Maurice Gatsonide

Gatsonides behind the steering wheel of the Gatso Aero Coupé with his wife Siska.

By Gijsbert-Paul Berk
Photos courtesy Gatsonides family and Gatsometer BV

Financial problems forced Gatso to sell his garage in Heemstede and abandon his ambitions as a car manufacturer. But, after I quit working for him, we met again on a great number of occasions.

This large convertible does not resemble any of the other Gatso cars. Officially called the Gatso 4000 Luxe, this unique model was built in 1950 on special order for a Dutch doctor in The Hague. It was based on a long-wheelbase Mercury chassis and equipped with a 4 liter Mercury engine, developing 110 bhp. But it was very luxuriously finished and even had an electrically operated folding roof.

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Maurice Gatsonides; race driver (1953 Nurburgring), rally driver (outright winner, 1953 Monte Carlo Rally), sports car manufacturer (Gatso, Gatford), and successful inventor, (electronic speed traps) was a tour d’force, yet little is known about this fascinating man. In a stroke of luck, in conversations with our correspondent Gijsbert-Paul Berk, it was revealed to the Editor that Berk once called Gatsonides his boss. Do tell more, we asked. Thusly, here is Berk’s personal memoires of the multi-talented Dutch carmaker and a photo history of the man and the cars.

By Gijsbert-Paul Berk
Photos courtesy Gatsonides family and Gatsometer BV

At the Dutch Institute for Automobile Management where I studied in 1948, it was a tradition that each autumn a group of students had to organize a TSD rally for students, parents and special guests. One of these guests was Mr. Maurice Gatsonides, a well-known Dutch rally driver and the builder of the Gatso sports car.
[Read more…] about Maurice Gatsonides: Rally driver, Race driver, Manufacturer, Boss Part 1