Maserati 3500GT Vignale Spyder – 1961

• Multiple Concours winner
• 1 of only 242 cars produced
• Completely restored
• Inspected by various marque specialists
• Numbers matching hardtop, 1/40 examples, Fewer have survived

Chassis number 1319 was ordered in the spring of 1961 and delivered new to its first owner, Marc Frederick, a well-known movie producer from Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood. The Avviso Spedizione (dispatch note) is dated July 24, 1961, confirming Mr. Frederick as the first owner. The car was shipped by sea to San Francisco, finished in red with a matching hardtop and white leather interior. The Spyder came equipped with Weber 42 DCOE carburettors, a five-speed gearbox, front disc brakes, and rear drums.

At the first owner’s request, chassis 1319 was upgraded with larger Weber 45 DCOE carburettors and an alternator (replacing the dynamo) by Maserati factory mechanic Barbieri at the Los Angeles dealership. At some point, the five-speed gearbox was replaced with a four-speed unit, and the car retains all these modifications. This information, along with copies of documents, was supplied to 1319s previous owner by Maserati historian Ermanno Cozza, who is well-acquainted with the car. In 1968, the Maserati was sold to Frederick A. Usher, who is believed to have kept it until 1972. The car was sold and shipped to Brescia, Italy, in 1989, still complete with its hardtop. Five years later, it was acquired by Best Auto in Casalgrande, Modena, though minus its hardtop.

Restoration commenced with top specialists in Modena, aiming to create a flawless 3500 GT Vignale Spyder. The color was changed from the original red with white leather to another Maserati option available in 1961: Canna di Fucile (Gunmetal Grey) with blue leather and carpeting. The mechanical rebuild was started by Pinuccio Sports Car in Milan and later continued by Franco Tralli Maserati in Modena. The interior and soft-top were crafted by the renowned company Ferraresi in Ferrara. Bodywork and final assembly were undertaken by Darles Bussetti, a small but highly respected shop in Italy, with additional subcontracted work by various local experts.

In October 1996, the car was registered as ZA478EG under Best Auto’s name. Displayed in Best Auto’s showroom in 1997, it was subsequently sold to Paolo Provenzi of Bergamo, a prominent collector, and registered under his company, Autoexotic, in October 1999. In May 2004, the Spyder was offered for sale at Bonhams’ Les Grandes Marques à Monaco auction and purchased by a Dutch enthusiast, who had fallen in love with the car after seeing it in Modena in 1997. At the time of purchase, the car showed approximately 2,400 miles (3,860 kilometers) since restoration (the odometer had been reset) and was in superb condition— superior to any other of the 35 Vignale Spyders the new owner had considered.

The car was driven from Monaco to Modena for further refinements, with Maserati expert Dr. Adolfo Orsi consulted to ensure authenticity and originality. Dr. Orsi, the grandson of Adolfo Orsi, who owned Maserati during the 3500’s production era, provided valuable insights into the restoration. At Giuseppe Candini Maserati in Modena, a comprehensive service was carried out, including the removal of the engine to restore the engine bay to concours-level quality. After extensive discussions with Mr. Cozza, Mr. Candini, and Dr. Orsi, a custom exhaust, faithful to the 1961 factory specifications, was designed and installed. For ease of use in Europe, an original, unused km/h speedometer was also fitted, with the corresponding mileage transferred. Minor paint imperfections on the bonnet and front, incurred during storage, were meticulously corrected by stripping the affected areas to bare metal and repainting, a process completed by Autosport (Bacchelli & Villa) and Pietro Cremonini, both based in Modena, with photographic documentation provided throughout.

In July 2004, the previous owner drove the car to his home in Amsterdam, where it under his ownership was serviced at Italauto (Kees van Stokkum),  one of the best workshops for classic Maseratis in Holland. Italauto overhauled the cylinder head and replaced the head gasket in autumn 2004. Meanwhile, the previous owner tracked down the original hardtop (numbered to the car), which Dr. Orsi had sourced in Brescia around 1994. The hardtop was restored by Pietro Cremonini, with new trim by Fratelli Luppi in Modena, and fitted just before Easter 2005. Since then, up until selling it to its current owner, the previous keeper enjoyed this elegant car on European vacations, undemanding rallies, and various concours d’élégance events.

In December 2008, the Maserati was acquired by its current owner through Bonhams’ Gstaad auction. At the time of cataloging, the car was hailed as one of the finest examples of a 3500 GT Vignale Spyders in existence. This reputation was well-earned, as evidenced by its first-place award at the 2006 Concorso Italiano at the Concours d’Elegance in Paleis het Loo, Apeldoorn; a class win at the International Concours at the same venue; and a first prize in the Lions Rallye Concours d’Elegance, judged by two-time Le Mans winner Gijs van Lennep, who personally presented the trophy.

After the current owner’s acquisition, the car was imported to his home country Sweden. Where it has resided ever since, always being kept in a warm garage and notably, benefitting from a restoration in 2023. A full photofile from the restoration is available on request.

Prior to his purchase, The original Borrani wheels (all date-stamped 1961) and spinners were fully restored by Borrani in Italy.

#1319 comes complete with its matching-numbers hardtop (of which only about 40 were produced) and correct spare wire wheel. The car has been awarded the ASI Targa Oro (number 15030), recognizing its exceptional quality, Presenting a rare opportunity for any collector to acquire a truly exceptional example of Maserati 3500 Vignale spyder.