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The last Maserati 5000 GT from Frua - luxury Gran Turismo with manners

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Created on May 7, 2018

Reading time 14min

Written by:

Stefan Dierkes / Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

Tim Scott - Courtesy RM Auctions

Bonhams

Petra Sagnak

Maserati S.p.A. - Courtesy Pietro Frua Archiv

Archiv Maserati S.p.A., Modena

Stefano Bricarelli - Courtesy Pietro Frua Archiv

Mathieu Bonnevie - Courtesy Peter Auto

Mathieu Heurtault - Courtesy Gooding & Co

Darin Schnabel - Courtesy RM Sotheby's

Archiv

Bruno von Rotz

Tim Scott - Courtesy RM Auctions

Bonhams

Petra Sagnak

Maserati S.p.A. - Courtesy Pietro Frua Archiv

Archiv Maserati S.p.A., Modena

Stefano Bricarelli - Courtesy Pietro Frua Archiv

Mathieu Bonnevie - Courtesy Peter Auto

Mathieu Heurtault - Courtesy Gooding & Co

Darin Schnabel - Courtesy RM Sotheby's

Archiv

142

Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - eines von drei Frua-Coupés

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - die Schokoladenseite des braunen Coupés

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - tiefe Gürtellinie, grosse Heckscheibe

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - damals über 100'000 DM teuer

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - gebaut für einen Architekten

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - mit grossem Dreizack auf der Kühlerhaube

Bild von Partner Planai Classic 2025 Inline 1

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - rund 4,7 Meter lang

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - tiefe Gürtellinie

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - unverkennbar ein Maserati

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - fällt heute weniger auf als manches deutlich günstigere Coupé der Sechzigerjahre

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Breitbandscheinwerfer und ein breites Maul

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - einige Lackschäden in der Stahlblechkarosserie

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - wurde damals dem Wagen nachgebaut, den Aga Khan gekauft hatte

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - damals teurer als ein Ferrari

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - das noch nicht restaurierte Coupé zeigt Alterungsspuren

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass man einem der drei Frua-Coupés auf der Strasse begegnet, ist gering

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - über 250 km/h schnell könnte das Coupé fahren

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - ein Reise-Gran Turismo der Spitzenklasse

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - nur 34 Coupés wurden gebaut, drei davon von Frua karossiert

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - ungewöhnliche Linienführung rund um die Seitenfenster

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - zurück in die Garage

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - unterwegs, fährt sich angenehm

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - alles im Blickfeld

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Blick ins Cockpit

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - breite, bequeme Sessel, plüschige Teppiche

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - ungewöhnliche Lederausstattung

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Nardi-Dreispeichen-Lenkrad

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - was für den Fahrer wichtig ist, ist hinter dem Lenkrad zu finden, wen interessierte damals schon die gefahrene Geschwindigkeit

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Instrumente von Smiths und nicht von Veglia

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - roter Bereich ab 5000 Umdrehungen, Tacho nicht direkt im Blickfeld

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Lenkrad von Nardi

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Pedalerie

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Mittelkonsole, alle Schalter beschriftet

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - die Scheibenheber-Schalter sind nicht beschriftet

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - das Radiotonband kam wohl nachträglich dazu

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Schalthebel für knackige Gangwechsel

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Handschuhfach

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Türverkleidung

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - aus der Zeit?

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Beifahrersitz

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - bequem aussehende Fondsitze, aber wenig Raum für die Passagiere

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - als 2+2 gedacht

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - fand knapp Platz im Motorraum, der V8 aus dem Quattroporte

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - der 4,7-Liter-V8-Motor aus dem Quattroporte

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - vergaserbestückt, keine Einspritzung

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - grosser Luftfilter

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - vier obenliegende Nockenwellen

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - keine Doppelzündung

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - kunstvolle Haubenhalterung

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Chassis-Plakette

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - der Maserati-Dreizack

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - der grosse Dreizack in der Luftöffnung

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - grosser Dreizack auf der Motorhaube

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Scheinwerfer vorne

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Borrani-Felgen

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Blinker vorne

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - die Scheibenwischer waren ursprünglich sicherlich auch verchromt

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Luftauslass auf der Flanke

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Pietro Fruas Handschrift

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Tankdeckel

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Maserati-Schriftzug auf dem Tankdeckel

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - die ungewöhnliche Gestaltung der C-Säule

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Frua's Designkniff

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - eingebaute Lautsprecher in der Hutablage

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Kleber vom Maserati-Klub

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Heckleuchten

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Beschriftung am Heck

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - auch der Kofferraum ist mit weichen Teppichen ausgestattet

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Maserati 450 S (1958) - eleganter und sehr schneller Rennwagen

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Maserati 450 S (1957) - Durchsichtszeichnung

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Maserati 450 S (1957) - der 4,5-Liter-Motor

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Maserati 450 S (1957) - Blick in den Motorraum

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Maserati 450 S (1957) - Blick ins Cockpit

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Maserati 450 S (1957) - anlässlich des Oldtimer Grand Prix auf dem Nürburgring 1976

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Maserati 450 S (1957) - schnelle Runden anlässlich der 24 Stunden von Le Mans im Jahr 1973

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Maserati 450 S Berlinetta (1957) - anlässlich der 24 Stunden von Le Mans im Jahr 1957

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Maserati 450 S Berlinetta (1957) - in Le Mans

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Maserati 450 S Berlinetta (1957) - Zeichnung des mutigen Entwurfs

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Maserati 450 S Berlinetta (1962) - anlässlich der 24 Stunden von Le Mans 1962, Tipo 151

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Maserati 450 S Berlinetta (1964) - Tipo 151 5000, die Testfahrten des Franzosen Simon endeten in Monza mit einem Unfall und einem Spitalaufenthalt

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Maserati 5000 GT Touring (1959) - Chassis 103.004 bei einer Presseaufnahme

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Maserati 5000 GT Touring (1959) - der Wagen, wie er am Salon Turin 1959 stand

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Maserati 5000 GT Touring (1959) - die eindrückliche Erstausgabe

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Maserati 5000 GT Touring (1960) - unverwechselbares Coupé (Chassis 103.010), ausgestellt am Genfer Autosalon 1960

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Maserati 5000 GT Touring (1960) - Interieur, fotografiert in Turin im Herbst 1960

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Maserati 5000 GT touring (1959) - Blick in den Motorraum anlässlich des Salon von Turin 1959

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Maserati 5000 GT Alemano (1963) - am Genfer Autosalon 1963

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Maserati 5000 GT Allemano (1962) - auf dem Turiner Autosalon 1962

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Maserati 5000 GT Allemano (1962) - das eingespritzte Coupé

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Maserati 5000 GT Allemano (1963) - bereit für eine Probefahrt

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Maserati 5000 GT Allemano (1960) - aufgenommen am Genfer Autosalon 1960

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Maserati 5000 GT Allemano (1962) - der Fünflitermotor

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Maserati 5000 GT Allemano (1962) - Durchsichtszeichnung des eingespritzten Fünfliters

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Maserati 5000 GT Bertone (1961) - das Design stammte von Giorgetto Giugiaro

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Maserati 5000 GT Bertone (1961) - aufgenommen am Turiner Autosalon 1961

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Maserati 5000 GT Bertone (1961) - in Turin

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Maserati 5000 GT (1961) - Modelle von Michelotti

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Maserati 5000 GT (1961) - Stilstudie von Michelotti

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Maserati 5000 GT (1962) - mit Einspritzung, meisterhafter Entwurf von Michelotti

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Maserati 5000 GT (1962) - das Interieur der Version von Michelotti

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1962) - am Genfer Autosalon 1962

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1962) - das Aga-Khan-Coupé

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Maserati 5000 GT (1962) - bestellt von Aga Khan

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1963) - als Lot 152 unter dem Hammer an der RM Auction in Monterey am 15./16. August 2014

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1962) - am Concours d'Elégance Schloss Bensberg Classics am 8. September 2013 - G2

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Maserati 5000 GT (1962) - ex Aga-Khan - angeboten von Bonhams an der Versteigerung anlässlich des Goodwood Revival 2004

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1962) - erhielt einen Jury-Spezialpreis - Chantilly Arts & Elégance Richard Mille 2015

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1962) - Coupé der Luxusklasse zwischen Rennwagen - Rétromobile 2015

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Maserati 5000 GT Coupé by Allemano (1962) - als Lot 126 angeboten von RM/Sotheby's in Arizona am 28./29. Januar 2016

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Maserati 5000 GT Coupé Indianapolis (1961) - als Lot 048 versteigert an der Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction am 20./21. August 2016

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Maserati 5000 GT Allemano (1962) - D-50 - Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2017

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Maserati 5000 GT Coupé Allemano (1962) - am Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2012 - Kategorie 'G - La Dolce Vita'

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Maserati 5000 GT Coupé Allemano (1962) - am Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2012 - Kategorie 'G - La Dolce Vita'

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Maserati 5000 GT Coupe by Michelotti (1964) - als Lot 117 an der Versteigerung von RM/Sotheby's in Monterey 2017

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Maserati 5000 GT Frua (1966) - Maserati-Dreizack

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Summary

It's hard to believe what rich people could afford over 50 years ago: a luxury sports coupé with racing technology from a tailor. The car was called the Maserati 5000 GT and it was one of the most expensive cars of the time, but also one of the fastest, as a top speed of over 270 km/h was quite something back then. 34 examples were built, most of which have survived and are even more expensive today than they were back then. This report tells the story of the Maserati 5000 GT, Pietro Frua's contribution to the design development and portrays the last coupé built in many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

The uber-racing car 450S
Customer orientation
Presentation in Turin
34 cars built
A dream for coachbuilder
A super-fast touring car
Three times Pietro Frua
The second Frua Coupé for Aga Khan
Maroon
Quite mannerly
Further information

Estimated reading time: 14min

Preview (beginning of the article)

For those for whom a Maserati 3500 GT was not exclusive and fast enough at the end of the 1950s, a Maserati 5000 GT, probably the most expensive and most extraordinary sports coupé, which combined the racing genes of the Maserati 450S with the demands of comfortable long-distance driving, was available. A Maserati 5000 GT can perhaps best be compared with the Ferrari F50, the Bugatti Veyron or the McLaren P1 from the modern era; they are similarly exclusive and benefit at least in part from racing experience. However, its modern descendants were hardly as exclusive and unique as each of the 34 Maserati 5000 GTs built.

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