Maserati 3500 GTI

The Maserati 3500 GT (later GTI 3500) was an Italian car manufacturer Maserati from 1957 to 1966 produced sports car in the luxury class. With it began in Maserati series production of the road-going sports car; all earlier models had been more or less competition ready individual pieces. From 3500 GTI coupe Maserati 3500 GTI S 1962 was derived, which was sold from 1965 under the name Sebring.

At the Geneva Motor Show 1957 Maserati A6 G54 presented as the successor of the 3500 GT 3.5-liter inline six-cylinder engine with dual overhead camshafts. The chassis was with rear leaf spring rigid axle rather simple. The 3500 GT was offered as a coupe and as a Spider.

The engine of the 3500 GT was derived from the racing model Tipo 350S, but has been substantially modified for civilian use. So Maserati increased by a modified crankshaft hubs; the same speed level fell against the racing engine significantly. The camshafts are driven by a timing chain while the drive when Tipo 300S was by gears Initially, took three double Weber carburettors before the mixture preparation.; was from 1962 alternatively a version with fuel injection from Lucas available. The petrol engines contributed 220 to 230hp; the performance of the injector version called the 3500 GTI was given as 235hp. One advantage of fuel injection was improved refinement and an increased pulling power. The engine had a double ignition with two spark plugs per cylinder and separate circuits.

The body of the Maserati 3500 GT rested on a tubular frame. The front wheels were independently suspended and feathered by coil springs. The suspension components supplied by the British specialist Alford & Alder. The rear axle on the other hand was a live axle on leaf springs. It was purchased from Salisbury Wheel Company in the UK. Especially the rear axle was in the 1960s to criticism occasion; it was considered outdated and not very comfortable.

The brakes were purchased from Girling. Initially used Maserati drum brakes on all four wheels. From 1959 optional disc brakes could be ordered for the front wheels; from 1960 onwards they were fitted as standard.

As power transmission a manually shifted four-or (from 1961) was a five-speed transmission from ZF, later also an automatic three-speed gearbox from Borg Warner was optionally available.

The 3500 GT debuted in 1957 as a 2 +2- seater Gran Turismo. At the Geneva Motor Show in March 1957 Maserati presented side by side, two different structures. A version – a notchback coupe with a broad B-pillar – was spanned by Allemano, the second of Touring in Milan The company management decided after the end of the exhibition taking into account the reactions of potential customers for the series production of the construction of Carrozzeria Touring, which also rivals Aston Martin DB4 clothed about the same time.

Touring’s body layout was similar in principle to that of the Ford Thunderbird, which should have served according to some sources, as an example: The belt line ran horizontally and stretched, and the passenger compartment was kept brief and followed the trapezoidal shape. The front fenders resulted in a large round headlights. The deeply placed grille was barred and carried the Trident, the hallmark of the company. Over the years there have been some minor Changes. Thus, the roofline was lowered slightly in 1961, and the grille has been reduced. At the same time the doors were wide rear quarter windows.

Production of the 3500 GT and GTI was circuitous. Maserati initially created the central longitudinal carrier frame, which was transferred to touring. There, the structure was built. Touring proceeded it for his own, patented "Superleggera" method. Thin aluminum sheets were pulled over a previously connected to the longitudinal frame steel mold frame after the completion of the construction of the vehicle was transported back to Maserati of engine, chassis and Interiors were built.

In addition to the production body by Touring emerged in various body manufacturers special bodies, but who remained single pieces or reached only very small quantities.

In addition to the closed and open 3500 GT versions of the new Maserati were available.

The first two convertibles in 1958 at Touring. They represented – except for the roof – largely closed specimens: The wheelbase was unchanged, and the belt was horizontally continuous. The Touring version, however, was not produced in series.

The contract for mass production instead went to the Carrozzeria Vignale. Here Giovanni Michelotti was designed to a shortened by 10 cm Chassis an independent body, which had a distinctive hip movement over the rear wheels. Unlike in the case of Gran Turismo, was the body of the spider is not made of aluminum, but largely made of steel. Aluminum was only for the doors, the hood and the boot lid be used.

Vignales prototype was presented in March 1959 at the Turin Motor Show; a year later, the series production began. It lasted until 1964. Technically, the Spider took the developments of the closed model after without delay. This includes the introduction of the optionally available injection engine, however, was used in Spider rarely.

In addition to the work of bodies of Touring or Vignale presented numerous Italian Karosseriewerke behalf of customers special bodies for the 3500 GT or 3500 GTI ago:

At the Turin Motor Show in 1962 Maserati first showed the 3500 GTI S, a 2 +2 seater coupe on the shorter wheelbase of the 3500 GT convertible with styling by Michelotti. The technique corresponded to the previous 3500 GTI (Touring), the body, however, was entirely self-contained. As of 1965, the vehicle received the designation Maserati Sebring.

From the closed models 3500 GT and GTI arisen to 1964 a total of 1972 specimens of plant body (Touring); added 245 Vignale Spider.

As a vehicle of the upper class was the 3500 GT numerous buyers from politics, society and show business. In addition to Prince Rainier III. Monaco drove Tony Curtis, Stewart Granger, Rock Hudson, Dean Martin and Anthony Quinn a 3500.

Both the 3500 GT and the Spider are among the most sought-after classics. For a 3500 GT with touring body in excellent condition, a price of 120,000 euros is required on the classical music market in 2011; the spiders are more than twice as expensive. So you can outperform the price of a Maserati Ghibli significantly.

Aktuelle Model: Ghibli (Type M157) | GranCabrio | GranTurismo | Quattroporte VI

Supercar: MC12

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Maserati

Makes

Maserati 3500 GTI