Auction Block: A 1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Berlinetta Zagato

When a luxury marque releases 21 custom-bodied cars, the chances of getting your hands on one are slim to none. But what if the vehicle is also more than 60 years old, has an extensive racing history and still holds both the original engine and gearbox?

Now that is unicorn territory.

It’s also precisely what you’ll get with the 1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Berlinetta Zagato going up for sale this August at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction.

The coupé — chassis no. 2124 — was made in the final year of Maserati’s A6 line, which began in 1947. Apparently they wanted to go out with a bang, because this one’s a certified smokeshow.

1956 Maserati (9 images)

You can thank storied coachbuilders Zagato for that. The company hand-beat the aluminum panels in their workshops in Italy, says David Swig, car specialist at RM Sotheby’s. Design inspiration was drawn from the world of aviation, with the end goal of (grounded) racing.

And race it did. The year it was complete, chassis no. 2124 was Maserati’s factory demonstrator in the historic Mille Miglia endurance race, according to the press release. From there, it “went on to compete in numerous period events internationally under private ownership.”

We’ve gone back to the chassis number multiple times, and if you lift up the hood you’ll see why. Despite the paces it was put through, this is a numbers-matching car, with the chassis, alloy 2-liter straight-six engine and gearbox all bearing the original numbers.

If that’s not enough, the current owner coughed up $800,000 for a 7,000-hour restoration. It paid off: the car now holds Maserati Classiche certification, as well as a First in Class at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and Second in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Hold up, $800K for just the restoration?

Unfortunately, yes. That doesn’t bode well for your chances at putting this particular pedal to the metal, with the going price estimated from $4,250,000 to $5,250,000.