1961 Maserati 3500 GT news, pictures, and information

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The Maserati 3500 GT is a 2-door coupe made by Maserati of Italy, and was the company's first attempt at the Gran Turismo market and large-volume production.

The 3500 GT was available in either 2+2 coupe form or two-seat spyder configuration. Its engine was a 3.5-liter inline six; in 1961 the three twin-choke 42 DCOE Weber carburetors were replaced with a Lucas fuel injection system. This made it the first fuel-injected Italian production car and gave the horsepower rating a 15 horsepower bump, to 235. Maserati also upgraded to a five-speed transmission from the initial four-speed in 1961.

The most successful race car for Maserati was the 250F. Introduced in 1954 and with the likes of Sir Stirling Moss at the helm, the 250F established Maserati as a force in racing. Profiting from success in racing, Maserati introduced a detuned version of the 250F into the 3500. Touring did most of the bodies with Vignale doing some as well. When introduced in 1957 at the Geneva Auto Show, the new 3500 GT was an immediate hit. The design of the 3500 was about elegance, style, and speed.

This 3500 GT has won awards at shows around the country. It has the 5-speed gearbox, original Weber carburetors, Borrani wheels, and has gone through a complete nut and bolt restoration. The engine has been totally rebuilt. It is arguably one of the finest 3500 GT's in existence.

The Maserati 3500 GT was produced from 1957 through 1964 with over 2000 examples being produced. The vehicle was penned by Carrozzeria Touring gathering many styling cues from the legendary Maserati A6G54 coupe. The 3500 GT is seen as a savior for the Maserati Company. Prior to its production, the company produced less than 140 cars in a ten year time span. Racing and competition nearly exhausted the funds; the company needed help. Becoming a mass-produced company and the widely accepted 3500 GT saved the company and allowed for Maserati to continue its racing efforts with the design and development of the famous birdcage design.

In March of 1957, the 3500 GT was shown to the public at the Geneva Motor Show. Two prototypes were shown; one was designed by Touring and the other by Allemano. The Touring design was a 2+2 coupe, which was later selected by Omer Orsi selected for production. There were minor modifications of the production design. The headlamps, radiator grille, and the dashboard were slightly modified but remained mostly unchanged.

Over the Maserati 3500 GT's production lifespan, many improvements were made. In 1960, front disc brakes became standard; also this year the four-speed manual gear was replaced by a ZF five-speed transmission. In 1961, disc brakes became standard on all four corners. In 1962 the engine was matted to a Lucas Fuel Injection system which increased horsepower by 15.

Under the hood was a 3.5 liter DOHC inline-six cylinder power-plant equipped with three side-draft two-barrel carburetors achieving 240 horsepower. The engine was an evolution of the Tipo 250F Formula 1 car. Top speed with the 3500 GT was achieved at 145 mph.

In 1960 Carrozziera Vignale introduced a 3500 spider which sat atop a shortened chassis. Other coachbuilders such as Allemano, Frua, Moretti, Bertone, and Boneschi produced bodies for the 3500 chassis.

The car was impressive both visually and mechanically. It was Maserati's first production car built in great numbers. During its eight year production lifespan, over 2225 examples of the Coupes and Spyders were produced.

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