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1965 Maserati Sebring II

The Maserati Sebring was introduced in 1962, but its lineage stretched much farther back, beginning with Juan Manuel Fangio's fifth World Champion at the wheel of a 250F and the 450S clinching the runner-up spot in the World Sport Car Championship, both in 1957. Although this was the company's most successful season, they were facing a bleak future as financial difficulties forced them to withdraw from racing. Their revitalization plan centered on switching production from competition to road models, incorporating racing technology that had brought them success on the track into production vehicles.

The Modena marque's first road car built in significant numbers was the Touring-bodied 3500 GT launched in 1957. It was a luxury 2+2 that benefited from Maserati's experience, employing a tubular chassis frame and an engine derived from the 350S sports car unit of 1956. The front used an independent suspension setup with wishbones and coil springs, while the back used a conventional live axle with semi-elliptic springs. The twin-overhead-camshaft, six-cylinder engine was closely related to that used in the 250F, understandably so as both had been designed by Giulio Alfieri, creator of the immortal Tipo 60/61 'Birdcage' sports-racer. The 3500 GT's engine initially developed around 220 bhp, while later examples produced 235 bhp on Lucas mechanical fuel injection. the 3500 GT was progressively updated throughout its lifespan, with the drum brakes and four-speed transmission eventually replaced by a five-speed unit, front disc brakes and, finally, all-disc braking.

The 3500 GT chassis Italy's finest carrozerias, including Allemano, Bertone, and Frua. Most Coupes were bodied by Touring, while all but one (a Frua-bodied example) of the much less common Spider version were the work of Carrozzeria Vignale.

The Sebring arrived in 1962 and was one of the final manifestations of the 3500 GT. Maserati's newest Grand Turismo car was named after the company's victory at the 12 hour race in 1957. It rested upon a shortened-wheelbase chassis of the Spider and was styled by Giovanni Michelotti of Vignale. Standard equipment included a five-speed ZF gearbox, four-wheel disc brakes, and fuel injection. The options list included a limited-slip differential and air conditioning. Its hefty price tag ensured its exclusivity, with the new Maserati being approximately 22% more expensive than the contemporary Aston Martin DB5, its closest rival.

The Maserati Sebring Series I was introduced at the Salon International de I'Auto in 1962, with performance to back up its attractive appearance. It could race from zero-to-sixty mph in 8.5 seconds and had a top speed of 137 mph. Although impressive, Maserati raised the bar further in 1965 with the introduction of the new Series II Sebring. It wore slightly modified styling with redesigned headlamps, new bumpers, and new side grille indents. A 3.7-liter engine brought horsepower to 245 horsepower. A few cars left the factory with 4.0-liter units towards the end of production in 1966, by which time 591 (as many as 593 examples) Sebring had been built, 242 of which were in the second series, and 348 with the 3.5-liter engine.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Vignale

This 1965 Sebring II, of which Vignale built only 98, has a 3.7 Liter twin-cam, twin-plug engine delivering approximately 250 horsepower with a Lucas fuel injection system. It has covered just 60,000 miles since its initial export to Belgium. The car retains its original color scheme of silver with a red leather interior and black Wilton wool carpets. It has been carefully maintained with much of the interior and engine still intact.

Coupe by Vignale

This Maserati has coachwork by Vignale and was the New York Auto Show car for 1965. Carrozzeria Vignale originated in post World War II when the Vignali brothers started re-bodying war damaged Fiat Topolinos and thereafter were noticed by the Engine magazine 'Autocar'. Maserati is of Italian manufacture and is know by its racing cars as well as automobiles. Maserati was established on December 1, 1914 in Bologna, Italy and the company's headquarters are now in Modena. This is one of 14 Sebrings with a 4.0-liter straight six engine that develops 255 horsepower. Note the Trident in the vehicle's emblems.

Coupe by Vignale

Aldolfo and Omer Oris, owners of the Maserati works, had a marketing success with their 3500 series Maserati GT cars in both coupe and convertible body styles. There was a broad range of variations among 3500s due to the continuous evolution in both mechanics and styling details. In 1962, Maserati introduced its Sebring 2+2, followed by the series I, then the Series II during 1965, all with coachwork by Alfredo Vignale of Turin.

Powering the Maserati 3500 were dual plug, dual overhead cam inline 6-cylinder engine fitted with triple Weber carburetors or Lucas fuel injection.

The final Sebring Series I production total of 348 was followed by Series II cars ending production after just 98 were built in 1965 and 1966. Sebrings could be ordered with either the 3.5L, 3.7L or 4.0L engine giving a considerable range of performance priced about $15,000 in base form, all with richly appointed leather interiors.

A range of options included wire wheels, a costly upgrade from the factory steel wheels with chrome plated hubcaps. Maserati marketed the Sebring as an 'Ultra high speed Coupe, comfortable and reliable,' and contemporary magazine road tests to near 150 mph confirmed the high speed part of that sales slogan. Attention to occupant comfort in 4-place bucket seating provided comfortable, elegant motoring at its finest.

Coupe by Vignale
Chassis number: AM101*02045*

The Maserati Sebring was named in celebration of the company's victory at the 12-Hour race held there in 1957. While several of Italy's top coachbuilders provided bodies for the 3500 GT, most of the Sebrings were clothed in 2+2 bodywork by Vignale from a Giovanni Michelotti design. They were based on a shortened 3500 GT chassis and were powered by the company's 3500cc inline six-cylinder engine. Initially the engine produced 220 horsepower but quickly rose to 235 horsepower for 1963. The Maserati engine grew to 3.7 liters from late 1964.

This example is a late-production Series I. It was ordered on January 29th of 1964, by Fausto Bardesono of Torino and was delivered soon after on February 5th through dealer S.A.I.E. Torino in Grigio (Gray) over Pelle Rosso (red leather) upholstery. Subsequent known owners include John Weinberger and John Boccardo.

In 1989, the car was professionally restored, and was subsequently freshened for Boccardo from 2003 to 2005.

This car has period Michelin 'X' radial tires mounted on Borrani wire wheels. The 3500cc inline six-cylinder engine has a period triple Weber 40 DCOE carburetor conversion, along with original identification plaques and stampings. The luggage compartment contains an original spare wheel with its Pirelli Cinturato tire, along with a jack and tool roll.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Vignale
Chassis number: AM101/10*295*
Engine number: AM101/10*295*

The Maserati Sebring was introduced in 1962 and was the final manifestations of the 3500 GT. The Touring-bodied 3500 GT had begun in 1957, and the luxury 2+2 drew heavily from the company's competition experience. It had a tubular chassis frame and an engine derived from the 350S sports car unit of 1956. In the front was an independent suspension with wishbones and coil springs. In the back was a conventional live axle and semi-elliptic arrangement. It wore a design courtesy of Giulio Alfieri, whose resume also included the Tipo 60/61 'Birdcage' sports-racer and the 250F World Championship racer. The six-cylinder engine with twin-overhead-camshaft was a close relative of the 250F; it offered around 250 horsepower initially while later examples with Lucas mechanical fuel injection produced 235 horsepower. The 3500 GT was initially built with drum brakes and a four-speed transmission. It was progressively updated, later earning a five speed gearbox, front disc brakes, and later all-disc braking.

The 3500 GT chassis received coachwork by Italy's finest Carrozzeria, including Frua, Bertone, and Allemano. Most of the coupes were bodied by Touring, while all but one (a Frua-bodied example) received Spider coachwork by Carrozzeria Vignale.

Maserati introduced the Series II in 1965. It came with a revised front end and side vents, larger tires, a modified Tipo AM 101/10 motor, and horizontal tail lights. When production came to a close in 1966, a total of 591 Sebrings had been built. 247 examples were Sebring Series II models.

This particular example is a Sebring II that was ordered on December 6th of 1965. It was finished in Celeste Chiaro (light blue) over Rossa (red) leather with matching carpets. The car was equipped with air conditioning, oval exhaust tips, tool roll, and wire wheels. The car was completed on March 23rd of 1966 and shipped to Spain and put on display at the Barcelona Motor Show from April 14th - 24th.

This car was the 113th of the 247 Sebring Series IIs built. 130 Series II were fitted with the more powerful 3.7-liter motor, of which this is the 44th.

After the car was shown at Barcelona, it remained in Europe, eventually finding its way to the United Kingdom in 1998 and into the collection of Peter Martin. In 2005, it came to the United States. The current caretaker acquired the car in 2008. It is believed that the car received a rotisserie restoration in Europe, at which time it was finished in its current period correct livery of Burgundy Red over Beige hides.

This car has been shown at both the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance and The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Vignale
Chassis number: 101 01 0167

The Maserati Sebring was named for the racetrack where it was victorious, and it was based on the venerable 3500 underpinnings, with a shortened chassis. Showcased at the Geneva Auto Salon in 1962, and designed by Vignale's world-renowned Giovanni Michelotti, the Series I Sebring featured a 3.6-liter engine and was the first production car to employ the Lucase fuel injection system.

This car is a Series II Sebring (built from 1965 to 1968), one of 247 built with the up-rated 4.0-liter engine. It was delivered on September 16, 1965, with air-conditioning, electric windows, and Borrani spoke wheels. The car was acquired by the current owner in 2002.

In 2007, it was decided that a full restoration would be required to bring this car back to like-new condition. As a second series Sebring, it sports the more modern look over the first series, combined with the Lucas fuel-injected engine. Being a complex and handmade car, it created many issues for the restorer. The current owners worked with the restorer to locate parts, and when parts could not be found, they made them. The interior was entrusted to Car Classic Interiors and TC Restoration sorted out the paintwork. Alec Bacon commenced with rebuilding a very poor body, and all other work. The engine was rebuilt by Carobu Engineering and the owner rebuilt the differential. It has been a true labor of love and dedication to bring this car back to life.

Coupe by Vignale
Chassis number: AM101 10021
Engine number: AM101 10021

Maserati introduced the Sebring in March 1962 at the Geneva Salon, serving as a successor to the 3500 GTi. Named in honor of the Trident's victory at the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring, the new model rested on a 98.4-inch wheelbase chassis and wore elegant coachwork by Vignale. A redesigned second series arrived in 1965 after 348 examples of the first series had been built. Updates include a new headlamp arrangement and chromed louvers on the front fenders. Production of the Second Series reached 247 units, with 94 of those equipped with the original 3.5-liter displacement engine.

This particular example, chassis number 021, was ordered in December 1964 by Francois Staumont, an official marque importer in Brussels, Belgium. Optional features fitted at the factory include an electric clock, a Nardi steering wheel, and a Rosso Cordoba exterior with a White leather interior. It was delivered to the Belgian distributorship in March 1965. After residing in Belgium for many years, the Maserati was acquired by an American owner who imported it to the United States and commissioned a comprehensive restoration.

The current Massachusetts-based caretaker purchased the Maserati in 2016. In 2019, approximately $20,000 worth of mechanical work was performed, including a rebuild of the brakes, clutch, ignition, and cooling system. Four years later, the wheels were wrapped with correct Pirelli Cinturato tires.

This Maserasti has a five-speed gearbox, Borrani wire wheels, disc brakes, a tool kit and jack, and what appears to be the original Lucas fuel injection system.

by Dan Vaughan

The Maserati Sebring was produced from 1963 through 1969. The name 'Sebring' was used to honor the victories Maserati had earned at the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring race. The 2+2 coupe design was courtesy of Alfredo Vignale who had also created the prior Maserati vehicle, the 3500GT. Both sat atop a shortened wheelbase and were designed for the US market.

Under the hood was a six-cylinder 3485cc engine that was later upgraded to a 3694 cc unit. A five-speed ZF manual transmission drove the rear wheels while disc brakes provided the stopping power.

A prototype version of the Sebring Series I was introduced at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show. Production of the Series I lasted from 1963 through 1964. In 1965 the Series II was introduced which brought with it slight aesthetic improvements, which brought the design more in-line with the Frua-designed Quattroporte. Under the hood, a new 3.7-liter engine could be found that produced an astonishing 245 horsepower. This was later improved to 255 horsepower with a larger 4-liter engine.

by Dan Vaughan

A 2+2 grand tourer coupe produced by Maserati, the rare and exotic Sebring was introduced in 1962 and produced through 1968. Heavily based on the Maserati 3500, the Sebring was primarily aimed at the profitable American Gran Turismo market and received its name following the 1957 racing victory at the 12 Hour race. Joining the aggressive-looking Sebring was a single two-seat spyder in 1963 that never entered production, also built by Alfredo Vignale.

Debuted at Salon International de l'Auto in 1962 in prototype form, the world received its first glimpse of the Series I (Tipo AM 101/S), and then again at the Salone dell'automobile di Torino the following year in its definitive form. The hand-built Sebring was a roomy steel-bodied vehicle with a trunk and hood composed of aluminum that carried room in the rear for two smaller passengers. The Sebring design was a bit more angular than the 3500 and gave the vehicle a more compact look.

With an impressive top speed of 137 mph, the Sebring featured everything from the Maserati 3500, except for its coachwork, and could achieve 0-60 mph in just 8.5 seconds on 185x15 Pirelli Cinturato tires. New for the Italian cars, a Borg-Warner automatic transmission was offered for the first time. The standard Sebring was quite well equipped, but Maserati did offer many optional extras that included air conditioning, automatic transmission, tinted glass, a radio and special paintwork. Series 1 models left the factory with Pirelli Cinturato 205VR15 tires (CN72).

Between 1962 and 1965, a total of 348 Series 1 Sebring's were produced. In 1963 the engine was updated with an additional 15PS for a total of 235 PS (173 kW). The following year the 3700 engine was first introduced, though only a select few received this engine. All Maserati Sebrings were fitted with five-speed ZF gearboxes.

In 1965 the Maserati Sebring Series II (Tipo AM 101/10) debuted. The new model featured newly redesigned headlamps, updated more modern bumpers, new turn signals at the front and new side grilles that took the place of the lower extraction vents. The Series II took its design cues from the contemporary Quattroporte. The trunk lid opening was narrowed slightly, the bumpers were now more squared off, and the taillights were mounted horizontally instead of vertically. 245 Series II models were produced during its four-year production run, riding on larger 205x15 Pirelli Cinturatos. Powering the Series II was the 3500 engine, the 3700 engine with a lengthened stroke that enlarged its engine to 3,694 cc, and the even larger 4000 engine with a 4,012 cc engine that produced 255 PS (188 kW) at 5,200 rpm.

The Series II Sebring continued in production until 1968 when Maserati was forced to drop its older models from production. The last three years of the production run didn't have any major updates anyways except for a slight power increase for the 4000, now up to 265 PS. A total of 593 units were produced from 1962 through 1969, with 348 of the Sebring 3.5 and 245 of the 3.7 and 4.0 (combined).

The Sebring made it on Jeremy Clarkson's Top 100 Cars list as #77.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maserati_Sebring

http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/alfieri66x.htm

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013/02/23/hemmings-find-of-the-day-1964-maserati-sebring/

by Jessican Donaldson