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Best in Class: Maserati Honored at Monterey Car Week

BestInClass

It is quite fitting that this week’s Best in Class touches on the year-long centenary of a legendary brand. Just last week, Maserati was the guest of honor for the Monterey Car week, which boasted great attendance and many displays and events centered around the Trident. From Sir Stirling Moss to the official American unveiling of the Alfieri, there was plenty to keep people engaged and entertained.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights from the week…

Monterey Car Week celebrated a guest of honor this year of 2014: Maserati. This event was one of the final stops for the year-long centenary jubilee, which began with the introduction of the all-new Ghibli just a few months ago. Two events throughout the week highlighted the Trident’s past, present, and future – to much applause. It also served for the official American unveiling of the company’s most recent concept car.

The 64^th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance hosted the sports car’s lineage, including the 1954 A6GCS. Of all the models, this particular one held the most esteem: it won the trophy for Best GranTurismo, noted for its artistic elevation of automobiles, and served as the source of inspiration for the Alfieri concept. Company representatives line up all of other models – the 1955 250F Monoposto and 1956 300S Fantuzzi Spyer – alongside the A6GCS like celebrities on the red carpet, being gushed over by attendees.

Maserati’s newest high-performance car, the Alfieri, was also unveiled for the first time on American soil.

The Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion, in which Maserati was also the honored marque, also displayed the Alfieri to a crowd that buzzed with excitement. Some of Maserati’s historical models, as well as some of its new, hit the Mazda Raceway to parade their beauty and performance.

Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Head of Fiat Chrysler Automobile global Design, presented the Alfieri concept. He referred to it as being of “a racing breed … with a kick of poetry.”

Monterey Car Week would not, however, be complete without an auction.

At Bonhams, two vehicles were sold: a 1969 Ghibli 4.7 Spyder for $841,000 and a 1949 A6 15000/3C Berlinetta for $891,000.

At Gooding & Company, just one historic vehicle sold: the Maserati 250F driven to victory by iconic race car driver Sir Stirling Moss at Monza in 1956. It sold for $4.2 million.