Matching numbers (Chassis and Engine)
1966 Maserati Mistral 3700 Coupé

• Italian delivery
• Fitted with its matching-numbers engine
• Elegant colour combination
• Maserati Classiche documentation

Last of the classic six-cylinder Maseratis, the Pietro Frua-styled Mistral built on the success of the first-of-the-line 3500GT of 1957. Maserati's survival strategy for the 1960s had centred on establishing the company - which hitherto had mainly concentrated on its Grand Prix and sports car racing activities - as a producer of road cars. The Modena marque's new era began in 1957 with the launch at the Geneva Salon of the Touring-bodied 3500GT. A luxury '2+2', the 3500GT 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 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 producing 235bhp on Lucas mechanical fuel injection. Built initially with drum brakes and four-speed transmission, the 3500GT was progressively updated, gaining five speeds, front disc brakes and, finally, all-disc braking.
The next development of the theme arrived in 1962. Built on the short-wheelbase chassis of the Vignale-bodied 3500GT spider, the Sebring coupé featured a five-speed gearbox, disc brakes, and fuel injection as standard equipment, with automatic transmission, air conditioning and a limited-slip differential available as options.

The marque's final iteration, the Mistral, commenced production in 1963. The 3.7-litre version of the famous long-stroke engine was fitted to most cars, other options being the 3.5-litre or, from 1966, the 4.0-litre unit, all of which came with Lucas fuel injection. A handsome two-seater on a shortened, square-tube chassis, the Mistral was built in coupé and spider versions, the former's opening rear window hatch making it unusually practical for a sports car. A five-speed gearbox, disc brakes and fuel injection were standard equipment; automatic transmission, air conditioning, and a limited-slip differential the options. Production ceased in 1970, by which time 827 coupés and 123 spiders had been built.

According to the build sheet from Maserati, this Mistral was built in November 1966 and delivered in the most attractive colour combination of Celeste Chiaro (light-blue metallic) with a black leather interior. It was delivered via the Genoa-based concessionaire Automar SrL to its first owner in the same city. The car later found its way to the United States (a Missouri title from 1990 is on file) before being repatriated to Italy in 2005 via Germany. Since 2024 it has been with our vendor, a committed Maserati fan, sharing its garage with a Maserati Quattroporte.

This Mistral is an older restoration which still presents nicely. The interior has at some point been changed from black to very elegant tan leather, while the exterior colour is still the original and most elegant Celeste Chiaro. The Mistral also retains its original engine. The car is offered with German Historic (H) registration documents; Maserati Classiche documentation including a Certificate of Origin, Technical and Aesthetic Characteristics Certificate, and Historical Information Certificate; a copy of an older ASI certificate; an old US title; a copy of an older Italian libretto; an owner's manual in Italian; and a Classic Data report.