From the A6G 2000 to the MC20 Cielo, the Spyder has a long and successful history and tradition within the Trident brand. The first convertible “opened up” in 1952 with the A6G 2000 – the result of work from the Italian coachbuilder Frua – and the sibling of the sports car unveiled in 1950, replacing the A6 1500.
The number 2000 indicated the engine displacement, “A” stood for Alfieri, founder of the company, “6” indicated the number of cylinders, and “G” stood for ghisa (Italian for “cast iron”). A few years later, in 1955, Frua produced the open-top version of the A6G 54 Gran Turismo, focusing on model customisation with bold colour combinations.
Besides Frua, the coachbuilder Zagato also worked on a Spyder version, and the inherent sportiness of the Maserati 150 GT Spyder prototype was clear, built in 1957 as a derivative of its race car donor. Sportiness and elegance were evident in the 3500 GT Spyder fabricated in 1959 by the coachbuilder Alfredo Vignale. Its styling, by Giovanni Michelotti, was slightly more angular and muscular than that of the coupé.
The Mistral Spyder, also designed by Giovanni Michelotti, made its debut at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show. With three different engine variants, it is one of the rarest and most sought-after classic Maserati GT models. The Ghibli Spyder of 1969, sibling of the Ghibli coupé, was designed by young Giorgetto Giugiaro. With its innovative style, it is still considered a true masterpiece packed with high-technology specifications and beautiful styling cues. Admired worldwide, the Mistral Spyder remains highly coveted by collectors today.
The performance and the pleasure of open-top driving were again combined in the Biturbo Spyder, designed and engineered by Zagato in 1986, but it was only in 2001, over 15 years later, that the Maserati Spyder, now endowed with a new 4.2-litre V8 engine, made its appearance.
In 2009, the GranTurismo served as the basis for the GranCabrio, the first true four-seat convertible from the Trident brand. Its MC and Sport versions were incendiary, courtesy of the 4.7-litre V8 engine delivering a maximum output of 343 kW. And now, in 2022, the MC20 Cielo is ready to pick up the baton of Maserati tradition, effortlessly combining style and sportiness.
Report by Ferdi de Vos | Images © Maserat
