The post-war period was good to Maserati. Their 1.5 and 2.0-liter, inline six-cylinder models produced sprightly Italian performance and sold well, but they needed more power to challenge the other great Italian marques. Enter the A6GCS, a new racer utilizing an updated version of the Maserati 2.0-liter developed by Gioacchino Colombo—the man who also designed Ferrari’s first V-12. The new Maserati powerplant featured a cast-aluminum block fitted with cast-iron cylinder liners for aluminum pistons and twin overhead camshafts with dual-plug ignition. This short-stroke architecture, with seven main bearings and a nitrided crankshaft, produced a stunning 170 horsepower in “Mille Miglia” tune.

The A6GCS created a sensation for Maserati upon its launch, culminating with a class win at Mille Miglia in 1953. In total, a mere 52 examples were built between 1953 and 1955.

Wearing an all-aluminum body reportedly handcrafted by the late Victory Yordy of Metal Works in Dewart, Pennsylvania, the A6GCS/52 Spyder recreation presented here is nearly indistinguishable from one of these original 52. Said to have started life as a 1964 Maserati 3500 which, sadly, was damaged beyond repair in a fire, the recreation was developed off a body buck molded from a genuine A6GCS. The resulting proportions are beautiful duplicates of those found on the iconic Carrozzeria Fantuzzi-designed spyders.

Power is provided by a Maserati double-overhead-camshaft inline six-cylinder engine fed by a trio of dual-barrel Weber 40DCOE carburetors. Making for excellent drivability, that power is fed to the wheels through a five-speed ZF gearbox and brought to a halt by Wilwood disc brakes at all four corners. Correct, blue faced tachometer, water, and oil gauges were sourced for the build, as were 16-inch Borrani center-laced wire wheels with Dunlop Racing tires to complete the period-correct appearance.

A stunning interpretation of the 1953 Mille Miglia-winning Maserati, this A6GCS recreation stands ready to transport its next curator back to the heyday of Italian road racing.