A groundbreaking 1950s Maserati sports racing car driven by some of the greatest names in motorsport history headlines Gooding & Company’s classic car auction in March at Amelia Island, Florida.
The 1956 Maserati 200 SI, the first car built on the 200S chassis, has an illustrious competition history as a works development car and factory team racer.
Gooding describes the Maserati as being in “time capsule” original condition.
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The purity of this 200 SI race car is unparalleled for this era.”[/pullquote]
“Boasting an outstanding racing record, chassis 2401 participated in all the great European and South American events during its racing career, capturing podium finishes at Nurburgring, Napoli, Caracas and Bari,” Gooding says in a news release. “It has competed in many renowned races, including the Cuban Grand Prix, Mille Miglia, Monza, Targa Florio, Grand Prix of Rome, and driven by famed racing drivers Stirling Moss, Jean Behra, Guiseppe Musso, Luigi Bellucci and Piero Taruffi.”
In more-recent years, the Maserati has competed successfully in key vintage racing events as well as concours showings; it won best in class at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
Despite all that track activity through the years, the Maserati remains in essentially original condition, Gooding says: “Retaining its factory-delivered engine, chassis and bodywork, the purity of this 200 SI race car is unparalleled for this era.”
The pre-auction value estimate for the Maserati is available on request from Gooding, but judging by the soaring values for such historic competition cars from Europe, the bidding should go well into seven figures.
“With substantial and thorough documentation, extensive competition history, beautiful, purposeful patina and its distinctively exposed original bodywork, this 1950s two-liter racing car will be a coveted offering among all Amelia Island auctions,” Gooding states.
The Gooding auction starts at 11 a.m. on March 13 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation. For more information, see goodingco.com.
