Nearly every one was custom built. They were designed and crafted by eight different coachbuilders-impressive for a model run of just 34 cars. Several are one-offs; this is to be expected with an automobile conceived for the rich and famous. The Maserati 5000 GT was a special machine, even from an Italian marque known for building and selling special machines. Most used a 5.0-liter V-8 derived from the 450S Le Mans race car, and several 5000 GTs had unique features, such as radiotelephones, record players, or gold trim. Allemano built the 22 "production" versions. The rest were crafted by Bertone, Frua, Ghia, Michelotti, Monterosa, Pininfarina, and Touring. Who owned them? The Shah of Iran, Giovanni Agnelli, the Aga Khan, and American millionaire sportsman/racer Briggs Cunningham, to name a few. Don't be taken in by a "reality" TV show showing a B-list celeb getting big wheels and tinted windows. The Maserati 5000 GT defines what bespoke automobiles are all about.