Formerly owned by Alfredo Brener and J.Geils of 'J.Geils Band' fame
1963 Maserati 3500 GTi Superleggera Coupe
Coachwork by Touring
Chassis no. 101-2640
Engine no. 101-2640
Introduced at the Geneva auto show in 1957, the Maserati 3500 GT was produced through 1964. More than 2,200 of these sleek 2+2 pillarless coupes were built, each one a tribute to the racing heritage of one of Italy's most storied car builders. The 3500 GT's alloy body was styled by Carrozzeria Touring and utilized the firm's famous Superleggera lightweight construction techniques.
A derivative of the engine designed for the world championship-winning Maserati Tipo 250F Formula 1 racer, the 3500 GT's 3.5-Liter DOHC six-cylinder engine produced 240-hp in carbureted form. The 1961-1964 production was equipped with a ZF five-speed manual transmission, replacing the 4-speed used earlier. The GTi designation arrived in 1962the "i" signifying Lucas-sourced fuel injection, introduced that year.
This is an immaculate example of the model that has benefited from considerable refurbishment and expense over the course of the last decade, progressively being improved from an older restoration to bring it to the fine order in which it presents today.
Much of this work was undertaken by Imports Unlimited in Highland Park, IL in the early 2000s, for which an invoice for in excess of $50,000 is on file. This included complete refurbishment of the front and rear suspension, brakes, ignition, overhaul of cooling system as well as a new interior, with new leather and carpets. It is known also to have received a bare metal respray to the current color in this period. Quite wisely, at some point, the oft-times troublesome fuel-injection system has been replaced by Webers, and is no longer with the car.
Prior to the current ownership, custodians have included two prominent collectors, the first being that of noted Maserati connoisseur Alfredo Brener who owned it from the mid-1990s through to 2001 and more recently J. Geils of the J. Geils Band. In its present fastidious ownership, the car has been required to be ready to use at all times and when inspected by a Bonhams specialist it performed well on the road.
Accompanying the car is a copy of Maserati's order book page as supplied by their archive. Unquestionably one of the best looking models to leave the Maserati works, 3500s continue to represent good value when compared with the contemporary offerings from Maranello. This car, in striking Italian red livery set off with chrome wires offers a great way to experience a classic Maserati.