1960 Maserati 3500GT Vignale Spyder

Over 2,200 examples of the Maserati 3500GT were built, 242 of those being the Vignale Spyder. The 3500 GT initially wore closed bodywork styled and built by Touring of Milan. Although they later presented an open prototype of the 3500 GT, it was the design by Vignale that was given the green light for production. Vignale displayed their convertible version at the Paris Motor Show in 1959. Giovanni Michelotti had penned the graceful design for the 98.4-inch wheelbase (shorter than the 102.4-inch platform used for the coupe) and beneath its bonnet was a road-converted version of the 3.5-liter, twin-cam, inline 6-cylinder engine that propelled the three Maserati 350S race cars that contested the 1956 Mille Miglia.

Although the overall production figures do not appear significant when compared to more mainstream companies of the era, it was by far the company's most successful model up to that point.

This particular 1960 Maesrati 3500 GT Spider is an early production example that left the factory with a five-speed gearbox and front disc brakes. It wore a white exterior with a black interior. Work was completed on July 21, 1960, and was originally supplied by Roman Ferrari and Maserati dealer Franco Cornacchia. Its first owner, Amelia Olsen Riis, took delivery on August 19th while residing at the Norwegian consulate in Rome.
Early in its life, it was exported to the United States and registered in California, with the black license plate 'IOF 036,' a sequence corresponding to an issue date of approximately 1964.

In the mid-1980s, the car was sent to Texas, where it spent much of its time in storage before being acquired by dealer Peter Kumar in 2014. The current owner has treated the Maserati to a ground-up, no-expense-spared, multiyear restoration by Maserati specialist Martin Logé's shop, JML Restorations.

Upon completion, the 3500 GT won First Place at the 2017 Greystone Mansion Concours d'Elegance, as well as a class award and Panerai Timeless Elegance Award at the 2023 La Jolla Concours d'Elegance.

This Maserati 3500 GT Spider is powered by a 3,485cc dual overhead camshaft inline six-cylinder engine with three Weber 42 DCOE Twin-Choke carburetors and produces approximately 220 horsepower at 5,500 RPM. There is a five-speed ZF manual gearbox, front Girling disc brakes, rear Alfin drum brakes, and an independent front suspension. The live rear axle is suspended by a semi-elliptical leaf spring setup.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2023