1967 Maserati Mistral news, pictures, and information

Maserati introduced an even-more sporting six-cylinder gran turismo near the end of the Sebring's production run and coincident with the end of the 3500GT's long production. The Mistral was the first Maserati named after one of the seasonal Mediterranean winds that brought abrupt weather changes to southern Europe, and it was another change in Maserati's product line.

Still powered by Alfieri's long-lived twin-cam six, the Mistral's wheelbase was another 100 mm shorter than the Sebring's, blurring the distinction between sports cars and gran turismo in a rewarding and satisfying package. The body was designed by Pietro Frua in a graceful, fast, hatchback style that left no doubt that this was a purposeful, yet still luxurious, automobile for connoisseurs who demanded performance, quality and comfort in a single package. Gracefully styled with a full-width air intake, slim bumpers and plenty of glass for the driver's visibility, the Mistral is one of Frua's most refined and elegant designs.

The Mistral would be the last of Maserati's six-cylinder gran turismos and its performance, style and quality have made it highly prized by collectors who appreciate its highly developed attributes.

Source - Gooding & Company

Coupe
Designer: Frua

This 1967 Maserati Mistral has a Frua aluminum alloy body and a four-liter engine capable of producing 255 horsepower. It is one of 298 examples created and has a top speed of 150 mph. There is a 3.77 limited slip rear end, ZF five-speed manual gearbox, and a Dual overhead cam straight six.

The Mistral was produced from 1963 through 1970. During its production lifespan, 120 spyders and 830 coupes were produced. The design had been penned by the Italian stylist Pietro Frua, arguably one of his greatest automotive designs. The French had a name for a strong, cold wind in their southern region, it was Mistral. Maserati adopted the name because it embodied the essence of the wind - speed. The original name for the vehicle had been Due Posti.

In 1963, Maserati introduced the Mistral at Auto Shows and a year later the production version was ready. Initially, the vehicle was to be outfitted with a 3.5 liter power-plant, however, the production version received a 3.7-liter engine. It was a derivative of the engine used in Maserati's motorsport. The cylinder head had hemispherical combustion champers, Lucas indirect fuel injection, and a chain-driven camshafts. Mounted under the gently sloping hood, the 245 horsepower six-cylinder engine powered the rear wheels and could propel the vehicle from zero to sixty in 7 seconds.

The short wheelbase provided room for two passengers. A square section welded together had replaced the classic elliptic tubular frame in an effort to reduce the overall weight. A 4.0-liter engine now lurked under the hood, raising the overall horsepower rating by ten and giving the Mistral a top speed of just under 160 mph.

The Mistral was outfitted with a ZF 5-speed gearbox, disc brakes on all four corners and the traditional Borrani wire wheels. The later models had light alloy wheels. The interior was plush, elegant, and inviting with rich leather bucket seats. A hard top could be purchased as optional equipment for the Spyder version, making it more versatile.

In production for seven years and with nearly 1000 examples created, this is truly a magnificent automobile. Its beautiful curves, wrap-around chrome bumper, and Maserati's marriage of racing and luxury made this a suitable choice for all types of automobile enthusiasts.

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