Totally unique 3500GT with Scaglietti-influenced body
Right hand drive
Matching numbers
Comprehensive restoration at a substantial cost
Hampton Court Palace Concours of Elegance RAC Club Trophy 2021 Runner Up
Pictures by Tim Scott at Fluid Images
The Appeal
Maserati’s 3500 GT was its first series production road car and drew heavily on the experience gained from racing at the highest level. Although successful, it was still only produced in relatively small numbers with around 2000 coupes sold between 1957 and 1964 and just 40 produced in right hand drive.
But if that’s not exclusive enough for you, then here we have a complete one-off: a 3500GT with elements of the bodywork built by none other than Scaglietti and the remainder hand crafted by noted artisan Pierino Scalco. The body is completely unique and, according to its restorers, features elements built to the very high standards for which Scaglietti became renowned.
This car has enjoyed a varied history as a museum piece and then a competition car and, despite competing at some of the most unforgiving tracks in the country, managed to avoid any damage to the gorgeous bodywork. Following an exhaustive restoration to a fast road car specification, it was invited to enter the Hampton Court Palace Concours of Elegance where it was runner up in the RAC Club trophy. It’s no hyperbole to say that this is a one-off opportunity to acquire a very special car and a fabulous investment opportunity.
Re-bodied by noted Italian coachbuilder Pierino Scalco (confirmed by his son and an independent witness) with Scaglietti-built nose and a bespoke rear in 1965
Acquired by a local collector who stored it, unused for 30 years. His collection was disposed of upon his passing
Current owner bought the car 23 years ago and imported it to the UK
Recommissioned in classic race car spec by Colin Denyer Motorsport and used for competition at a variety of venues including Goodwood Revival, Silverstone Historic, the Brighton Speed Trials and numerous other historic meetings
Shipped to the USA for a ground up restoration at The Creative Workshop in Miami, Florida, who have multiple awards to their name at events such as Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, Villa d’Este, Cavallino and Mille Miglia. When completed, it received an invite to Pebble Beach which was declined as the owner was keen to see it again
Now back in the UK, it has been lightly used as a fast historic road car but the owner has decided that it’s time for a change
Originally identified by Maserati as a 1959 car, it is registered as such. A subsequent challenge saw them revise their opinion to confirm that it was in fact built in 1964
A box file of paperwork covers the majority of the car’s life and includes a photo album
Many photographs covering its time in historic motorsport
Let’s ignore for a moment the fabulous bodywork and climb into the cabin of this handsome beast. Given that the focus of the in-period modifications was the exterior look, it’s no surprise to find that it will be familiar to anyone who has experienced a 3500GT before. A body coloured dashboard with inset elegant Jaeger dials and a smattering of switches, topped with leather is fronted by a thin-rimmed three spoke steering wheel. But while it may be recognisable from the front seats forward, the view to the rear is very different, with a steeply raked rear windscreen leading to the flicked up tail at the back of the car.
As you would expect of a concours competitive car, the fit and finish is to the highest standard but the good news is that it’s not just for show and everything - all the dials, buttons and switches - work as they should. The tongue-in-cheek note on the dashboard requesting that only loud Italian opera should be listened to in the car does not, however, hint at a hidden radio. Instead, it either refers to what you should have on your headphones or, most likely, that you should be enjoying the mechanical music that the car creates.
Gorgeous custom bodywork with elements built by Scaglietti
Faultless paintwork
All new chrome
Here we have the main event for this car: the beautiful bespoke bodywork, crafted by the noted Italian coachbuilder Pierino Scalco who is also reported to have worked on significant racing Ferraris, including the ex Piper 250 GTO, a P3 racing prototype and a 275 GTB. He took a Scaglietti-built nose and adapted it to suit the Maserati while the roof and rear of the car were sculpted to complement the unique front end design.
The process apparently took ten months and the owner has been in contact with Scalco’s son who was able to confirm that it was indeed his father who carried out the work as, although he was just a boy at the time, he remembers the car. This has also been confirmed by an independent witness who clearly recalls the creation of the car and was able to provide a period picture of the completed car (included in the gallery), finished at that time in metallic green. The restorers at The Creative Workshop commented that the construction of the nose was in line with other work that they had seen from Scaglietti, and noted the quality of the work overall, even all these years later.
Now fully restored, the paintwork is, naturally, immaculate and the chrome mirror-like. The wire wheels are like new and underneath is pristine. This may be a car that you wouldn’t want to take out of the garage in the rain. But when it does emerge into the sunlight, you may want to plan some time just to take in the view.soB7a82mhOoXnLCtRAe6Xo0DhJxOJPzOcKOncmhl.jpeg1.43 MB
The Mechanics
Fully rebuilt 3.5 litre straight six engine with hotter cams and Weber carburettors
5 speed gearbox
Rebuilt rear axle
Bespoke exhaust
Lifting the bonnet reveals another sight that will be familiar to 3500GT aficionados but is no less spectacular to the rest of us. The 3.5 litre straight six has two spark plugs per cylinder which means rather more HT leads that you might expect, while the triple Weber carbs mean that it spits and pops when starting from cold which is a treat in itself. When warm, it runs very sweetly and, with its custom exhaust, makes a noise that is, in the owner’s view, “fantastic” with proof in the number of compliments that it receives and the fact that numerous onlookers have requested to record the sound.
On the road, it is unsurprisingly very much like a 3500GT to drive, the owner noting that the steering is somewhat heavy and that it may benefit from the discreet addition of power assistance. But there are no unusual knocks or bangs, just the constant presence of the Italian symphony that sounds fabulous when on cam and screams at high revs with its own distinctive voice. Fully run in after its restoration, it is ready to be enjoyed.
A very special car that will surely bring great pleasure to whoever is lucky enough to be its next owner.
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