By the 1970s, coachbuilding was very much a lost art in the automotive industry.

With rising gas prices, stifling governmental regulations and the added complexities of building custom coachwork, building a car to one’s own taste was exorbitantly expensive, and the vast majority of people who could afford to undertake such a project never considered doing so.

However, a handful of fabulously wealthy individuals who had owned and used such extravagant cars in the past were not dissuaded.

Enter Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV.

The 49th Imam of Nizari Ismailism, a subsect of Shia Islam, the Shah had a penchant for speed and fast cars and has owned a handful of Maseratis, including a pair of 5000 GTs with Frua coachwork.

After seeing the first Frua-bodied Quattroporte at the Geneva Motor Show in 1972, the Aga Khan commissioned a second car to be built for his personal use.

Information compiled by Frua Coachwork historian Stefan Dierkes shows that chassis no.

004 was d...