Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Classic Sale at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show 2025 on Saturday the 22nd of March - Sunday the 23rd of March, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT.
The 3500 GT's designer was Giulio Alfieri, creator of the immortal Tipo 60/ 61 'Birdcage' sports racer and responsible for developing the 250F into a World Championship winner. The twin-overhead-camshaft, six-cylinder engine was a close relative of that used in the 250F and developed around 220bhp initially on carburettors, later examples producing 235bhp on Lucas mechanical fuel injection. Built initially with drum brakes and a four-speed transmission, the 3500 GT was progressively updated, gaining five speeds, front disc brakes, and all-disc brakes before production ceased in 1964
Dating from 1959, this is an early production 3500GT and would originally have been supplied with Weber carburettors and a four-speed ZF gearbox
It was sold new in Switzerland and subsequently exported to California, where it would stay until the late 1980s
In November 1988, it was sold and shipped to the UK as a 'stalled' restoration project (various pieces of trim were wrapped in US newspaper)
Initially on a Temporary Import, as the owner expected to return to the USA, the restoration recommenced here, with the engine/ gearbox assembly and interior trim being sent out to specialists
However, the restoration stalled again and this beautiful Maserati was destined to spend the next 30 years in a domestic London garage
By 2021, the garage was in perilous condition and the car was exhumed before it fell down completely. Unfortunately, the original engine/ gearbox and interior trim pieces were lost. Some replacement engine parts (the same type but from an early Maserati Sebring) were found, as was a suitable gearbox (in fact the 5-speed ZF gearbox from a later 3500GT) and these, along with the trim parts, have been refitted to show what is included. The engine has crankshaft and camshafts fitted, but no internals. The missing parts should all be possible to find and many of the rarest parts are already present
Supplied with the car is a California Title document (1985), a California 'blue plate' (1988), UK Import Document C&E 386 (It's duty paid but never registered in the UK) and, very importantly, its Maserati Classiche documents
This is a very rare opportunity to purchase one of the few unrestored 3500GT cars still available.
