Lot 154: 1963 Maserati 3500 Vignale Spyder

Despite numerous racetrack successes that included Juan Manuel Fangio's fifth World Championship - at the wheel of a 250F - in 1957, 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 centred on establishing the company as a producer of road cars. The Modena marque's 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 on Maserati's competition experience, employing a tubular chassis frame and an 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. 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 a four-speed gearbox, the 3500GT was gradually improved, gaining five speeds, front disc brakes and, finally, all-disc braking.
A car possessing such impeccable antecedents not unnaturally attracted the attention of Italy's finest carrozzeria: Allemano, Bertone and Frua all created bodies for the 3500GT chassis, while most coupes were the work of Touring. Vignale, whose star designer was then Giovanni Michelotti, was responsible for all but one of the less-common Spyder version. Introduced in 1959, the latter was built on a slightly shorter wheelbase - 250cm as opposed to 260cm - and lasted in production until 1964, by which time just 245 cars had been made.

Supplied new in Germany, this left-hand drive Vignale Spyder has the desirable five-speed manual transmission and is finished in gold metallic with off-white leather interior. Accompanying documentation includes assorted correspondence, bill of sale and German Fahrzeugbrief. The vendor advises us that the engine is in running condition.

Vendue neuve en Allemagne, cette Maserati Spyder Vignale qui possède son excellente boîte à cinq rapports est peinte en or métallisé avec intérieur en cuir blanc cassé. La documentation jointe comprend de la correspondance, la facture d'achat et le livret d'utilisation en allemand. Le vendeur précise que le moteur est en état de focntionnement.