1960 Maserati 3500 GT Coupé

Coachwork by Carrozzeria Touring Registration no. 861 XUF Chassis no. AM101-1132

Footnotes

Despite numerous racetrack successes that included Juan Manuel Fangio's fifth World Championship - at the wheel of a 250F - and runner-up spot in the World Sports Car Championship with the fabulous 450S - both in 1957, the marque's most successful season - Maserati was by that time facing a bleak future. Its parent company's financial difficulties forced a withdrawal from racing, and Maserati's survival strategy for the 1960s centred on establishing the company as a producer of road cars.

The Modena marque's new era began in 1957 with the launch of the 3500 GT, its first road car built in significant numbers. A luxury 2+2 featuring beautiful Superleggera aluminium coachwork by Carrozzeria Touring, the 3500 GT drew heavily on Maserati's competition experience, employing a tubular chassis frame and an engine derived from the 350S sports car unit of 1956. Suspension was independent at the front by wishbones and coil springs, while at the back there was a conventional live axle/semi-elliptic arrangement.

The 3500 GT's designer was none other than Giulio Alfieri, creator of the immortal Tipo 60/61 'Birdcage' sports-racer and the man responsible for developing the 250F into a World Championship winner. The twin-overhead-camshaft, six-cylinder engine was a close relative of that used in the 250F and developed around 220bhp initially, later examples producing 235bhp on Lucas mechanical fuel injection. Built initially with drum brakes and four-speed transmission, the 3500 GT was progressively updated, gaining five speeds, front disc brakes and, finally, all-disc braking.

A car possessing such impeccable antecedents not unnaturally attracted the attention of Italy's finest carrozzeria: Allemano, Bertone and Frua all created bodies for the 3500 GT chassis. Most coupés were the work of Touring, while all but one (a Frua-bodied example) of the much less common Spyder version were the work of Carrozzeria Vignale.

This 1960-model Maserati 3500 GT was extensively restored recently but remains highly original with matching chassis and engine numbers, Borrani wire wheels and all-round disc brakes. Throughout its life the car has retained its original and very attractive combination of Nero (black) bodywork with Rosso (red) leather interior. It is one of only 12 right-hand drive UK models and comes with a Maserati Certificate of Origin.

Chassis number '1132' has had six identified owners since it was first registered in 1961. The car was ordered in October 1960 by Martinelli & Sonvico of Chiasso, Switzerland as a right-hand drive model, presumably for Swiss alpine driving for which right-hand drive was commonly favoured at that time as it enabled the driver to view the edges of narrow mountain roads more easily. This is supported by the 'St Moritz' sticker that is still in the rear window.

'1132' left the factory in late December 1960 and was first registered early in January 1961 to Fa Kuderli & Co of Zurich, Switzerland. The car was subsequently sold to Dr Walter Meier of Walo Bertschinger AG, Zurich sometime between 1966 and 1983. It remained in Dr Meier's ownership until it passed in June 1990 to his daughter Ruth Meier of Erlenback, Germany, who sold the car to Oldtimer, the classic car dealer in Aarlter, Belgium. The Maserati was purchased from Oldtimer by Karl Heinz Kostal of Pirmasens, Germany in July 1998. Herr Kostal then sold the car to The Gallery, the classic car dealer in Brummen, Netherlands from whom it was bought by the preceding English owner in February 2008. The Maserati was registered as '861 XUF' in the United Kingdom in June 2008 and had covered fewer than 1,000 miles subsequently when it was offered for sale at Bonhams' Goodwood Festival of Speed auction in June 2016 (Lot 221). The current vendor, a prominent UK-based private collector, purchased the Maserati at that sale.
The history file contains a Maserati SpA Certificate of Origin, certified Internal Factory Order, certified Delivery Note and certified Technical Data Sheet. The file also has extensive maintenance and repair receipts dating back to 1983, together with a collection of Swiss and German registration documents. The preceding owner had the car comprehensively restored at a total cost of over £120,000. The well-known Maserati marque specialists Bill McGrath Ltd of Kimpton, Hertfordshire undertook the refurbishment of the engine, brakes, suspension, steering and wheels in 2008. The interior was re-trimmed and the windscreen replaced at that time, while a new stainless steel exhaust system was fitted by Classic Performance Engineering Ltd of Long Buckby, Northamptonshire in 2013. During 2015 and 2016 the bodywork was completely restored by the well known Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Maserati bodywork specialist Prestige Restoration of Chertsey, Surrey. The car underwent very minor bodywork repairs and a bare metal re-spray, while all rubbers were replaced and all the brightwork re-chromed. The wheels were refurbished also. Accompanying documentation consists of the aforementioned Maserati factory paperwork, sundry restoration invoices, and a UK V5C registration document.

Unquestionably one of the best looking models to leave the Modena factory, the 3500 GT continues to represent good value when compared to contemporary offerings from Newport Pagnell and Maranello.