Car of the Day - Maserati A8GCS Berlinetta Touring

Maserati A8GCS Berlinetta Touring image



Car of the Day - Maserati A8GCS Berlinetta Touring

Maserati during the 1950's and 60's partnered with many of the illustrious Italian coachbuilders to produce some of the worlds most beautiful cars. The 5000GT recieved particular attention and among the most successful designs were those bodied by Touring Superleggera, in particular 5000 GT #103-002.

Established in Milano in 1926 by Felice Bianchi Anderloni and Gaetano Ponzoni, the carozzeria were reknowned for beautiful, light cars and the advanced Superleggera construction of small-diameter tubular frames covered with handformed thin aluminum. During the 1950's and 1960's they clothed models for Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati. The firm hit rough times in the seventies and unfortunately closed in the second half of that decade.

Belgian car enthusiast Roland D’Ieteren, who owns Ruote Borrani acquired the rights to the Carozzeria Touring name, He re-introduced the design house to world at the 2008 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este with the Maserati A8GCS Berlinetta Touring and the Maserati Bellagio Fastback Touring, an estate based on the Maserati Quattroporte.

Louis de Fabribeckers designed the A8 GCS in the Touring tradition of utilising the superleggera construction method the design is based on aluminium panels over a new structural frame from cast aluminium knots and profiles. Modern advanced composites are also used to give further structural rigidity and strength.

The A8 GCS is ased on the Maserati Coupé GranSport mechanicals, but the body, platform and overall dimensions are all new. The small coupe is only 4.2 metres long and the wheelbase just 2.5 metres.

Intented to be built to order in a limited production run the A8 GCS features beautifully crafted 19 inch traditional spoke Boranni wheels.


Top speed: is 283 km/h with car closed and 0-100 km/h: is 5,4 seconds.
Rod


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