Having photographed the MC12 in the Supercars paddock I decided to try my luck in the the Cartier 'Style and Luxe' paddock and was delighted to see two wnderful examples of Maserati magic - the 450S Coupe by Zagato and the A6GCS Berlinetta by Pinin Farina.

Thanks to Simon Lees-Milne I have already described the circumstances behind the origins of the 450S Coupe but the A6GCS Berlinetta by Pinin Farina is a different story.

There are some exotic cars that as soon as you see them you wish you had the funds and opportunity to own. One such car is the A6GCS/53 Berlinetta designed by Pinin Farina of which alas only four were built during 1953/54. The idea of a closed version of the A6GCS was promoted by Comm. Guglielmo Dei, Maserati agent for Rome and sponsor of Scuderia Centro-Sud. He personally commissioned Pinin Farina to design and build the Berlinetta. In June 1954 one example was displayed at the Concorso di Eleganza di Roma and won first prize in the Sports Car Class. The four Berlinette were all slightly different: as well as their colour variation, one had a split-screen windscreen, some had bonnet air intakes, a lower roof-line, side vents, Plexiglass fly-deflectors, an extra racing fuel caps and other minor differences.

The first of these, chassis #*2056* was ordered in December 1953 by Count Paolo Gravina of Catania who immediately entered it for the 'Giro di Sicilia'. The Count's car crashed into a wall, tragically killing his co-driver. An early photograph (see page 66 of 'Maserati Road Cars' by R Crump and R de la Rive Box) shows a coupé with oil fanning out over the rear wheel from a broken rear axle seal. The wreckage of the car was returned to Modena for repair. The factory having assessed the damage quoted what the Count considered to be an outrageous amount and in a fit of temper abandoned the car at the factory. It remained in storage until 1991 when Alejandro De Tomaso, the then owner of Maserati, spotted the car and realising its importance ordered its restoration. The major task, and it was just that for the bodywork after its lengthy period in storage and the significant accidental damage sustained in Sicily, was placed in the hands of Maserati specialists Carrozzeria Campana of Modena while all the mechanical work was carried out in-house at the factory. This beautifully restored berlinetta may now be seen at the Panini Museum just outside Modena.

The second car, chassis #*2057*, was produced in January 1954 and featured a lower roofline, some 4cm lower than the others, a split windscreen and a neat rounded tail.

This car, in two-tone blue, "dark blue below the waistline, with an azure roof".

It was presented at the Turin Motor Show in 1954 and, like 2056, had no air intake (or scoop) on the bonnet.

The third car, #*2059*, was produced in September 1954 and finished in red with a broad white nose-to-tail stripe, had a bonnet air intake, Plexiglass fly-deflestors, no side vents and was fitted with an extra 'quick-fill' racing fuel cap.

By the time it was entered in the 1955 Mille Miglia by its owner, Count Alberto Magi Diligenti of Florence, the white band had disappeared. Magi finished an uninmpressive 109th taking just over fifteen hours to complete the race.

The last car, #*2060*, was produced in May 1954. This particular car - chassis '2060' - is known to have appeared early in its life liveried (or re-liveried) in red with a blue central stripe.

It had its original body removed and was converted into a spyder by Maserati's Carrozziere, Fiandri, and re-numbered *2086*.

In the mid-eighties restoration was begun to restore it to its original state by Church Green Engineering in England and it was completed and fine-detailed by another noted and well-respected British specialist, Paul Grist.

Having drooled over these two cars for long enough, it was time to see what was interesting in the Cathedral Paddock. I was delighted to see that Dott Matteo Panini had brought along his magnificent Tipo 63, and this year the covers were off!