1965 | Maserati Mistral 3700

THE MASERATI MISTRAL

The story of the Maserati Mistral begins with its predecessor, the Maserati 3500 GT, which was built between 1957 and 1966. The Maserati 3500 GT/GTI was the first Maserati model to be produced in larger numbers, featuring a 3.5-liter, 6-cylinder in-line engine with two overhead camshafts, derived from racing technology, and a body designed by Carrozzeria Touring for the 2+2 coupe or by Carrozzeria Vignale for the 2-seater spider. The Maserati 3500 GT was a sales success and secured the financial basis for further developments.

The Maserati Mistral is a classic two-seater sports car, built between 1963 and 1970. The name "Mistral" refers to the famous southern French wind and thus established the Maserati tradition of naming models after winds (e.g., Ghibli, Bora, Khamsin).

It was first presented at the Turin Motor Show in 1963 as the 3500 GTI 2-Posti and was renamed Mistral in 1966. Strictly speaking, our car is therefore called the Maserati 3500 GTI 2-Posti.

Between spring 1964 and 1970, 828 coupes and 123 spiders were produced by Carrozzeria Maggiora. The body was initially made entirely of aluminum; from 1967 onwards, it was made of pressed sheet steel, with only the doors and bonnet still clad in aluminum. Our car still has its hand-crafted aluminum body.

With its long bonnet, sleek silhouette, and distinctive rear glass panel, the Mistral is instantly recognizable as the elegant design of Pietro Frua. It embodies the aesthetics of the 1960s in a particularly stylish way and is a real head-turner. Its clean lines, large glass surfaces, and fastback rear make it one of the most beautiful cars in Maserati's history. With exclusive features, handcrafted details, and a unique story, this car is more than just a means of transportation – it's a statement. With this design, Pietro Frua created a masterpiece – sporty yet elegant and timeless, setting the Maserati apart from other cars of its era. The generous glass surfaces and flowing body make every detail a visual delight. This car is captivating from every angle. Timeless, pure elegance and unbridled driving pleasure: the Maserati Mistral is not just a car, it's a lifestyle – a statement. This legendary grand tourer from the 1960s combines exceptional design with masterful engineering, bringing the best of both worlds to the road. Up to 255 hp allows for a top speed of over 250 km/h, and the mechanical fuel injection ensures optimal performance that impresses every time. Driving a Mistral isn't just a ride – it's an experience. The captivating sound of the high-performance, twin-spark inline six-cylinder engine is addictive. The precise ZF 5-speed manual transmission and exceptional weight distribution make every corner a pleasure, while the comfortable interior allows even tall drivers to travel long distances in comfort. This handcrafted classic offers so much more than just performance – it lets you experience the freedom and luxury that Maserati has stood for for decades. In short, the Mistral offers an unforgettable driving experience.

The vehicle is powered by a powerful inline six-cylinder engine, directly derived from Maserati's racing heritage and originally developed for the Formula 1 racing car, the Maserati 250F. This made the Mistral not only beautiful, but also technically advanced. It was one of the first production vehicles with mechanical fuel injection – an extraordinary feature for its time. Customers could choose from the following engines:

• 3.5-liter inline six-cylinder – 235 hp

• 3.7-liter inline six-cylinder engine – 245 hp

• 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine – 255 hp

Fuel injection was handled by a mechanical Lucas system (unusual at the time – most vehicles still used carburetors), and the transmission was a fully synchronized 5-speed ZF S5.17 manual gearbox. Depending on the engine, the top speed reached up to 255 km/h (158 mph), making it one of the fastest sports cars on the market at the time.

The interior is driver-focused and features a classic, sporty cockpit with high-quality materials such as Connolly leather, glass, chrome, and Wilton wool carpeting. A classic-design 3-spoke mahogany steering wheel by EFFPI completes the cockpit. The beautifully designed instruments consist of a large Jaeger speedometer and tachometer, and five smaller Lucas gauges for oil pressure and temperature, fuel level, coolant temperature, and an ammeter. The center console houses a Jaeger mechanical clock and an ashtray that is a work of art in itself. The entire dashboard is covered in black leather, and together with the elegant switches and chrome trim, it offers the driver a functional, sporty, and very high-quality dashboard.

What makes this vehicle so special? The 3700 GTI 2-seater is part of the prestigious Maserati collection "Tridente Colonia - The Perfect Collection of the Curbs Club".

This collection is also offered for sale as a complete package and comprises the following vehicles:

Maserati Ghibli 4700 (Restored to perfection)

Maserati Mistral 3700 GTI 2-seater (Prototype, restored to perfection)

Maserati 3500 GT Dark Blue (Pre-production model, restored to perfection)

Maserati 3500 GT White (Unrestored, fantastically and completely original condition)

This Mistral was built in March 1965 and left the factory in "Azzurro Chiaro Metallizzato" (light metallic blue), paint code Salchi 106A20. The interior trim is "Pelle Senape" (mustard leather), Connolly code PAC.1775. Both were restored to original specifications. The car has a 3.7-liter engine and a 5-speed ZF transmission. In my opinion, this is the best engine for this car, better than the larger 4.0-liter version. The 3.7-liter engine has thicker cylinder liners and is therefore less prone to overheating. The lighter crankshaft also makes it more responsive. It still has the beautiful original dashboard. This Maserati was originally delivered to the USA. In 2011, the car returned to Europe. The next owner, the Joop Stolze Collection, sold the coupe to its current owner in 2011.  He decided to have the car undergo a concours-level restoration. The car was restored to the finest detail, without any expense spared, in 2,500 hours of work. I am convinced that this is one of the best Mistrals in the world, restored by one of the best European Maserati specialists. The car was completely disassembled, the aluminum body separated from the frame, and then expertly repaired by the most talented bodywork specialists. During this process, the bodywork was disassembled, and the paint and rust were removed using a chemical dip tank. Subsequently, it was repaired on a Celette chassis straightening frame and reassembled with the restored aluminum panels.

The work on the bodywork and painting took over 600 hours. All panel gaps are uniform, all surfaces are perfectly flat, and the paint finish is of high quality, smooth, and glossy. After that, a complete restoration of the mechanical components and interior began, taking over two years. The entire mechanical system and bodywork were restored by the best Maserati specialists in Europe; every bolt, seal, bearing, connection, and all technical parts were replaced. Engine, gearbox, braking system, instruments, interior – everything was disassembled and overhauled. Known weak points of the Mistral were addressed, improving durability and reliability. Even a custom-made rear axle brace, which enhances handling and road stability, was designed, manufactured, and installed. The chrome wire wheels by Borrani, size 16x6L RW3872 RECORD, were restored and fitted with genuine Michelin tires of the original size 6.00 x 16 Michelin X (Radial). All chrome parts were meticulously refinished, either re-chromed or polished. All glass panels were polished, the windshield was replaced, and all rubber seals were renewed. The seats were reupholstered, with a flatter seat cushion for the driver's seat to accommodate taller drivers. The leather used was sourced in England and meets the original specifications. It is vegetable tanned and has the authentic color and grain; the smell of the leather is wonderful. The carpet is also from Wilton and is a high-pile wool carpet – nothing like modern carpets! The carpet edging is made of leather and stitched with a double, hidden seam. A custom-designed, discreetly mounted air conditioning system ensures that even long summer journeys are comfortable. Over €300,000 was invested in this "Mistral 3700 GTI 2-seater". This car is better than when it left the factory in March 1965.  It has been restored using modern technologies and tools, and features a corrosion-resistant dip-coating primer. The mechanics have been meticulously restored with expert knowledge and experience, using modern materials, and known weak points have been addressed, improving reliability.  This includes, among other things, modern pistons and an improved cylinder head gasket. The fuel injection system, often considered temperamental, has been expertly overhauled and now operates reliably and precisely, allowing the vehicle to perform smoothly and confidently, both in city traffic and at high speeds on the highway. The custom-made stainless steel exhaust system, built to original specifications, gives the engine a truly captivating sound! This car is a rare collector's item and not comparable to an average Mistral on the market. This Mistral is part of the fantastic "Tridente Colonia - Collezione Perfetta del Curbs Club" collection of Maserati vehicles, all in comparable condition.

 Arwed Lange, our sales representative, will be happy to advise you. He will provide you with all relevant information about this vehicle and invite you to visit our showroom in Cologne. We hope we have piqued your interest in this exceptional opportunity. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to seeing you soon in Cologne.