<< Prev Page 2 of 2 To accept a smaller four cylinder engine, the chassis was modified once more. The engine itself was derived from the 150S sports racer with the adoption of a wet sump being the only major change. It was mated to a conventional A6 GCS/53 gearbox, while the rest of the drivetrain included a 200S prop-shaft and A6 GCS/53 differential. The front suspension was virtually unchanged from its original configuration. At the rear a live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs was used. The front brakes were borrowed from the 250F Grand Prix racer.
A product of Maserati's competition department, it is perhaps not surprising that the 150 GT was sent to Fantuzzi for coachwork and not to the likes of Frua, Zagato and Allemano, who traditionally bodied the company's road cars. This was Medardo Fantuzzi's first attempt at crafting a non racing body, and he was obviously inspired by the creations of the aforementioned. The result was a particularly attractive two-seater Spider body, which mixed the overall lines of Frua's finest work with a grill typically found on Zagato's designs.
Although the 150 GT Spider was a formidable machine, it was also far too complex and expensive to construct. The unique machine was nevertheless cherished and there were many within Maserati that hoped it would enter production after all once the 3500 GT had taken off. The prototype was, however, never shown at a major motor show but Maserati did lend it to important clients and even some journalists for road tests. Now stamped '03', the unique 150 GT Spider was finally sold to Maserati's London agent early in 1960.
The striking Maserati changed British hands several times, until it was acquired by a very private German collector in 1993. He sold it on in 2006 to a subsequent owner who thoroughly researched and completely restored the unique Maserati. At this time the engine was bored to two litres to make the car more drivable. Now fully sorted but still not shown at any major event, it was consigned to Gooding's January 2013 Scottsdale auction, where it found a new owner for just over $3 million. The current Austrian custodian has since shown the 150 GT at Amelia Island and Villa d'Este. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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150 GT Spider
To accept a smaller four cylinder engine, the chassis was modified once more. The engine itself was derived from the 150S sports racer with the adoption of a wet sump being the only major change. It was mated to a conventional A6 GCS/53 gearbox, while the rest of the drivetrain included a 200S prop-shaft and A6 GCS/53 differential. The front suspension was virtually unchanged from its original configuration. At the rear a live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs was used. The front brakes were borrowed from the 250F Grand Prix racer.