Description
** The Origin of the Gran Turismo** But let's first look back: Maserati, founded in Bologna in 1914, was sold by industrialist Adolfo Orsi in 1937. Orsi relocated the company to Modena and, although he achieved racing success with the Maserati, was not doing well financially until the early 1960s. With the A6 and all its many derivatives, produced from 1947 onward, the Italians also offered a road-going model. However, it wasn't until a white Maserati 3500 G. T. was presented at the 27th Geneva Motor Show in March 1957, along with the new Mercedes 300 SL and a Pininfarina-designed Ferrari 250 GT Spider, that sales figures developed in a direction that made series production and financial success possible. . In the mid-1950s, a new segment of sports car buyers emerged. Entrepreneurs, stars, and other successful individuals were thirsting for fast, luxurious sports cars; they didn't want to race, but rather travel fast on the increasingly well-developed road network. Maserati, or rather engineer Giulio Alfieri, quickly recognized this trend and built an elegant two-plus-two-seater sports car that combined existing technology with new ideas. And new ideas were needed at a time when Maserati was suffering from severe financial problems. Naturally, Maserati had looked to its neighbor Maranello, where the Ferrari 250 GT Gran Turismo was a smash hit. They also had a decent engine in Modena; the 3. 5-liter inline six-cylinder from the 350S racing car could be adapted relatively easily. The approximately 220-240 hp in the first versions, which were supplied with fuel via three twin Weber carburetors, ensured good performance, even though the Maserati, at 1. 4 tons, was no lightweight. Initially, the transmission shifted via four gears, but from 1961, a five-speed transmission from ZF was introduced. _The 3500 G. T. was mounted on a classic tubular frame. The front wheels were individually suspended on double wishbones and sprung via coil springs. The rear axle was a solid axle, which Maserati purchased from Salisbury Wheels in England – this was the biggest criticism of the 3500 GT, along with the initially used Girling drum brakes. From 1960, disc brakes were installed at the front. Compared to the_ Ferrari 250 GT Coupé, the Maserati was designed for more comfort. However, the design was universally praised. At the 1957 Geneva Motor Show, two body styles were available: one from Allemano and a second from Touring, which was then adopted for series production. Touring was also supposed to build the convertible, but the design seemed relatively clumsy, so the contract went to Vignale, where Giovanni Michelotti had designed a handsome model with an elegant hip sweep. By 1964, including the 3500 GTI with port fuel injection, built from 1962 onwards, 1, 972 examples with the Touring coupé body had been built. In addition, there were 245 Vignale Spiders and a few unique pieces from other Italian master craftsmen. Racing technology for the road The engine, however, still traced its origins back to a racing engine. Stirling Moss had already competed in the Mille Miglia with the three-and-a-half-liter six-cylinder in 1956 and won the Formula 1 race with it in 1957. Two overhead camshafts and dual ignition were therefore a given, as were three dual carburetors. With reduced peak power and engine speed, and a timing chain instead of spur gears, the light-alloy engine still produced an impressive 220 hp at 5, 500 rpm. In the contemporary competitive world of super sports cars, it thus positioned itself between the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (215 hp) and the Ferrari 250 GT (240 hp). With a displacement of 3, 485 cc, the six-cylinder was also the largest Italian production engine of its time. While the engine was developed by chief designer Giulio Alfieri, the remaining technical components were purchased from external companies. The four-speed transmission (five-speed from 1961) and the worm-gear steering system came from ZF, the brakes from Gerling, and the differential from Salisbury. This ensured that all components functioned smoothly even at a top speed of up to 230 km/ h, and valuable time was not lost testing in-house developments. The technical conglomerate was combined in a tubular space frame with two sturdy longitudinal members and extra-strong sills. This made the 3500 G. T., unlike a monocoque construction, ideal for the construction of special bodies. ** What 's so special about this vehicle?** The 3500 G. T. is now part of the prestigious Maserati collection "Tridente Colonia - Collezione perfetta del Curbs Club." This collection is also for sale as a package and consists of the following vehicles: Maserati Gibli 4700 (restored to perfection) Maserati Mistral 3700 GTI 2-seater (pre-production, restored to perfection) Maserati 3500 G. T. Dark Blue (pre-production, restored to perfection) Maserati 3500 G. T. White (unrestored, fantastic, and in original condition) This 3500 G. T. was built in late 1959 and delivered in November 1959...
