Chassis No.: AM101-980

€88 000 | Sold

No reserve Historical model of the brand Superleggera body by Touring Sublime mechanics No registration title Chassis n° AM101-980 Engine n°AM101-980 Body n° 8658 The 3500 GT is considered the first of the modern Maserati line. In 1957, after winning the Formula 1 World Championship with Juan Manuel Fangio at the wheel of a 250F, the brand officially withdrew from motorsports to concentrate solely on the production of Gran Turismo cars. Only private teams will continue to race. For Maserati, the aim is to develop a modern, refined and powerful model, produced in large numbers, that will be able to compete with Ferrari, on the American market in particular.

In terms of design, the project for the soon-to-be-named 3500 GT was entrusted to Carrozzeria Touring, a master of the Superleggera technique. The result is an elegant, well-balanced and sporty body profile that conceals a 2+2 cabin based on a tubular structure. A multitude of details complete the style of this Maserati. Like the air intake on the hood, ribbed in the center, the gills on the front fenders, the perforated steel wheels or, even better, the Borrani spoked wheels. The mechanical part is the work of Giulio Alfieri, technical director of the Modena factory.

He developed a 6-cylinder in-line engine with two overhead camshafts and dual ignition of 3485cc (hence its name) based on the one used in the 350 S entered in the famous Mille Miglia, a guarantee of reliability and performance worthy of a great GT. Fed by two Weber carburetors, it develops 220 hp at 5,500 rpm, and allows the 3500 GT to reach 230 km/h. In 1961, the Weber carburetors were replaced by a Lucas mechanical injection system (GTi) which increased power by 15 hp to 235 hp. The four-speed gearbox (five speeds from 1961 onwards) is perfectly geared, precise and pleasant to handle. As for the braking, it is ensured by discs at the front and drums at the rear.

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After only three examples were assembled in 1957, a year that saw Maserati reorganize in order to prepare for mass production of this model, assembly of the 3500 GT was really launched in January 1958. To achieve its commercial goals, the manufacturer also set up a large network of importers in strategic countries. This gave a new dynamic to the brand and allowed it to get out of the financial rut it was in, and finally achieve the success it deserved. Thus, from 1957 to 1964, 2,228 examples including 242 Spyder versions were produced. It must be said that the 3500 GT was almost four times less expensive to produce than its competitors from Maranello.

This Gran Turismo, today very sought-after, definitely brought Maserati into a new era of its history and inspired the rest of its range. The car shown was ordered on the 3rd of March 1960 and delivered on the 20th of July 1960 to the Maserati dealership in Vicenza, to be sold to Valentino Malucelli. This 3500 GT then became the property of Caroli Sergio in June 1965. Then, on the 30th of November 1975, it was sold to Myron Akerman, an American living in Italy. It will then know five successive Italian owners before joining the Anna-Lisa collection. The car, whose odometer shows 86 166 km, was probably delivered new in black.

Its current red color suits it very well, and it will be up to the future owner to choose between leaving this iconic and racy GT in its beautiful original condition, or undertaking a restoration in its original configuration.

https://www.aguttes.com/lot/116225/991e4d7f-943a-4a4c-875c-f432d7f444e2