﹒Concours Restoration
﹒Matching numbers example
﹒1/94 Sebrings built to this specification
﹒Curated as part of the Concorso Cars Collection
﹒Desirable ZF 5-Speed Manual Gearbox 

If you want automotive beauty, the destination at the top of one’s list should always be Italy. It’s there, on that boot-shaped landmass, that style and design reign supreme. But that’s not to say that Italians live for style and nothing more. Far from it, in fact. The country is known for its technical innovations, especially those within the automotive world. 

The technical aspect isn’t one lost on the Italians. Their argument is that if you’re going to have your car styled by Giovanni Mchelotti of Vignale, you better give it a heart deserving of the resultant lines. And that they did, with the Maserati Sebring in the form of a 3,458cc straight-six with 235hp mated to a five-speed ZF manual transmission. 

With less than 250 built, the Sebring Series II was a far more considerable and remarkable improvement over the Series I. So named after Maserati’s win at the track of the same name in 1957,  the name stands today as a rare machine with enviable appeal. One that is the wheeled embodiment of Italian style, passion and engineering. A car that’s not to be missed. 

This 1966 Maserati Sebring Series II GTi was originally ordered by a German customer, Mr. Edward Schmucker, who took delivery of the car at the Koenig Maserati dealership, Munich,  Germany. A rare specification, this 3.5-litre model with the five-speed manual transmission Series II car was one of just 94 ever built. 

Over the following years, the car was used and enjoyed before being put in for some work. It was then that the car’s colour was changed from the original Celeste Ardenza metallic blue to a contrasting metallic red. Again, once repainted, the car was enjoyed for a number of years before being subjected to the full restoration that has brought it up to the condition you see here. 

This brings us to the car’s current owner, a specialist restorer based in Poland (where the car is currently located). In his family for years, and now a compliment to his esteemed and high profile collection, known as “Concorso Cars”, the Sebring was carefully dismantled to its component parts. Everything was catalogued and inspected, and then the mammoth task of restoring it began. And as you can see from the huge number of included images, it was an in depth, detailed restoration throughout - not one part or area was ignored. 

Now resplendent in its original hue of Celeste Ardenza metallic light blue, it stands as a car in concours condition. The final result is a totally rebuilt and revitalised car that will preserve its original condition for many years, increase in value and can be enjoyed as a genuine Show & Go automobile. To all intents and purposes, this is a new car. Nothing has been missed, everything has been refurbished and renewed. It is a truly staggering restoration, and as such, presents a most incredible opportunity for bidders. This is one of the world's rarest machines, but with the added bonus of being in utterly perfect condition. Remarkable, really. 

As you would anticipate for a car of such quality, there is ample paperwork included. Remarkably, the original delivery note is present and correct, complete with Mr. Schmucker’s details. There is a certificate of origin supporting the specification of the car, courtesy of Maserati itself. The factory order form is present, as is all the documentation supporting the specification and technical details of the car. 

There is also full photographic evidence of both the car before restoration commenced, and during. The photographs also go on to detail the restoration of individual components, proving that no bolt was left unturned in the pursuit of making this one of, if not the best Maserati Sebring out there. 

Of significant importance to note, is that this a matching numbers car. The engine, chassis and Maserati internal engine number have been verified and confirmed by Maserati certificates, issued and signed by their Historical Department director; Fabio Collina.

In summary, the car comes with documentation from Maserati to support the technical specification, the visual specification, the certificate of origin, the factory order, the delivery note, an historical certificate and documentation supporting technical data along with the restoration works carried out most recently. 

As you might imagine, the interior is quite the work of art. Everything was removed from the car and checked. Where possible, original parts and structures such as the seat frames have been retained, cleaned and reused so as to maintain a level of originality. Sadly none of the original coverings or fabrics could be retained. However, the silver lining here is that the interior has now been completely retrimmed in rich, black Connolly as per original specification (PAC1560). 

The dashboard was removed, the instruments were cleaned and checked before being refitted. All the original chrome work has been restored and refitted, and the dash has been recovered in black vinyl and black leather, as per original specifications and patterns. The same can be said of the headlining, which has been expertly replaced. 

The carpets were past being salvaged, so have been replaced with Wilton wool carpets throughout, including the boot. Furthermore, the boot sides have been panelled in diamond-stitched black leather. This is a car for transporting bespoke luggage, not the weekly shop! 

Back to the cabin, the interior has been completely rewired throughout care of an entirely new wiring loom, the function of every button, switch and dial has been verified. All the electric motors and other interior components have been checked, serviced and signed off as functional. Then there are the elements that serve as the all-important interface between man and machine. The steering wheel is the original Hellebore item, and has been polished to a high shine. The same can be said of the gear knob for the five-speed ZF manual transmission. 

It’s safe to say the current mendor has done more than throw a bucket of water over it! Quite the opposite in fact. The car was stripped down to a shell before being sent to be chemically dipped so as to remove all past paints, solvents, fillers and corrosion. The shell was then cleaned and sent to the fabricator. Here, the shell was given a new bill of health thanks to a collection of repairs and small sectional replacements. As you can see from the included pictures, the shell was actually in remarkably good condition, and thus only small, localised repairs were needed. 

Once repaired, the chassis and shell were measured and checked for alignment and signed off as being straight and true. Then the body was treated to PPG epoxy primers and was coating to hinder any future corrosion. After this, the body was painted with PPG paints Celeste Ardenza as per the original specification. 

All the chromework was re-plated and fitted back to the car, as were new rubbers throughout, new lights and other brightwork, and finally, the original Borrani wheels were restored, re-chromed and fitted with Pirelli tyres of a period correct design. 

The result of all this work, as you can see from the pictures, is a car that is quite honestly flawless. The level of detail, attention and care afforded on this Maserati are outstanding. If you were to be the lucky winning bidder, you could rock up at the likes of Hampton Court or Salon Prive and be on the receiving end of many a gasp. 

As you can imagine, the engine was given more than an oil change. In fact, it was removed from the car, completely stripped down, deep cleaned, fitted with new liners, new pistons and rings, new bearings and all seals and the cylinder block was checked for cracks or issues. The cylinder head was cleaned, checked, fitted with new valves, springs and seats along with new timing chains and tensioners. A custom made head gasket was fitted, and the cylinder head refitted. 

The transmission was stripped and rebuilt with new parts from ZF, a new clutch was fitted, new gearbox bearings and new seals were fitted, too. The same goes for the rear differential, which again was stripped, cleaned and rebuilt with new parts were needed. 

The Lucal fuel injection system was cleaned and completely overhauled, a new fuel pump was fitted, the fuel tank was cleaned and resin coated and new fuel lines were fitted. 

The radiator was inspected, cleaned, re-cored, tested and re-fitted. The water pump was overhauled and re-fitted, a new thermostat, new valves and new piping was also bolted to the car to keep it cool. 

Then you have the suspension and brakes. Everything was, as you would come to expect by now, removed, stripped, inspected, rebuilt with new parts where needed, and re-fitted. N\ew bushes, new ball joints, new Spax dampers -  nothing was missed. Nor with the brakes, which got new lines, new seals, new pistons, the master cylinder was reconditioned and the original discs were re-faced. 

It’s just an utterly astonishing amount of work that has gone into this car, and it’s all backed up in the photographs. This is how a high-end restoration should be carried out. It is an absolute credit to all those involved. 

It’s easy to throw out the old adage of this being a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ but honestly, that’s what it is. The Maserati Sebring was rare when it was new, let alone now, in 2020. To find one is special, to find one that has been restored to such an exacting standard is quite honestly not something that’s going to happen again any time soon. This Sebring was a good, solid car to begin with. The vendor identified that quality, and capitalised on it as a base for a world-class restoration. 

If you have been looking for a Sebring, this is it. This is the one. You will find no finer.