Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 141
1961 Maserati 3500 GT Coupe Coachwork by Carrozzeria Touring Chassis no. AM101.1624 Engine no. 12054
Sold for US$156,800 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 141
1961 Maserati 3500 GT Coupe
1961 Maserati 3500 GT Coupe
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Touring
Chassis no. AM101.1624
Engine no. 12054
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Touring
Chassis no. AM101.1624
Engine no. 12054
3,485cc DOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Triple Weber 42 DCOE Carburetors
220bhp at 5,500rpm
5-Speed Manual Transmission
Front Independent Suspension - Live Rear Axle
Front Girling Disc, Rear Drum Brakes
*A striking Italian GT styled by Carrozzeria Touring
*Race-derived DOHC inline-six
*Desirable early carbureted model
*Well-suited for show or touring events
*Delivered new to Milan in gorgeous Grigio Inglewood Metallizzato
*Recent mechanical service by Auto Turismo Sport
*Previously in long-term California ownership
THE MASERATI 3500 GT
"The 3500 GT Maserati is a much-underrated motor car, being overshadowed by the prancing horse from up the road in Modena. But it is not so long ago that the prancing horse was very much on the prongs of the Maserati trident in motor racing and there is that lovely big six-cylinder engine under the bonnet to remind one of the glories of the 250F." - Edward Eves, Autocar July 3, 1976.
Despite numerous racetrack successes that included Juan Manuel Fangio's fifth World Championship at the wheel of a 250F and a 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 centered 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 pure road car built in significant numbers. A luxury 2+2 featuring beautiful Superleggera aluminum coachwork by Carrozzeria Touring, the 3500GT drew heavily on Maserati's competition experience, employing a tubular chassis frame and a six-cylinder engine derived from the 350S sportscar 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. Girling disc brakes up front were paired with tried-and-true drums in the rear.
The 3500GT'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 produced 235bhp on Lucas mechanical fuel injection. Built initially with drum brakes and a four-speed transmission, the 3500GT was progressively updated, gaining five speeds, front disc brakes and finally, all-disc braking. By the time the 3500GT was discontinued in 1964, around 2,200 of all types had been made, and they are much loved by enthusiasts for their outstanding road manners and distinctly Italianate character.
THE CAR OFFERED
Completed in June 1961, the Maserati 3500 GT Coupe offered here was delivered new to a customer in Milan, where it undoubtedly made an impressive statement. Finished from new in Grigio Ingelwood Metallizzato over a black leather interior, the color scheme highlights the understated elegance of Touring's design quite beautifully. As an early model, this car features the preferred triple carburetor setup, which is vastly more reliable than the somewhat finicky Lucas fuel injection of later cars. Other desirable specs include front disc brakes paired with rear drums, Borrani disc wheels, and a ZF 5-Speed manual gearbox.
After spending much of its life in Italy, the car eventually made its way to the United States, and was acquired by Tom Geiger of Santa Maria, California. Mr. Geiger, a devoted Maserati enthusiast and member of Maserati Club International, commissioned a full restoration including an engine rebuild ahead of the car's debut at the 2005 Concorso Italiano in Monterey, California.
By January of 2024, the car had transferred from Mr. Geiger's ownership, and the new owner handed it to Steve Mastroianni and his team at Auto Turismo Sport in New Milford, Connecticut for comprehensive servicing to the brakes, cooling, and fuel systems totaling more than $12,000. It has since been in the care of a noted East Coast collector and is presented in lovely condition with a mellow character that will have you reaching for the keys to this elegant Italian GT at every opportunity.
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