The upcoming Concours of Elegance is set to feature an incredibly rare and beautiful vintage car at its Hampton Court Palace show in September 2023. The star of the show will be a stunning 1955 A6GCS Frua Spider, which will be making its first-ever appearance on UK soil. Only three of these vehicles were completed, and this particular model is one of just two that have survived to this day.

The A6GCS Frua Spider is widely regarded as one of the most desirable and attractive cars of the 1950s, thanks to its exquisite Frua coachwork and race-inspired mechanicals. The car was commissioned by Gugliemo ‘Mimmo’ Dei, the official Maserati dealer for Rome, who wanted to create a series of coachbuilt cars based on the A6GCS platform. Dei’s aim was to combine the A6GCS’s impressive performance with an elegant open-top body, and the result was a true masterpiece of automotive design.

The A6GCS/53 was originally developed for the 1953 World Sports Car Championship, and its motorsport-honed mechanicals included a powerhouse 170bhp in-line six-cylinder engine, alongside a lightweight tubular chassis by Gilco. Carrozzeria Frua of Turin was tasked with creating the spider version of the car, and the resulting vehicle was a stunning work of art that combined delicate spider styling, exceptional handling, and impressive race-car performance.

Dei was so pleased with the first Frua-bodied A6GCS that he commissioned two more, including the model that will be displayed at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace. This particular car, chassis number 2110, was completed in 1956, and it features an ultra-high performance dry-sump A6G/54 motor that delivers exceptional power and revs to an impressive 7,300rpm.

After spending some time in Italy, chassis 2110 was shipped to the United States in the late 1950s, where it has remained ever since. In the early 2000s, the car underwent a meticulous restoration under the supervision of Maserati expert Adolfo Orsi, which returned it to its former glory. When chassis 2110 reappeared at Villa d’Este in 2010, it won the prestigious Coppa d’Oro, or ‘Best in Show’.

The appearance of the Frua Spider at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace will be a historic event, marking the first time this incredible car has been displayed in the UK. This rare and majestic vehicle is sure to be a highlight of the event, which will showcase over 70 privately owned motor cars from leading collections around the world. The 2023 show promises to be a spectacular celebration of automotive design and engineering, set against the backdrop of the stunning Hampton Court Palace.

We will be running a ticket competition in the months ahead, where you could be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to the wonderful Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace. Tickets can be won now to the London Concours, click on the link below.

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