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3 - 1958 – Maserati 3500 GT Spyder conversion
See original version (French)

Estimate €150,000 - €200,000
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Description
1958 – Maserati 3500 GT Spyder conversion A tribute to the 3500 GT Spyder designed by Touring, embodied in this unique and exceptional car ✨ ‘The Hidden Treasures of the Périgord’ Collection ✨ French registration certificate Chassis no. *101*096* Engine no. *101*096* - Superb conversion based on the Spyder design created by Touring - Based on an early-production first-series coupé, delivered new in Italy - Owned by the same collector for over 26 years, with amended registration document - Conversion and restoration carried out in the 2000s; requires bringing back into service - 95,557 km on the odometer; blue colour and engine number match the original - Roadworthy, with a 5-speed gearbox and front disc brakes View the full catalogue for the ‘Rétromania’ auction, which includes this lot, on the Collector Cars Auction (CCA) website. The file and additional photos for each vehicle are available via the following Drive link (access must be requested): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1aluJ7ZZJvUKBib-4eJDbaGH6vxu5ePC4 Estimate: €150,000 / €200,000 Unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in 1959, two years after the launch of the coupé, the Maserati 3500 GT Spyder completed the Modena-based manufacturer’s Grand Tourisme range. Whilst several convertible prototypes were initially produced by Carrozzeria Touring, the designer of the 3500 GT, Maserati ultimately chose to entrust the production of the open-top version to Carrozzeria Vignale. This choice allowed the Spyder to assert its own distinct character, whilst retaining the mechanical qualities that had ensured the success of the 3500 GT. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti and built by Carrozzeria Vignale, the Spyder features a body that is as elegant as ever, yet slightly more expressive than that of the Touring coupé. Its silhouette is characterised by a lower waistline and a subtly contoured body line behind the doors, which adds greater depth to the profile, as well as delicately sculpted contours. Retaining the balance and understated elegance characteristic of great Maseratis, it thus boasts a silhouette harmoniously designed for open-top driving. The soft top, perfectly integrated into the bodywork, preserves the overall sophistication of the design, whilst the wheelbase, shortened by around ten centimetres, gives it more compact proportions and a more dynamic appearance. Housed beneath this prestigious bodywork is the 3,485 cm³ inline six-cylinder engine developed by Giulio Alfieri based on the Maserati 350 S racing engine. Fitted with two overhead camshafts and dual ignition, it produces 220 ch thanks to its Weber carburettors and enables the Spyder to reach a top speed of nearly 220 km/h. Smooth, powerful and exceptionally reliable, this engine plays a major part in the model’s reputation. Sharing the same mechanical specifications as the coupé, from 1961 onwards the 3500 GT Spyder was fitted with Lucas mechanical fuel injection, increasing power to 235 ch, as well as a five-speed gearbox which further enhanced its driving pleasure. The interior retains the elegance and refinement that made the 3500 GT such a success. The circular instrument cluster oriented towards the driver, the three-spoke steering wheel bearing the Trident emblem, and the quality of the materials and finishes all bear witness to the care taken in its construction. More than just a pure sports car, the 3500 GT Spyder embodies the art of open-top motoring, combining comfort, smoothness and performance in the purest tradition of Italian Grand Tourisme cars. Produced between 1959 and 1964 in a run of just 242 examples, the Maserati 3500 GT Spyder is one of the rarest and most sought-after models in Maserati’s history. As the direct successor to the 3500 GT, it helped define the identity of the Modena-based manufacturer’s grand convertibles and ranks among the most elegant and exclusive Italian models of the 1960s. Hence its value, which remains extremely high to this day. The Maserati 3500 GT convertible from the ‘Les Trésors cachés du Périgord’ collection that we are presenting here was converted from a coupé into a convertible. This conversion was not inspired by Vignale’s official Spyder version, but by the prototype developed by Touring, of which only three were ever produced at the time. It is therefore particularly exclusive. The car on offer faithfully captures the convertible coupé spirit of this rare variant of the 3500 GT. Its design is characterised by remarkable purity: a straight body line, unadorned flanks and doors without rear quarter windows, which, once the windows are lowered, give it the look of a roadster. Retaining the coupé’s wheelbase, it also preserves all the model’s presence. This interpretation accurately captures the finesse and elegance of the Spyder design conceived by Touring. Rolling off the production line in April 1958, this 3500 GT was delivered new to Italy, in the Florence area. It was already in France when its current owner, a discerning enthusiast of the Trident brand, took possession of it before registering it in his name in the year 2000. The car was in need of restoration at the time. As he already owned several Maserati coupés, he chose on this occasion to have it converted into a convertible inspired by the Touring prototype. The work involved cutting out the roof, fitting the soft-top housing with the necessary reinforcements, creating an integrated soft-top cover, crafting a complete bespoke soft-top including the frame, and removing the rear quarter windows. As well as the aesthetic purity of this solution, it also had the advantage of preserving the chassis without any structural modifications. Once these modifications were complete, the car’s restoration continued with a complete repaint in a blue shade true to the original, whilst the red interior was replaced with a green leather interior, creating a stunning combination with the matching green soft top. The look is completed by Borrani spoked wheels, fitted with chrome centre-lock hubs, further emphasising the highly refined character of this beautiful Maserati. The restoration also extended to the mechanical components. According to the owner, during this phase of the work, the engine was rebuilt, but more importantly, the gearbox was replaced with a 5-speed unit, further enhancing the driving pleasure of this open-top GT. In the same vein, disc brakes were fitted at the front. Indeed, as this 3500 GT is one of the first 100 examples produced – the 96th to be manufactured, to be precise, according to its chassis number – it did not feature the 5-speed manual gearbox that became standard in 1960, nor the disc brakes fitted after the first production run. In addition to these improvements, we were able to verify that the number stamped on the engine block matched that of the chassis. This Maserati 3500 GT has therefore retained its original engine, still powered by three Weber carburettors, in keeping with its original specification. With 95,557 km on the odometer at the time of the photo shoot, but having been virtually unused in recent years, a comprehensive service – particularly to address any leaks – is required on this car, which starts but is not suitable for long journeys. Due to storage conditions that were not always ideal in the past, some repairs may also be required to the underbody, certain peripheral components or the bodywork. Nevertheless, the overall appearance remains attractive despite the age of the restoration. In terms of registration, the vehicle has a French registration certificate identifying it as a convertible with four seats. Ready for a new owner, this Maserati 3500 GT Spyder conversion therefore represents an interesting alternative to the Vignale Spyder version. Its design remains faithful to the coupé from which it is derived, retaining its proportions and elegance, whilst the improvements made to its drivetrain and braking system make it more enjoyable to drive. Unique in its configuration, it is an offering that is as original as it is evocative, inviting you to rediscover Italian Grand Tourisme with the top down, with your family, in an atmosphere of timeless refinement.
See original version (French)
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About the sale Retromania
Auction location
Auction time 08/30/2026 at 3:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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