Maserati 3500 GT

Maserati 3500 GT at a glance

By our calculation, the carburettor coupé carries 8.9 kg per kW and the GTi 8.3 kg per kW. Those figures were strong for a four-seat GT of the late 1950s.

Why Maserati needed a road car

In the mid-1950s Maserati was known for racing cars, and its road cars, such as the A6 series, were built in tiny numbers: about a dozen a year. The company needed steady income, and a refined grand tourer for wealthy customers was the obvious product. The story of that turning point is told in Maserati's history.

Chief engineer Giulio Alfieri had a new long-stroke 3.5-litre six ready in 1955, and the main development of the 3500 GT ran through 1956 and 1957. The engine came from the 350S, one of the sports-racing cars that also included the Maserati 450S. For road use it gained a wet sump and new accessories, and the old 1cars text notes that reliability came before peak output.

Development and production timeline

The Geneva jury, in effect, was the customer. Maserati picked the Touring design for production and gave it a bolder grille. Output then climbed from 18 cars in 1957 to 500 in 1961. By our calculation, 1961 alone accounts for 22 % of all 3500 GT production.

Touring Superleggera body and chassis

Carrozzeria Touring of Milan built the coupé with its Superleggera method: thin aluminium panels over a frame of small steel tubes, fixed to Maserati's tubular chassis. The result was a 2+2 with a long bonnet, a low roofline and room for two adults in front and two children or bags behind. Touring built 1,981 of the coupés.

The cabin was finished to a high standard. The old 1cars text describes leather seats, a three-spoke steering wheel and a floor-mounted gear lever, plus a large grab handle in front of the passenger.

Tipo 101 engine, gearbox and brakes

The Tipo 101 engine has an aluminium block and head, two overhead camshafts and two valves per cylinder. Fed by three twin-choke Weber 42 DCOE carburettors, it reached its 162 kW peak at 5,500 rpm. The old 1cars text adds that each cylinder had two spark plugs, which gave more reliable ignition.

In 1961 the 3500 GTi brought Lucas mechanical fuel injection and 173 kW (235 PS); Maserati quotes the peak at 5,800 rpm. The early cars used a four-speed ZF gearbox. A five-speed ZF became optional in 1960 and standard on the GTi.

Brakes improved step by step. The first cars had 12-inch finned Girling drums. Front disc brakes were optional in 1959 and standard from 1960, and rear discs became standard in 1962. Convert the period power figures with the 1cars power converter to compare them with modern cars.

Variants: Spyder, one-offs and derivatives

The Vignale Spyder had a wheelbase 10 cm shorter than the coupé and a steel body with aluminium bonnet and boot lid. Production figures differ by source: Wikipedia gives 245, while Maserati's own table lists 204 carburettor and 56 injected Spyders. Touring also made three open cars of its own design.

In service: reliability and legacy

The 3500 GT gave Maserati a solid road-car business for the first time. It also defined the formula of its road cars for decades: a front-mounted six or V8, a comfortable four-seat cabin and Italian coachwork. The Sebring of 1962 and the Mistral continued the line, and today's Maserati GranTurismo follows the same idea.

How it compared with other GTs of 1957–1964

Compared with these rivals, the 3500 GT was more of a touring car than a sports car. Its rear seats, quiet six and Italian coachwork appealed to buyers who drove long distances rather than raced at weekends. Later cars added a five-speed gearbox and disc brakes all round, which suited long journeys on the new European motorways even better. To set it against other classics, use the 1cars comparison tool.

Preservation and collecting today

Surviving cars are sought after, and the Vignale Spyder is the most valuable. Coupés are more common and give the same engine and comfort for less money. A specialist should inspect the Touring body where the aluminium panels meet the steel tubes, because the two metals can corrode at the joints. On the GTi, the Lucas mechanical injection needs a specialist who knows the system. Matching chassis and engine numbers, the original body maker and a documented history make a large difference to value.

For a buyer, our verdict is simple: choose a 1960–1964 coupé with front disc brakes and a five-speed gearbox for driving, and a Spyder only if originality and budget allow. Other Maserati models from the same era are listed on the Maserati brand page.