Despite their current fall from grace with dealer lots full of money-pit sedans and generic crossover vehicles, Maserati did at one time produce machines that were beautiful and exotic, with racing heritage impressively close to the surface. This 1962 Maserati 3500GTI is an excellent example of why vintage Maseratis remain so desirable today, while it’s doubtful the company’s current lineup with elicit the same kind of reverence. This is not only a hard-to-find model in any form but made more desirable for being a fuel-injected model that came with an extra helping of horsepower over its carbureted sibling. Find it here on eBay where it’s listed for $139,500 or best offer.
The 3500GTI is by no means commonplace, but if you’re going to buy a Maserati from this era that isn’t a dedicated race car or a Merak, the 3500 is your likely weapon of choice. This model helped Maserati begin producing more than a handful of cars each year, which has a lot to do with why it’s not terribly uncommon to see one pop up for sale (at least compared to other Italian exotics of the same period.) This one belonged to the same owner since 1967, and while he or she hasn’t done much to bring the 3500GTI back to life, it at least appears to be have been stored in an environment that allowed it to emerge in largely rust-free condition. The chrome bumpers present well, too, although it will clearly need a paint job.
The interior is another highlight and great evidence of a prolonged history of a sensible caretaker who at least had the good sense to keep it inside. The red leather remains in excellent condition for its age, and the Maserati retains its original wood-rimmed steering wheel and five-speed manual gearbox. It’s clear despite its many years off the road, the 3500GTI hasn’t been messed with too much, and the original details really do help to sell it. I would hazard a guess that the leather interior could be restored as opposed to completely replaced, as there are no cracks or other stress markets that would make it a total loss. This particular 3500GTI comes with the added intrigue of having been purchased new in Europe and later shipped home
The carbureted straight-six made a robust 220 horsepower; when equipped with Lucas-supplied fuel injection, power rises to 235 horsepower, respectively. Throw in the manual gearbox and you have a high-performance grand tourer, especially with a DOHC straight-six lifted directly from the 350S track car. The 3500GT, like its modern-day siblings, was developed partially to help Maserati weather some economic challenges, and allow the company to keep funneling money into the products enthusiasts craved. Though this is far from the most desirable Maserati model of the 1960s, the rare fuel injection setup and untouched condition will make it hard to resist among potential suitors.
You know how they say never meet your heros. I was lucky enough to drive the brother of this car. It was the carbureted version. A friend of a coworker has an amazing collection. We both love Hudsons and hit it off.
I have always admired the 60’s Maseratis, and told him my tale of woe owning a Merak. He handed me the keys and we took a ride.
He started to smile as we drove, then laugh as he could see the disappointment on my face. He said “It looks better than it drives”. He was right.
My 1966 Jag 4 door family car, drives better, handles better, is just as fast, and sounds better. I had a whole new appreciation for what Sir Lyons was able to do.
I have to agree. I see people take on cars before they have evaluated whether or not they actually like driving it and are willing to live with it for any length of time. If they manage to put them back together after tearing them apart and restoring they are disappointed that the now shiny car isn’t nearly as nice to drive as it is to look at. If it isn’t sold soon after it sits mostly unused until it is sold.
I fell for the Maserati 3500GT at first sight when I was a little kid and figured I would own one some day. My experience with them was pretty much talking with folks who either had one that was not currently running or former owners who spoke mostly about the problems of keeping them running or finding decent service before they sold them after fairly short term ownership. The third group were people in the restoration business who were showing me someones expensive and lengthy restoration project.
Almost never would I hear about pleasure or joy from driving them. . It really dampened my ardor.
I’ve been fortunate to have had the pleasure of seeing beautiful examples at prestigious car shows over the years, have even watched them in motion arriving and leaving the field. They sure are good looking machines, aren’t they? The interiors are so very cool in that classic Italian GT style.
Now on the other hand, you want to talk about Hudsons? Hudsons are in fact great cars. I don’t just mean the step down Hudsons. I mean all of them. From the very beginning. All.
Agreed, all the years are great. am a metallurgist and that is what first attracted me. They had some of the best in the business. Had a 1940 Super Six. My dream car is a ‘41 Super Six convertible.
I prefer my 1986 Ford Escort Pony, white 4 sp and no radio.
What color interior?
Gray with gray/black houndstooth pattern cloth seats. Best of all, manual wind window cranks.
You are a true connoisseur who knows the secret of what makes a truly great motor car. Everything you need and and none of what you don’t.
Same interior a the ’76 Pinto we had …
Can you QUIT showing cars from Gullwing or BHCC ?
Seriously !
agreed. bhcc is now a ‘featured contributor’ to another blogpage and i admit i deliberately stay away from content with their banner.
This would be a nightmare restoration for some novice not realizing the pleasurable ability of this 3500 GTI will never deliver before investing in a 200’000$ restoration. And the cost of resto is not light, even if your nubskull friend does the work from his trailer home. I had one in the 1970’s and it was really a pig in the poke to drive, a heavy sled with the worst injection system ever made. Not worth owning for the $8’000 I had in it. When a car like this sits to become in this condition, there’s no way to economically make it a pleasure to own. Back in the day, the early 1980’s, a ferrari GTE was worth $20K, these were $7k , How could this car be worth more that a 250 GTE, or a 330 GTE Ferrari today? Total madness on the complicated restoration and a money pit pig. Imagine the 250 GTE you could get for $300,000?
Broadly agree with comments above, these look better from outside than inside, but in its day the 3500 sold well and rescued Maserati (again for a while!)..
I don´t think that it is this or a Merak.,exactly. The Sebring and Mistrale followed the 6 cylinder line before the very different Merak came along. Not that they are more affordable in any significant way.
I remember when I was around 17 in 1981 I saw one of these 3500’s sitting in a buy here, pay here car lot for $2,000. It was a mess and someone had installed a straight 6 Chevrolet motor in it.
Whenever a rare sports car is shown in this ratty condition and is priced great than 100K, it is guaranteed to be from either Gullwing or BHCC.
They do know how to dig them up.
They seem to have access to some bottomless reservoir of ruined exotics. It’s almost as if there is a factory somewhere that is making more every day.
Does it even run? Front and rear plates do not match?
I have owned three 3500GT coupes, and a Vignale Spider. All were bought back in the late 80’s early 90’s when these were dirt cheap (all were under $10k and in better shape than this one). It is difficult to imagine paying this much for a project knowing it will be double this amount when the restoration bill is due…
Located in:
Astoria, New York
How do you guys really feel? As the owner of an original 30k mile ’53 Hornet, I have no experience with any Maserati. Jaguar is my personal limit.
Looks as though it has two spark plugs per cylinder and possibly two distributors. Note the mass of ignition cables.
Yes, it does have two plugs per cylinder. I remember being in awe as a pre-driver teenager when my uncle pulled up in front of our house in one. The two plugs per cylinder threw me for a loop.
I owned one back in 1972. It was the biggest disaster imaginable. The heat shield between the engine bay and the interior acted in reality as a heat increaser, the oil pressure gauge was fed by an aircraft style flexible tube which broke at the engine and laid up the car for more than 2 months, until Maserati Italy finally decided to send a replacement. The ful injection by Lucas was, well Lucas – Prince of darkness. Once on a very curvy 2 lane road between San Pedro, Ca and Palos Verdes at 11 pm, at speed, the entire electrical system collapsed. Had I not known the road, I would have ended up driving off a cliff into the Pacific. When I finally sold it for $3800 bucks I thought I had died and woken up in heaven. It was a great looker and super comfy, a great car for a photo shoot of gorgeous models in bikinis.
Something like this would be perfect for a drivetrain swap. I guess that’s what is known as a restomod now. Perfect it you get it for less than $10,000. If I had $139,000 to spend on a car I would learn to shape aluminum on an english wheel and build my own version from new material.
As we have been learning over the last 20+years, there are folks to whom $139K is insignificant in the scheme of their lives.
I’d prefer the Chrysler Maserati further down for looks, serviceability etc than this one, plus have $$$$$$$$$$ left over to enjoy.
Nothing wrong with cars featured by GWMM – they do find them ! But, it’s a buy blind internet seller. Would you buy a house without an inspection? Same values here and on the phone deals. Any car not immaculate requires 20,000 to 30,000 in start up work. A paint job on that Maserati is at least 40’ooo. Engine rebuild 40,000. Chrome 25’000. Brakes 15’000. Interior redo of the bridle dried out skin – 25’000. Gearbox,axles,wheels 35’000. Wiring 15’000. Details 15’000. Add it up, restored the value is less. But GWMM has all the right to market on this site, that’s fair and I like seeing the discoveries.
….great car…if swapt a jaguar engine in it….3.6 aj6…..