Maserati 3500 GT Superleggera - RHD-Auction Lot, 1960
Maserati 3500 GT
Maserati 3500 GT•
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Chassis No.: 101790
Not Sold
- Transmission: Manual
- Body Colour: Silver
Rare and rather stylish Maserati GT with glorious Touring Superleggera coachwork, one of just 40 right-drive examples built.
Throughout the 1950s, Maserati had achieved extraordinary results in Grand Prix and Sports Car racing around the world despite operating with a budget many times smaller than its competitors, however, it was becoming increasingly clear that to fund the Maserati racing activities, the company would have to go beyond producing one-off road cars and move into the business of car production. The Maserati 3500GT, therefore, was a very important car for its maker as it was the first time Maserati had locked horns with the Scuderia at showroom level.
Much of what lay under the 3500GT's skin was based on the old A6G including the tubular steel chassis, coil spring independent front suspension, and the live rear axle on semi-elliptic springs. The 3.4-litre straight-six engine was a significant step-up though, developing more power than the A6G, and pleasingly in terms of marketing, the 3500GT's power unit was distantly related to the 250F Grand Prix cars as well as the 300S and 350S sports racers. It was up-to-the-minute, boasting a twin-overhead camshaft design that had been reworked by chief engineer, Giulio Alfieri, to improve power delivery and to make it docile enough for road use.
It breathed through triple Webers carburettors and with twin spark plugs per cylinder, boasted a power output of 220bhp. The engine was mated to a newly-designed ZF-S4-17 gearbox with synchromesh on all four gears making this, in the mid-50's, a pretty advanced mechanical package. Most of the coupés were hand-built by Touring using aluminium panels and Superleggera principles, but Bertone, Allemano and Frua also produced their own 3500GT variations, while Moretti and Boneschi built one-offs. A Spyder was also produced, styled by Giovanni Michelotti while he was at Vignale.
Maserati continuously developed the 3500GT during its life and front disc brakes were introduced in 1959, and the 3500GTi was introduced in 1961. This new Maserati became the first Italian production car to feature fuel injection. Other changes included the introduction of a 5-speed manual transmission, disc brakes all round, deletion of the front fog lights, and revised indicators and rear lights. Offered here from long-term, private ownership is a 1960 Maserati 3500 GT first registered in April 1960, one of just 40 right-hand drive examples manufactured and likely to be one of very few remaining.
Emerging fresh to the market after over 35 years in dry storage, this beautiful ‘60s Italian sports car has been subject to a sympathetic re-commissioning in preparation for this sale. The fuel system has been overhauled and the car checked over from bumper to bumper by a classic car specialist and, consequently, the GT now fires on-the-button and is described as performing well. The stylish GT is now ready for the next chapter and is presented along with its the original 'Buff' logbook and current V5C ready for transfer or export. A truly unique opportunity to become the next custodian of this very attractive Maserati.
