1959 Maserati 3500 GT Coupe
Seller's description
Magnificent example from the 1960s – the golden age of the GT
- Including approximately € 100.000,- of recent restoration invoices
- It possesses rarity, stunningly beautiful styling and one of the most powerful engines of its day
- The car is complete with a tool kit, a basic Maserati handbook and an Italian-language manual for the 3500 GT, a new spare tire and original safety switch
- Including approximately € 100.000,- of recent restoration invoices
- It possesses rarity, stunningly beautiful styling and one of the most powerful engines of its day
- The car is complete with a tool kit, a basic Maserati handbook and an Italian-language manual for the 3500 GT, a new spare tire and original safety switch
It possesses rarity, stunningly beautiful styling and one of the most powerful engines of its day.
In 1957 Maserati enjoyed its most successful season in motor racing when Fangio won the World F1 Championship in a lightweight 250F, and the mighty 450S sports-racer came within an ace of winning the World Sports Car Championship. Such success normally calls for celebration and the planning of the next move. But Maserati’s parent company had invested heavily in Argentina and the overthrow of President Juan Peron in 1955 had caused a severe cash-flow crisis. So at the end of its most glorious season in the sport Maserati had to withdraw to concentrate on becoming a profit centre in the Orsi group of companies.
The writing had been on the wall for some time, and Maserati was prepared. As the racing side wound down so it set on the road to becoming, for the first time in its history, a significant maker of high quality sports cars. Over the next few years Maserati would challenge Ferrari as a maker of road cars. Perhaps the reason why Ferrari finally drew ahead was not mechanical competence but the close relationship with Pininfarina.
There could hardly be any question about the mechanical competence since the Maserati 3500 GT was designed by Giulio Alfieri, who was the best all round designer of his day.
In creating a road car, Alfieri was able to draw on a 3,486cc dohc straight six, derived from the sports-racing 350S unit, and half-sister of the engine which had powered Fangio to the World Championship.
The tubular chassis was recognisably the descendent of the classic Maserati A6/1500, but the live rear axle was suspended on semi-elliptics.
Front disc brakes were optional in 1959 (ahead of Ferrari, naturally) and standard in 1960. Typical of Alfieri’s pioneering, Lucas fuel injection was fitted from 1961 and this gave a small power increase, when it worked. This car has triple Weber carburettors, which are completely reliable and produce a much nicer sound!
Maserati’s chief engineer Giulio Alfieri developed the two 2+2 prototype 3500GT, revealed at the Salon International de l’Auto in Geneva in March 1957. Minor design changes were undertaken before production of the Touring-based body started in late 1957. Front disc brakes and limited slip differential became optional in 1959, standardized in 1960; rear discs became standard in 1962. Borrani knock-off wire wheels complemented the standard steel wheels, as well as wider 185×16” radial tyres.
All cars had leather interior and Jaeger-LeCoultre instruments. Power windows were added as standard.
In 1957 Maserati enjoyed its most successful season in motor racing when Fangio won the World F1 Championship in a lightweight 250F, and the mighty 450S sports-racer came within an ace of winning the World Sports Car Championship. Such success normally calls for celebration and the planning of the next move. But Maserati’s parent company had invested heavily in Argentina and the overthrow of President Juan Peron in 1955 had caused a severe cash-flow crisis. So at the end of its most glorious season in the sport Maserati had to withdraw to concentrate on becoming a profit centre in the Orsi group of companies.
The writing had been on the wall for some time, and Maserati was prepared. As the racing side wound down so it set on the road to becoming, for the first time in its history, a significant maker of high quality sports cars. Over the next few years Maserati would challenge Ferrari as a maker of road cars. Perhaps the reason why Ferrari finally drew ahead was not mechanical competence but the close relationship with Pininfarina.
There could hardly be any question about the mechanical competence since the Maserati 3500 GT was designed by Giulio Alfieri, who was the best all round designer of his day.
In creating a road car, Alfieri was able to draw on a 3,486cc dohc straight six, derived from the sports-racing 350S unit, and half-sister of the engine which had powered Fangio to the World Championship.
The tubular chassis was recognisably the descendent of the classic Maserati A6/1500, but the live rear axle was suspended on semi-elliptics.
Front disc brakes were optional in 1959 (ahead of Ferrari, naturally) and standard in 1960. Typical of Alfieri’s pioneering, Lucas fuel injection was fitted from 1961 and this gave a small power increase, when it worked. This car has triple Weber carburettors, which are completely reliable and produce a much nicer sound!
Maserati’s chief engineer Giulio Alfieri developed the two 2+2 prototype 3500GT, revealed at the Salon International de l’Auto in Geneva in March 1957. Minor design changes were undertaken before production of the Touring-based body started in late 1957. Front disc brakes and limited slip differential became optional in 1959, standardized in 1960; rear discs became standard in 1962. Borrani knock-off wire wheels complemented the standard steel wheels, as well as wider 185×16” radial tyres.
All cars had leather interior and Jaeger-LeCoultre instruments. Power windows were added as standard.
ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE
This Maserati 3500 GT is a fine example of the great early Maserati GT cars. After a successful racing period, including Fangio’s five World Championships, Maserati started to manufacture the 3500 GT, its first road car built in significant numbers.
This Maserati 3500 GT is a fine example of the great early Maserati GT cars. After a successful racing period, including Fangio’s five World Championships, Maserati started to manufacture the 3500 GT, its first road car built in significant numbers.
The 3500 GT, a luxurious 2+2, drew heavily on Maserati’s competition experience. The handmade aluminium “superleggera” coachwork is designed by Carrozzeria Touring, while the desirable 3500 cc “pre-injection’ engine is equipped with triple Weber carburettors, derived from the 350S car in a very good and original state and has collectors-details such as Borrani rims and Connoly leather seats.
The Maserati has been newly delivered in Trento, Italy in 1962 to a gentlemen named Ugo Mondini. It was then sold to a gentlemen in Milan but unfortunately the name is missing. We only have the registration number begin L02897.
In 1975, the Maserati was shipped to the United States where it was in ownership of Walter Stacy until 1995.
In 1995 the Maserati came back to Holland where it was stored for quite some time and not regularly used.
In March 2001, the Maserati was bought by a gentlemen named Mr. Hendriks from Den-Haag, Holland. Mr. Hendriks.
Mr. Hendriks is a member of the technical commission of the Maserati Club in Holland.
This gentlemen owned the car until 2014 and drove certain trips/rallies with the car.
He also carried out some technical work over the years whereby the gearbox has been overhauled in 2008.
Big restoration work has started in 2014 and an enormous amount has been spend on the Maserati.
In 1975, the Maserati was shipped to the United States where it was in ownership of Walter Stacy until 1995.
In 1995 the Maserati came back to Holland where it was stored for quite some time and not regularly used.
In March 2001, the Maserati was bought by a gentlemen named Mr. Hendriks from Den-Haag, Holland. Mr. Hendriks.
Mr. Hendriks is a member of the technical commission of the Maserati Club in Holland.
This gentlemen owned the car until 2014 and drove certain trips/rallies with the car.
He also carried out some technical work over the years whereby the gearbox has been overhauled in 2008.
Big restoration work has started in 2014 and an enormous amount has been spend on the Maserati.
CONDITION EXTERIOR
The Maserati is an amazing car to look at. The shape of the body is absolutely fantastic. The chrome elements are wonderful and in as new condition.
The Maserati has been ordered new with Borrani wheels which give the car even more body.
During the body restoration, new door sills have been installed and the lining of the bonnet and doors have been optimized.
The body is very nicely straight.
The paint is nice, not perfect as one can find here and there some minor faults.
The lining of the doors are very nice and the windows and rubbers are all as new.
The aluminium front grille and the chrome surroundings are looking like a shark nose and make the car impressive to look at.
The Maserati is an amazing car to look at. The shape of the body is absolutely fantastic. The chrome elements are wonderful and in as new condition.
The Maserati has been ordered new with Borrani wheels which give the car even more body.
During the body restoration, new door sills have been installed and the lining of the bonnet and doors have been optimized.
The body is very nicely straight.
The paint is nice, not perfect as one can find here and there some minor faults.
The lining of the doors are very nice and the windows and rubbers are all as new.
The aluminium front grille and the chrome surroundings are looking like a shark nose and make the car impressive to look at.
CONDITION INTERIOR
The interior is in a fantastic condition. It has been completely renewed on a period correct way and the result is absolutely amazing.
The color combination can’t be better in our opinion.
All the meters and gauges are properly working.
The trunk has been nicely reupholstered as well.
The interior is in a fantastic condition. It has been completely renewed on a period correct way and the result is absolutely amazing.
The color combination can’t be better in our opinion.
All the meters and gauges are properly working.
The trunk has been nicely reupholstered as well.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
The Maserati is a pleasure to drive. The fantastic sound of the air intake of the carburetors are giving a typical 60’s racing feeling. If this is combined with the noise from the exhaust, the story is complete.
The handling is over nice, the response on the steering very direct and it is an easy handling car to drive.
The Maserati is a pleasure to drive. The fantastic sound of the air intake of the carburetors are giving a typical 60’s racing feeling. If this is combined with the noise from the exhaust, the story is complete.
The handling is over nice, the response on the steering very direct and it is an easy handling car to drive.
Last September, the former owner took the Aston from Holland to Goodwood and back and the Aston performed extremely well and did not gave any problem.
The gearbox is shifting very nicely as well.
The engine is well-tuned, the 5-speed gearbox shifts well, and the clutch grabs positively. The chassis and suspension are tight and the car has the wonderfully entertaining, nimble, and balanced feel of a properly sorted DBS. The brakes work as they should, and there is a pleasing coherence to the entire driving experience that reminds the driver why these cars are so sought after.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information or an appointment, please call Rutger Houtkamp+31625098150 or send an e-mail to Rutger@Houtkamp.nl. Please do not hesitate to contact us by phone during evenings or in the weekend. The Houtkamp Collection is centrally located near Amsterdam and only 10 minutes from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
The information provided on this website has been compiled by The Houtkamp Collection with the utmost care. The information contained within this advert is provided ‘as-is’, without warranties as to its accuracy whether expressed or implied and is intended for informational purposes only. The Houtkamp Collection is not liable for any errors or mistakes.
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