Maserati 5000 GT Frua
Each of the 34 examples of the Maserati 5000 GT is a storybook in its own right. The first of these exotic beasts was commissioned by the Shah of Persia (now Iran), who pined for a 450S (nine made, terminated when Maserati left racing). The road-going 3500 GT was too common to satisfy his highness but held promise if properly modified. The Shah paid Maserati to strengthen the chassis and suspension of a 3500 to accept a 4.9 liter V8 derived from the 450S. The body was built by Carrozzeria Touring, the car was painted dark blue, and the final result was shipped to the Shah. A second car was sent to South African millionaire Basil Read. Once the Shah purchased his car, other royals clamored for their own copies. Maserati increased the 5000’s engine displacement slightly, added fuel injection, and upgraded to a five-speed ZF transmission, sending several more cars to various coachbuilders (eight in all) at the behest of their celebrity buyers. These included Karim Aga Khan, Briggs Cunningham, and Gianni Agnelli. Here at Kidston is the first of three Frua-bodied Maserati 5000 GTs, a 1962 example. Initially painted gold, and swanned around to shows in Geneva, Paris, and Italy by the factory, it was finally repainted a deep metallic red in 1963, assigned a fresh chassis number, and sold as a new car.
Eventually, this example was given to King Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during his exile in Egypt – a gift from his son. King Saud was exiled from his exile (to Athens this time), and the car was impounded by the Egyptian government for decades. Sold a few times around the year 2000, the car was refurbished during a four-year period and shown in its original gold livery. Its most recent owner, preferring the ruby shade of its former life, had it repainted yet again, enjoyed it for ten years.
