MOTOR CARS | 175The 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 3rd July 1976.
Despite numerous racetrack successes that included Juan Manuel
Fangios 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 marques most successful season - Maserati was by that
time facing a bleak future. 0ts parent companys financial difficulties forced
a withdrawal from racing, and Maseratis survival strategy for the 19 0s
would centre on establishing the company as a producer of road cars. The
Modena marques new era began in 1957 with the launch of the Touring-
bodied 3500GT, its first road car built in significant numbers. A luxury
2+2, the 3500GT drew heavily on Maseratis competition experience,
employing a tubular chassis frame and an engine derived from the 350S
competition 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 0 1
'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 on
carburettors, 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 before production ceased in 19 4.Chassis number 32 was sold new in 0taly to 0ng. Mario DOnofrio of
Caserta, and originally was finished in blue with red Connolly leather
interior. The Maserati was subsequently exported to the <SA where it was
owned from 197 by Robert Cohen of Hollywood, Florida. 0n 19 the
Maserati was sold to one Sean Kavill, and later was imported into the <K
by A Britton of Birmingham, passing into the ownership of Mr Peter Rees.
0n 1997 the Maserati was purchased by Martin Ellis, who consigned the car
to temperature controlled storage where it remained for the next 14 years.
The current owner purchased the car in 2011 with the intention of having it
professionally restored. In 2013 the engine was fully rebuilt by C J Reynolds
Engineering" however, the proQect has stalled and the vendor now feels that
the time is right to entrust its completion to a new owner. Accordingly, the
car is sold strictly as viewed.<nquestionably 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.
£60,000 - 90,000
€70,000 - 110,000