1962 Maserati 3500 - GTI Touring

The 3500 GT made its debut in 1957 as a 2+2-seater Gran Turismo. At the Geneva Motor Show in March 1957, Maserati presented two different body styles side by side: a saloon coupé with a wide B-pillar by Allemano and one by Touring in Milan. After the exhibition had ended, taking into account the reactions of potential customers, the company management decided to adopt the Carrozzeria Touring body for series production; at around the same time, Touring was also building the bodies for the Aston Martin DB4. The body of the Maserati 3500 GT was mounted on a tubular frame. The front wheels were individually suspended on double wishbones and sprung by coil springs. The suspension components were supplied by the British specialist Alford & Alder. The rear axle, on the other hand, was a rigid axle with leaf springs. It was sourced from the Salisbury Wheel Company in the UK. The 3500 GT’s engine was derived from that of the Tipo 350S racing model. The block and cylinder heads of the inline six-cylinder engine were made of aluminium with grey cast iron liners. Power output and rated revs were slightly lower than those of the racing engine. The camshafts were driven by a timing chain rather than a gear train. Initially, three Weber twin-barrel carburettors provided the fuel mixture; from 1962, a version with Lucas port fuel injection was also available. The carburettor-equipped engines produced 220 to 230 hp; the power output of the fuel-injected version, designated the 3500 GTI, was stated as 235 hp. Production of the 3500 GT and GTI followed a roundabout route. Maserati first manufactured the central longitudinal frame, which was then transported to Touring. The bodywork was constructed there. Touring employed its own patented ‘Superleggera’ method: thin aluminium sheets were stretched over a steel moulding frame that had previously been attached to the longitudinal frame. Once the bodywork was complete, the vehicle was transported back to Maserati, where the engine, chassis and interior were fitted. The Maserati 3500 GTI offered here likely originated from a Swiss delivery and was first registered in April 1962. The early history of this elegant coupé is unknown. According to the available documentation, it was owned in the mid-1970s by a owner in the canton of Aargau, who presumably had the Autovox radio – which remains fitted to this day – installed. A good 30 years ago, the Maserati – with, according to the owner at the time, a genuine mileage of just over 80‘000 km – entered the collection of its last owner. The latter had the bodywork repainted from the original ‘grigio flemington’ to the current ‘argento auteuil’. During the early years, he enjoyed using the car as a fast means of transport for occasional trips to southern Germany and ensured it received regular servicing. Several years ago, the spare-wheel well was replaced, the front grille repaired and a new fuel pump fitted. Since being granted classic car status in 2009, the GT has spent most of its time parked in a dry shed and has covered just 300 km. The Maserati is currently in very fine condition, and the original interior makes the 84‘600 km shown on the odometer appear to be a credible reflection of its actual mileage. The car still has its original ‘matching numbers’ engine; it turns, but has not been started and, due to the long period of inactivity, requires careful and professional recommissioning. The last veteran MOT took place in February 2016.