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1968 Maserati Mistral

Coupe
Chassis number: AM 109306

The 1968 Maserati Mistral Coupe finished in traditional Italian red with tan leather interior was offered for sale at the 2006 RM Auction in Monterey, California. It was offered without reserve and expected to fetch between $35,000-$55,000. It is equipped with knock-off Borrani wire wheels, factory air conditioning, and a five-speed manual gearbox. It has been treated to a professional cosmetic restoration since new. At the conclusion of the auction the vehicle had a new owner, for the selling price of $28,600.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: AM109/SA1 691
Engine number: AM109/SA1 691

The Mistral was the first Maserati to be named after a wind, a strong cold northerly wind of southern France that immediately conjured up the illusion of speed, and the last to sport the race-bred inline 6-cylinder engine. A total of 830 coupes and 120 spyders (convertibles) were made. This is one of only 36 Mistral spyders with the larger 4-liter engine.

The car is about 60% aluminum and 40% steel. The doors, front clip and trunk lid are made of aluminum, with the rear clip in steel to add to the rigidity of the car.

The inline 6-cylinder engine uses two spark plugs per cylinder that provided for better fuel burn in the days when electronic ignition was not available.

Maserati was very innovative in being one of the first to use fuel injection on production vehicles; this car has a Lucas fuel-injection system, the same one that Jaguar used on a few D-Type race cars.

The current owner found this Maserati Mistral Spyder near Seattle in non-running condition. At the time, it was an unattractive root beer color with equally unattractive interior. Upon research, it was discovered to be one of a handful of Mistral Spyders built with the larger 4.0-liter engine and that its first owner was a Maserati factory race driver. Luckily, the car was complete, including its original engine with its unique Lucas fuel injection.

The current owner set about to personally restore the car back to its original silver color and mechanically maintain the fuel injection system.

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 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 hardtop 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.

by Dan Vaughan