There are two things that I consider to be the ultimate pleasure. Being in Italy and classic Italian cars. My Italian motoring adventures have primarily featured modern Fiat hire cars but in another world it would be a Ferrari or a Maserati.
The 1000 Miglia—the “most beautiful race in the world”, as Enzo Ferrari famously called it—came to a close on Saturday, June 21st, after passing through some of Italy’s most picturesque towns. Maserati was one of the event’s stars, participating in the famous regularity race for classic cars with an iconic A6 GCS/53, which finished 49th.
The start took place on Tuesday, June 17th from Brescia, where the Maserati A6 GCS/53 embarked on another adventure in the 2025 1000 Miglia historical re-enactment. Under the hood, the 2-litre inline six-cylinder engine designed by Gioachino Colombo—with a short-stroke “Superquadro” architecture, twin-ignition, and gear-driven double overhead camshafts—showcased the reliability of a classic engine that remains surprisingly relevant to this day.
From Lombardy, they headed south, crossing the Po Valley before reaching Bologna. The next day they took on the Apennine crossings, including the world-renowned Raticosa and Futa passes. After navigating the mountainous terrain, the route gently descended into central Tuscany, with its rolling hills and historical towns, before arriving in Rome, where the second day came to a conclusion.
The vehicles reversed course the following day, heading back through central Italy along a more technical and varied route. After passing through Arezzo, the Maserati crossed the eastern Apennines to reach San Marino, where the winding ascent of Monte Titano posed one of the toughest tests of the entire competition.
The following leg led the crews toward the Tyrrhenian coast. After crossing the Tuscan hinterland, the Cisa Pass, and a memorable pass by the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno, the day ended in Parma, where a crowd of adoring fans welcomed the vehicles in front of the sumptuous Palazzo della Pilotta.
On the final day—Saturday, June 21st—the Maserati traversed the countryside of Emilia and Lombardy, passing through various towns before completing the route with a return to Brescia. This 1,900-km journey once again showcased the historical and technical merits of one of the purest expressions of Maserati tradition.
Privately-owned and currently undergoing the Certification of Authenticity process at Maserati Classiche, this extraordinary model participated in five consecutive editions of the 1000 Miglia speed race (1953 to 1957). Some world-renowned talents, including Luigi Musso, have been behind its wheel. Interestingly, the A6 GCS/53 achieved its first significant success at the 1000 Miglia, when Emilio Giletti came in sixth place overall and first in the Sport 2-litre category.
