Maserati has a rich and storied history full of interesting machines that have racing pedigree, beautiful design, or a blend of both. The automaker is currently undergoing a bit of a renaissance as it aims to revisit its glory days, but it has never forgotten the classic cars that brought its name to the elite decades ago. In fact, Maserati likes to reference its past in even its most forward-thinking machines like the Maserati GranTurismo Targa concept. That car references the gorgeous 5000 GT introduced in 1959, but if you'd rather have the real thing than a modern interpretation, you'd best register for Gooding & Company's Geared Online Scottsdale Edition auction.

The auction house is offering this 1961 model of the 5000 GT, and it's quite special. Not only were just 34 examples of the 5000 GT produced, but the example listed here is the last of three chassis to receive coachwork by Touring. As such, it gets a unique face that is inspired by the company's 250F Grand Prix cars. It was originally displayed at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 1960 before being modified as you see it and appearing at the Torino Motor Show in November.

Maserati retained ownership of the car through 1961, using it to test an experimental 3.8-liter V8 engine. Eventually, it was sold with the conventional 5.0-liter V8, but it returned to the automaker in 1965 when it was rebuilt to special order for Prince Abdel Majid ben-Saud of Saudi Arabia.

Since the 1980s, the car has been owned by various collectors and is now in the care of "a respected Maserati collector who has owned many of the finest coachbuilt road cars of the 1950s and 1960s." The car has undergone a partial restoration to return it to the configuration in which it was sold by Maserati in 1961, including fresh Azzurro Vincennes paint with black leather. Registered bidders can expect a hammer price of between $700,000 and $900,000 when bidding commences on Monday, January 24, 2022. If the online auction's estimates are a little too high for you, perhaps you ought to rather place an order for the upcoming Maserati MC20 Convertible - the coupe is sold out for 2022.