1961 Maserati 3500 GT

Sold for $302,500 at 2012 Gooding and Company - The Scottsdale Auction.
Sold for $660,000 at 2014 RM Auctions at Monterey.
This car is one of two prototype Maserati 'Sebrings' built in 1961 with body by Carrozzeria Frua of Torino. Both looked identical and were built on standard 3500 GT chassis. The second car disappeared. History, of course, shows that the chosen design was the Vignale as the Sebring replacement. This car was first delivered to the Swiss dealer Martinelli and Sonico in May of 1961 and registered in Bern to a Jacques Bordier. The history is then unknown until it turned up in the United States in the early 1970s and pictures of the time suggest it had been involved in an accident as the rear of the car was quite out of shape and a small rear window had been fitted.

The car finally ended up with noted collector John Brookout of the Houston area in the 2001 time period, who then started to rebuild the car back to its original specification. The current owner took over the project in 2007 and the restoration was completed in the early 2010s.

Although this Frua coupe was originally delivered in red, during restoration is was given a light blue metallic finish, a color that matches the brown leather interior. The car has a deeply angled grille and four imposing chrome-surrounded headlights. At the rear, there are lights placed high on the fenders reminiscent of the 5000 GT and the Coupe. Other details include chrome edging on the roof and the small trident emblems at the top of the C pillars.