1965 Maserati Mistral

Maserati had risen to the pinnacle of motorsports during the 1950s, with Juan Manuel Fangio earning his fifth World Championship - at the wheel of a 250F - and the runner-up spot in the World Sportscar Championship with the 450S, both in 1957. The racing success did not ensure financial prosperity and the company's future was in jeopardy as the parent company's financial difficulties eventually forced withdrawal from racing.

A new era began for Maserati in 1957 with the launch of the Touring-bodied 3500 GT, its first road-going model built in significant numbers. The luxury '2+2' employed a tubular chassis frame derived from the company's competition experience and an engine from the 350S sports car unit of 1956. The twin-overhead-camshaft, six-cylinder engine was a close relative of that used in the 250F and developed around 220bhp. The coupe body style rested on a 102.4-inch platform while the spyder used a shorter 98.4-inch wheelbase. Production lasted from 1957 through 1964 with 2,226 examples built during that time with 245 wearing convertible coachwork by Vignale. The lion's share of the coupes was bodied by Touring.

When Maserati set about designing the 3500's replacement during the 1960s, it did so with a new two-door 2+2 coupe called the Sebring and a 2-seat gran turismo called the Mistral. The Sebring was produced from 1962 through 1968 with 593 examples built while Mistral production lasted from 1963 to 1970 with 953 units built. The Sebring rested on a 98.4-inch platform, the same as the 3500 GT Spyder, and the Mistral used a shorter (Tipo 109) 94.5-inch wheelbase. Both were equipped with the 3,485cc double overhead camshaft, twin-spark inline-6 cylinder engine of the predecessor that had earned the 250F cars eight Grand Prix victories between 1954 and 1960 and the F1 World Championship in 1957. The engine used hemispherical combustion chambers fed by a Lucas indirect fuel injection system and developed approximately 235 horsepower at 5,500 RPM. Maserati would later switch to V8 engines for their later production vehicles in response to increasing horsepower output by other manufacturers throughout the industry.

The Mistral was powered by a 3.5-, 3.7-, and 4.0-liter version of the inline-6 with horsepower outputs of 235, 245, and 265 bhp, respectively. Twelve examples of the Spyder received the 3500 engine, 76 with the 3.7 L, and 37 Spyders with the 4.0-liter engine. Early Mistral models used the 3500 engine while the final examples had the larger, 4.0-liter unit. 383 examples received the 3.7-liter engine. A five-speed ZF transmission directed power to the rear wheels and four-wheel solid disc brakes provided the stopping power. The front suspension was independent and the back used a solid axle. The body was formed from aluminum and, from 1967, in steel. Pirelli Cinturato 185VR16 CA67 was initially fitted, then later replaced by 205VR15 tires (CN72) on Borrani wire wheels.

The body was designed by Pietro Frua and built by Maggiora of Turin, featuring a curved rear window serving as a tailgate that was cleverly and discreetly incorporated into the flowing shape of the car, an original concept at the time. Originally called the 'Due Posti' (two seats), it was at the suggestion of Col. Simone, the French Maserati Concessionaire, that the Due Posti should be renamed 'Mistral' after a cold northerly wind of southern France (the first of many Maseratis to be given the name of a wind). The Mistral was first shown in a preview at the Salone Internazionale dell'Automobile di Torino in November 1963 and entered production in 1964.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: AM109S037
Engine number: AM109S037

Maserati commissioned Pietro Frua to design a sleek two-seat hatchback coupe as a successor to the legendary 3500GT. This was the first of the 'wind Maseratis' and the last of the straight sixes. The Mistral was first shown to the press at the Salone dell'automobile di Torin in November of 1963. It was powered by a 3485cc unit from the 3500GT, with the Lucas fuel injection and ZF five-speed. The suspension was similar o the 3500GT and rode on an eight-inch shorter wheelbase. A short time later, a two-seat Spyder version became available and the engine was enlarged to 3,694 and finally 4,014cc.

Total production through 1970 comprised 830 coupes and 120 spyders.

This Mistral Spyder was delivered new in the United Kingdom by Maserati Concession, the London dealership. It is a right-hand drive 3.5-liter Mistral that came to the United States around 1980. It was in a Missouri collection until 2007. During the 1986-1990 period, the car was treated to a restoration. The car presently shows 34,134 miles with most mechanical systems rebuilt much more recently than that. It is painted in brilliant yellow with tan leather interior.

In 2008, this Mistral Spyder was offered for sale at the 'Quail Lodge, A Sale of Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia' presented by Bonhams Auction. The lot was estimated to sell for $170,000 - 190,000 but would leave the auction unsold.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: AM109/S 099
Engine number: AM109 099 S

The Maserati Mistral was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in November of 1963 and would remain in production until 1970. In total, just 828 examples of the Mistral coupe were built alongside 120 Mistral Spyders. Of the 120 Spyders built, just 14 were produced in right-hand drive configuration.

This Maserati Mistral 3.5 Spyder is a factory right-hand drive that was originally built on July 29th of 1965 and delivered to London, finished in Nero over a white leather interior. It is not known when it came to the United States or when it was converted to left-hand drive configuration.

William P. Beriling of Marblehead, Massachusetts purchased it in April of 1973 from Paul C. Setze, also of Marblehead. Mr. Beriling would retain the car for more than three decades. By that time, the original fuel-injection system had been replaced with a triple Weber carburetor setup.

Doug Magnon purchased the car in early 2003 and shipped it to Riverside, California. Once the Riverside International Automotive Museum was founded in 2006, the car was put on display.

It is believed that the car has never been fully restored.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: 109 374

The Mistral was the last of the classic straight-6 engine Maseratis. The aluminum body was designed by Pietro Frua and built by Vignale, and the first cars were presented at the Turin Motor Salon in November of 1963. The Mistral was available in Coupe and Spider versions with either a 3.5-, 3.7- or 4.0-liter engine. The Frua-styled fastback profile was one of the first true hatchbacks ever produced. A 1964 Maserati Mistral Coupe went on to win Best of Show at the 1968 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance - the last time a 'then-new' car was selected for the show's top award.

This Maserati Mistral is one of 828 coupes built with a 3.7-liter, twin-overhead-cam 6-cylinder engine with Lucas mechanical fuel injection. It was first delivered to Norbert McNamara and remains in original condition.

Coupe

The Mistral followed the well-loved 3500GT moving the goal posts along the way. Tipo AM109 was a 2-seat coupe or Spyder assembled by Maserati between 1963 and 1970. The body was styled by Pietro Frua and made by Maggiora in Turin, bodies being delivered to Maserati's factory in Modena. Just under 1,000 Mistrals were made in eight years and named after a cold northerly wind that blows across the south of France.

This Mistral has the familiar Maserati 3.7-liter DOHC inline 6-cylinder, 250 horsepower with Lucas fuel injection, with a 5-seep ZF transmission. Girling four-wheel disc brakes complete the specification.

Coupe

There were a total of 830 coupes and 120 Spiders produced between 1964 and 1970. Every car was hand manufactured and the bodies were either steel or aluminum. This car is an aluminum-bodied car with a six-cylinder 245 horsepower 3692 cc engine. It was originally blue with a white interior. It was likely imported by Bob Grossman as a factory-reconditioned used car. It was purchased by A. Raynes as an Arizona car. At the time it was painted yellow and in need of restoration.

Convertible
Chassis number: AM109.S.049

Around 124 Mistral Spiders were built in total and this particular example is one of only 12 early Spiders equipped with Maserati's fuel-injected, 3.5-liter powerplant derived from the 3500 GT. It is an original left-hand-drive, U.S.-delivery example that was completed on April 2nd of 1965. It left the factory finished in Rosso Cordoba (Cordoba Red) over unusual wild boar skin leather upholstery and Arancio (Orange) carpeting. Optional equipment included air-conditioning, a Becker Grand Prix radio, seat belts, and power door locks. After completion, the car was shipped to the United States via European car importer Max Hoffman's Hoffman Motors Corporation distributorship in New York City.

The early history of the car is not known, but at some point, its original engine was replaced with the current 3.5-liter unit numbered AM101.01871. Around 2015, the Spider was purchased by Neil Peart and soon commissioned a major refurbishment, both cosmetically and mechanically, by Ken Lovejoy. The exterior was refinished in silver by Dave Ferguson at Images Auto Body in Campbell, California, making it consistent with the 'Silver Surfers' theme of Mr. Peart's classic vehicle collection. The interior was trimmed in burgundy leather, red carpeting, and accented by a wood-grained steering wheel. In 2021, the Neil Peart collection sold the car at Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach Concours auction.

by Dan Vaughan

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