1962 Maserati 3500 GT Touring. Blue over White. Extremely Rare.

  EBizAutos  1962 Maserati 3500 GT Touring Classics. Classics and Competition Request More Info
VIN: AM1012428 Condition: Pre-Owned Clear Title Stock No: AM1012428 Warranty: As-Is Transmission: 5 Spd Manual Engine: Straight 6 Gasoline Drivetrain: Rear Wheel Drive Exterior Color: Blue Interior Color: White Get a CARFAX Record Check Symbolic Motor Car Co
7440 La Jolla Boulevard
La Jolla. CA 92037 Photo Viewer View Other Auctions Email a Friend More Photos & Detail Vehicle Overview

Background:
Maserati as a manufacturer was established on December 1. 1914. in Bologna. Italy.   They are as such one of the world's oldest and most established small specialty builders of race. sports and touring automobiles.   The company's headquarters today are now in Modena being part of the FIAT family auto group since 1993.
 
The Maserati brothers. Alfieri. Bindo. Carlo. Ettore. and Ernesto were all involved with automobiles from the beginning of the 20th century. Alfieri. Bindo and Ernesto built 2-litre Grand Prix cars for Diatto. In 1926. Diatto suspended the production of race cars. leading to the creation of the first Maserati and the founding of the Maserati marque. One of the first Maseratis. driven by Alfieri. won the 1926 Targa Florio.   From that point on. Maserati began making race cars with 4. 6. 8 and even 16 cylinders (two straight-eights mounted parallel to one another).   Another Maserati brother. Mario. an artist. is believed to have devised the company's trident emblem. based on one the Fontana del Nettuno. Bologna.   Alfieri Maserati died in 1932. but three other brothers. Bindo. Ernesto and Ettore. kept the firm going. building cars that won races throughout the world as well as the occasional road car in bettwen.
 
In 1937. the remaining Maserati brothers sold their shares in the company to the Adolfo Orsi family. who in 1940 relocated the company headquarters to their hometown of Modena. where it remains to this day. The brothers continued in engineering roles with the company. Racing successes continued. even against the giants of German racing. Auto Union and Mercedes. In back-to-back wins in 1939 and 1940. a Maserati 8CTF won the Indianapolis 500. the only Italian manufacturer ever to do so!
 
When war intervened. Maserati abandoned cars to produce components for the Italian war effort. Despite the war. during this time. Maserati worked in fierce competition to construct a V16 towncar for Benito Mussolini before Ferry Porsche of Volkswagen built one for Adolf Hitler. Their efforts however were a failure and the plans were scrapped. Once peace was restored. Maserati returned immediately to producing a dual purpose. road/race car called the A6-1500.   There were many variations with several purpose built race only versions in the early Post-War years.   The A6 was a success and gave Maserati the desperately needed capital to expand and develop both road and race cars for a variety of clients as well as their own Factory supported drivers.
 
The Orsi family hired numerous engineers. and designers to assist and work with the three surviving Maserati brothers.   These included. Alberto Massimino. an old Fiat engineer. with both Alfa Romeo and Ferrari experiences.   He oversaw the designs of all racing models for the next ten years.   With him joined engineers Giulio Alfieri. Vittorio Bellentani. and Gioacchino Colombo.   While this new team stayed on. the Maserati brothers. all left after their 10-year contract with Orsi expired.   They went on to form O. S. C. A. where they would attain world-wide recognition for the designs and racing efforts.
 
 From 1950 to 1957. the famous Argentinian driver Juan-Manuel Fangio raced for Maserati  He achieved a number of stunning victories including winning the world championship in 1957 in a Maserati 250F alongside Toulo de Graffenried. Louis Chiron. Prince Bira. Enrico Plate. amongst many others.
 
The ten year period from 1947 until 1957 was filled with numerous racing victories but the Orsi family had neglected to ensure the work they did and achievments gained was profitable.   1957 was a year of both success and tragedy.   On the track. they achieved numerous victories while their creditors became ever more concerned and pushed Maserati dangerously close to insolvency.
 
From 1957 on. Maserati retired almost entirely from factory racing participation.   They continued to build racers for privateers but continually became more and more focused on road cars.   Financial salvation and the companies preservation came from chief engineer Giulio Alfieri new 6-cylinder 3. 5-liter 2+2 coupe. which featured an aluminum body over Carrozzeria Touring's superleggera structure. a design also used for the small-volume V8-powered 5000. Next came the Vignale-bodied Sebring. launched in 1962. the Mistral Coupe in 1963 and Spider in 1964. both designed by Pietro Frua. and also in 1963. the company's first four-door. the Quattroporte. designed by Frua as well. The two-seat Ghibli coupe was launched in 1967. followed by a convertible in 1969.
 
3500GT
Maserati's 3500GT took the financially struggling firm in a complete new direction.   As noted. chief engineer Giulio Alfieri developed the two 2+2 prototype 3500GT. revealed at the Salon International de l'Auto in Geneva. March 1957. It had a 2. 00mm (102. 4 inch) wheelbase and very "sexy" aluminum "Superleggera" coachwork built by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan. The design incorporated a Maserati 350S-derived straight-six cylinder. DOHC. twin-spark engine with triple Weber 42 DCOE carburetors that produced 220bhp at 5. 00rpm.   An engine mounted ZF four-speed gearbox and live rear axle provided by Salisbury complemented the front wish-bone. coil spring suspension.   Well developed drum brakes and 16 inch steel wheels added the final touch to the design.
 
Minor design changes were incorporated when the 3500GT went into production in late 1957.   Front disc brakes and limited slip differential became optional in 1959. standardized in 1960; rear discs became standard in 1962. Borrani knock-out wire wheels complemented the standard steel wheels. as well as wider 185x16" radial tires. All cars had leather interior and Jaeger-LeCoultreinstruments. Power windows were added as a standard feature in 1959.
 
A revised 3500 GTi was introduced in 1961.   It was the first fuel-injected Italian production car using a  Lucas fuel injection system.   Output rose to 235bhp and a 5-speed ZF gearbox was now standard. as well as disc brakes all round. The body had a slightly lowered roofline and become somewhat longer; minor outward changes appeared as well (new grille. rear lights. vent windows etc. )
The first true production year. 1958 saw some 119 cars. 1961 was the best-selling year totalling 500. All together. 242 Vignale convertibles and nearly 2000 coupes were manufactured. of these. 1973 being Touring coupe. the rest were bodied by other coachbuilders. Carrozzeria Allemano (four coupes. including the 1957 prototype). Zagato (one coupe. 1957). Carrozzeria Boneschi (two cars; 1962. 1963 Salone dell'automobile di Torino. 1962); Salon International de l'Auto in Geneva. 1963). Pietro Frua (two or three coupes. one spider) and Bertone (one coupe). The last was a coupe by Moretti(Salon International de l'Auto in Geneva. 1966).

The Sebring which became available in late 1962 was produced alongside the 3500GT for two years before production of the 3500GTi came to an end.   The Sebring and subsequent Maseratis thereafter owe all they can claim to the legacy established by the 3500GT.   Today. the 3500GT remains a benchmark example of late 1950s era. Italian Industrial Art.   They are delightful to drive with no real vises and remain as beautiful and striking today as they were when first seen. now more than more than 50 years ago!

Chassis AM101*2428*:
According to Maserati historian Adolfo Orsi. chassia 101. 2428 was assembled in late 1962. and exhibits features from both the early and late series. Specifically. this car appears to have been built with the earlier side window frames without the second vent window at the rear of the door. and the earlier. single-piece taillights.   Maserati's official historical archivists. George Mauro and Fabio Collina recently confirmed that chassis 101. 24289 was retained by Maserati and not released privately until 1964.   What she did at the Maserati factory during this time frame remains unknown but she may have been a test and loaner car for perspective clients and visiting VIPs.   Upon being deemed surplus to the needs of Maserati. she was sold to a client in Belgium and delivered with her exterior painted "Grigio Metallizzato" (Max Meyer code 16. 677) and was fitted with an interior in white "Neutral" leather (Connoly code PAC. 1544) which she still retains to this day.

Chassis 2428 possesses a very desirable combination of features. with the five-speed gearbox of the later production 3500GTs with the classic Weber carburetors and Borrani wire wheels typical found on the early cars.   This particular 3500GT was purchased in 1988 by a knowledgeable and experienced collector of Italian cars who is well known for the spectacular level of quality and detail in his restoration projects. He commissioned Joe Piscazzi of Akron. Ohio. to oversee the complete restoration of the Maserati and gave him the budget required to guarantee the finest work possible.   Vanguard Automotive Enterprises. Inc. Of Medicine. Ohio. was responsible for rebuilding the DOHC inline six-cylinder engine. Mastercraft Metal Finishing of Seattle. Washington. provided chrome and metal finishing services. and the interior of the Maserati was crafted by artisan John Bowser. Photo documentation and receipts of the two-year restoration accompany this car today along with a tool and jack kit.
 
It is not surprising that the concours history of this stunning 3500 GT is truly impressive. Some of the laurels it has earned include: Best in Class. the Count Lurani Award and Best of Show at Le Belle Macchine d'Italia; Outstanding Maserati at the Concours of Italian Style at Meadow Brook; AACA Junior and Senior First Prizes; as well as National Award Candidate at Hershey. Not least of its accomplishments was a Second in Class prize at the 1994 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Today. two decades after its restoration. this Maserati 3500 GT presents itself confidently. Expertly and fastidiously maintained. the deep blue paint and chrome and alloy brightwork accents appear unmarked. while the straight body panels show tight. even gaps. The dramatic white leather interior appears to have minimal traces of use and the engine compartment shows as restored. with correct finishes and fittings.

As a marvelous finishing touch. further study of the engine compartment reveals the distinctive signature of Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni who led his family's company. Carrozzeria Touring of Milan. from 1949-1966.   Sig. Anderloni autographed this car when giving it special recognition with the Dolce Vita Award at Concorso Italiano in Carmel. California. in 1994.

In November of this year. chassis 2428 was given a comprehensive mechanical rebuild and full round of services that included having her engine and gearbox out for full overhaul.   All services and maintenance are now current and up to date.

Superbly styled. well-built and very entertaining to drive. the best 3500 GTs are now being actively sought by savvy enthusiasts. The fact that they are historically significant as well just adds the final nudge to spur an erudite collector to action. This particular 3500 GT is undoubtedly an exemplar of the breed. and would be difficult to duplicate.

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