The Maserati 5000 GT was the company’s first V8 road car and one of the most exclusive high performance GTs of all time: only 34 units were produced between 1959 and 1965. The Shah of Persia, Reza Pahlewi, was instrumental in getting the project started. 1957 had been a landmark year in which Maserati had largely dominated sports racing competitions with the mighty V8-powered 450S (in addition to winning the F1 World Championship with the 250F, but that is a different story), while also launching the 3500 GT straight-six production coupé. Shah Reza Pahlewi wanted a combination of the two: marrying the road car’s chassis with the racing car’s engine. Maserati duly obliged, however both the chassis and the engine were modified to ensure the car would meet the marque’s exacting standards in terms of refinement, usability and reliability.

For the first two 5000 GTs built in 1959, the competition engine was bored out from 4.5 to 4.9 liters but otherwise it was unchanged, retaining four gear-driven overhead camshafts, and dry sump lubrication. Fed by four twin-choke carburetors and with twin-plug ignition, it produced between 345 and 350 bhp at 6,000 rpm. A more civilized version of the V8 appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in spring 1960, with quieter chain-driven camshafts and wet sump lubrication. While maintaining a similar displacement, the bore was reduced and a longer stroke introduced via a new crankshaft to ensure a better spread of torque throughout the rev range. This production version produced 330 bhp. Lucas indirect fuel injection became available in 1961. The last major improvement in the car’s running gear came in 1963 with the adoption of an all-synchromesh ZF five-speed gearbox.

The car’s top speed varied between 248 and 272 kmh (155 to 170 mph) depending on the individual engine tuning, gearbox, final drive ratio and body style. The body of the Shah’s car was produced by Touring of Milan, and seven other coachbuilders contributed various coupé bodies to the prestigious chassis. Allemano’s design was the “standard” version, as 22 cars were fitted with it. In 1960 industrialist Giovanni Agnelli purchased a unique 5000 GT with a Pinin Farina body, while two years later the Aga Khan bought a 5000 GT with stunning Frua coachwork.