This closed-cockpit Maserati Berlinetta was completed at Officine Maserati's legendary factory in the Viale Ciro Menotti, Modena, in November 1955.

It was carefully finished and prepared by the Carrozzeria Zagato specialists in Milan in time for it to star at the Brussels Salon motor show the following February.

Copy factory build sheets with the car record that it received twin plug ignition, A6GCS valve springs, flywheel, wheel hubs, brakes and steering, and an 80 litre fuel tank.

The wheels are noted as Borrani, the exhaust system by Fiandri, and the instruments were Jaeger with English labeling.

Chassis ‘2112’ is listed by Maserati historian Luigi Orsini as having gone to none other than Paul Frere, the celebrated Belgian motor racing journalist, author and racing driver, but we believe that Mr Frere was infact loaned the car for test purposes rather than being its first owner.

The factory archive history makes no mention of this Ferrari factory team driver of that year - and ...