Maserati Classiche certifies the first 5000 GT Frua, a one-off tied to sovereigns and collectors
Maserati Classiche has certified the authenticity of the first Maserati 5000 GT Frua ever produced, making it the first 5000 GT to receive the certification.
- 34
- over 350 hp
- 12,700 km
- four years
What Happened
Maserati Classiche has certified the authenticity of the first 5000 GT Frua ever produced, chassis 103064, making it the first Maserati 5000 GT to receive the certification and the most recent car, chronologically, to earn it. The car is one of just 34 examples of the 5000 GT built between 1959 and 1964. Created for the international jet set, it ranks among the most exclusive Trident creations, and its story is intertwined with those of sovereigns and collectors. Maserati says the recognition attests to its commitment to preserving and celebrating a legacy that represents an essential part of its identity and continues to inspire its future.
The 5000 GT began in the late 1950s, when the Shah of Persia, after driving a Maserati 3500 GT, asked the House of the Trident to create an even more refined and prestigious car befitting his rank. Engineer Giulio Alfieri, then Maserati's technical director and a central figure in the company's post-war cars, took on the challenge and brought the AM103 project to life, aiming to bring racing-car character and technology to the GranTurismo without sacrificing comfort, elegance or refinement. The result carried a 5.0-litre V8 derived from the engine in the Maserati 450S race car, fitted with carburetors and delivering over 350 hp in its first configuration.
- Carrozzeria Touring: the first design, a sumptuous two-door coupé with refined interiors, introduced at the 1959 Turin Auto Show and soon known as the "Shah of Persia"; only three examples were produced.
- Allemano, Pininfarina, Monterosa, Ghia and Frua: each interpreted the 5000 GT through a different stylistic language, turning the same technical foundation into custom-built cars with ever-changing forms and personalities.
- Pietro Frua: three cars built in 1962, standing out for particularly sophisticated elegance and an instantly recognizable stylistic identity.
- 5.0-litre V8 with carburetors, over 350 hp
- Indirect Lucas fuel injection and chain-driven camshafts, output around 340 hp
- 34 examples, built between 1959 and 1964
After driving a Maserati 3500 GT, the Shah of Persia asks Maserati for a more refined and prestigious car; engineer Giulio Alfieri develops the AM103 project.
Carrozzeria Touring's two-door coupé debuts at the Turin Auto Show and becomes known as the "Shah of Persia"; only three examples are produced.
Pietro Frua builds three 5000 GTs; the first wears the exclusive "Luci di Mezzanotte" livery with "Camoscio" interiors.
After being used by Maserati for trials and demonstrations, the first Frua car is presented at the Geneva International Motor Show; by the end of the year it has returned to Modena and been sold in Rome.
Following the Six-Day War and the sovereign's departure from Egypt, the car is seized by the Egyptian authorities and disappears from view for more than thirty years in a Cairo warehouse.
In January 1966 its owner bought a new Maserati and returned the special 5000 GT to the company; the following month the car was fully serviced and, at the new owner's request, repainted by Maserati in the striking "Rosso Rubino Chiaro" livery. That owner was Saudi Prince Magid Ben Saoud, who chose to give the car to his father, King Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. When the car reemerged in 2000 it seemed to have passed through the years almost untouched, with just 12,700 kilometres on the odometer and still remarkably original and complete. A Texan collector bought it and returned it to Modena for a meticulous restoration that took four years; in 2004 it was back in the spotlight at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, where its return received special recognition.
Maserati Classiche is the program launched in Modena in 2021 to support the preservation and promotion of Maserati's historic vehicles; it is now part of BOTTEGAFUORISERIE, the project that safeguards the Trident's heritage, alongside the Officine Classiche and museum spaces such as the Collezione Maserati Umberto Panini in Modena. At its centre is the Certification of Authenticity, overseen by a committee of experts who examine each vehicle through an in-depth analysis of its technical characteristics, historical documentation and Maserati archives. The certification applies to automobiles over 20 years old, as well as special models and the brand's limited series.
Previously from Maserati S.p.A.
Maserati has spent 2026 marking 100 years of the Trident emblem, a centenary that has framed several heritage events, including bringing three rare heritage racers from the Panini Collection to Goodwood Revival 2026. Heritage Maseratis have also drawn strong collector interest: a 1959 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage sold for $4.24 million at Gooding Christie's Pebble Beach Auctions, a world record for the model.
- Maserati marks 100 years of the Trident at Goodwood Revival 2026
- 1959 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage sells for $4.24M at Pebble Beach, a world record
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Maserati S.p.A.'s official releases.
Why this matters
This is a heritage story rather than a product launch: Maserati says the recognition attests to its commitment to preserving and carrying on a legacy that is part of its identity. It matters most to collectors and owners of historic Maseratis, because the Certification of Authenticity applies to cars over 20 years old, plus special models and limited series.
Terms in This Story
- Maserati Classiche
- Maserati's program, launched in Modena in 2021, dedicated to preserving and promoting the brand's historic vehicles.
- Coachbuilder
- A specialist firm that designs and builds the bodies of cars for a manufacturer.
- GranTurismo
- An Italian term for a luxurious, high-performance car designed for comfortable long-distance touring.
- Certification of Authenticity
- Maserati Classiche's formal recognition, decided by a committee of experts, that a historic vehicle's technical characteristics, documentation and history are genuine.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.