le Mans.
- 1935 Duesenberg SSJ – ex-Gary Cooper, ex-Briggs Cunningham
- Porsche Spyders – including a one-off 911 by Bertone.
- Coach-Built Italian Cars – Maserati A6GS/53 Spider, A6G/54 Berlinetta, Ferrari 330 GTC Special, Dino Berlinetta GT Prototype.
Mecum Monterey 2018:
RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2018:
- Pebble Beach Winners – 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Victoria by Dietrich & 1927 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A S Roadster by Fleetwood
- 1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Zagato Berlinetta
- 1968 Porsche 908 K Works Racer
- 1966 Ford GT40 – third place at Le Mans
- 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO – expected to become the most-expensive car ever sold at public auction
- 1963 Aston Martin DP215 Grand Touring Competition Prototype – possibly the most-expensive Aston ever.
- Top Ferraris – 12 of 29 on offer have estimates above a million dollar.
- German racing cars: Mercedes Benz AMG CLK GTR & Porsche 550A