***Vendor Supplied Images***
Highlights
- One of only 247 Series II cars made between 1964 and 1968
- Matching numbers, with Maserati’s 3485cc straight-six
- Weber carburetor conversion, replacing Lucas fuel injection
The Appeal
When it comes to the world of exclusive motorcars, the 1960s were the era of the grand tourer. The wealthy wanted cars that were fast, but also comfortable, elegant and refined.
Up until this point Maserati’s focus had been on racing and they had enjoyed great success on track before and after the Second World War. The 3500 GT and its derivatives were the first Maseratis designed predominantly for road use and Series II GTi Sebring became the company’s flagship grand tourer.
Here we have a beautifully presented 1966 example that is in fabulous condition inside, out and mechanically. A mere 247 Series II cars were made and this matching numbers GTi has to be amongst the finest specimens still in existence today.
The History and Paperwork
- Delivered new to the United States
- Registered in the Netherlands via Germany
- Accompanied by a collection of invoices
- Heritage certificate present
- Maserati operation manual and other original paperwork
- 36,509 miles indicated, which the vendor informs us is warranted
- Has receive a Weber carburettor conversion
- Continues to reside in the Netherlands
The Interior
- Supple red leather upholstery
- Full complement of Smiths instrumentation
- Autoclima air conditioning system
As you climb inside, it becomes immediately apparent that this Maserati has received a great deal of care and attention over the years. The red leather upholstery provides a great contrast to the blue exterior, hints of which are brought inside with the door capping finished in body colour. Evidently, some sympathetic retrimming work has resulted in the seats and door cards presenting exceedingly well, with little to no wear to speak of.
The carpeting is also finished in a matching shade of red and the Maserati embossed rubber overmats are a great period embellishment. There is also remarkably little wear to any of the controls, including the pedal rubbers, gear lever and EFFPI steering wheel.
This car’s dashboard is a great piece of design in its own right featuring a large gauge cluster that places all of the important information directly in the driver’s field of view without drawing their eyes away from the road.
Mounted centrally, we find the Autoclima air conditioning system which is a real period piece. Part of the whole grand touring ethos is the ability to arrive at your destination unflustered, which air conditioning certainly helps with, especially in some of Continental Europe’s hotter climes. Below the air conditioning unit, we find an array of switchgear which all looks to be in good condition and below that, a period radio.
Hinting at this Maserati’s impressive performance, a large grab handle is provided for front passengers and the right-hand side of the dash also proudly displays a ‘Sebring’ script, in homage to Maserati’s racing success. The dash top looks to be in great condition and we couldn’t see any signs of UV damage.
Inside the boot, the carpeting is in good order and beneath the floor we find a full-size spare wheel and the original toolkit.
Grand tourers simply must have comfortable interiors and this Maserati is a wonderful place to sit whilst hurtling across continents.
The Exterior
- Smart blue paintwork
- Exceedingly well presented underneath
- Ruote Borrani wire wheels
With bodywork designed by Michelotti at Vignale and borrowing small details from Pietro Frua’s original Quattroporte, the 3500 GTi Series II is an undisputedly elegant car.
Up front, quad headlamps ensure a clear view of the road ahead and on the grill, a large Maserati trident is proudly displayed. The exterior colour is pleasingly subtle which allows you to appreciate the flowing lines and finer details such as the rakish vents and ‘bullet’ door mirrors.
The paintwork looks to be in very good overall condition, with very few blemishes and certainly no damage to note. The bodywork looks to be really straight down the sides and we’re pleased to report that the panel fit and door gaps are all even.
Complementing the subtle paint scheme, chrome is not used in abundance here, but what there is presents really well. The car sits upon beautiful chromed Ruote Borrani wire wheels which were seen on only the finest ‘60s motorcars. All four and indeed the spare are in lovely condition and the vendor informs us that the tyres have ample tread remaining.
Underneath, all looks to be exactly as it should be and there are no signs of corrosion or wear and it is fascinating to see how they engineered the tubular chassis.
The Mechanics
- Matching numbers 3.5-litre straight-six
- Weber carburettors now fitted in lieu of Lucas fuel injection
- ZF five-speed manual gearbox
Straight-six engines with dual overhead camshafts proved to be very effective power units in ‘60s GT cars, with companies like Aston Martin and Jaguar using them for many years. Maserati used Pietro Frua’s 3.5-litre unit which developed plenty of power and torque for long journeys on fast roads.
Originally fitted with Lucas fuel injection, this car has subsequently been converted to run using three Weber carburetors which the vendor informs us increases the performance and reliability of the engine.
This Maserati drives really well and benefits from the ZF five-speed gearbox used by many manufacturers at the time. Under the bonnet, all looks to be in order and you can see where the original fuel injection system has been painstakingly removed with the manifold adapted accordingly.
Summary
This is a truly fabulous example of a lesser seen ‘60s GT. While the list is extensive, we think this Maserati is amongst the most stylish Italian classics out there, so if you’re looking for something to form the jewel in the crown of your collection, this GTi Sebring is certainly one to consider.
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