Maserati 3500 GTI Coupé Touring (1962)

A Symbol of Italian Elegance – The 1962 Maserati 3500 GTI Coupé by Touring

Few automobiles illustrate Maserati's rise as a manufacturer of exclusive Gran Turismo cars as impressively as the 3500 GT. Following its remarkable success in international motorsport, Maserati recognised the growing demand for luxurious high-performance road-going coupés in the late 1950s. Introduced in 1957, the 3500 GT became the marque's first series-produced road car and laid the foundation for Maserati's international success as a builder of exclusive grand tourers.

Its elegant bodywork was designed and built by the renowned Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, employing the patented Superleggera construction method, in which lightweight aluminium body panels are mounted over a delicate tubular steel framework. The result is an exceptionally graceful design combined with low weight and remarkable structural rigidity. To this day, the 3500 GT is regarded as one of the most beautiful Italian coupés of the early 1960s and a benchmark of timeless Italian automotive design.

With the introduction of the 3500 GTI, Maserati also made automotive history. The model was among the first series-produced European sports cars to feature a mechanical Lucas fuel-injection system. Its race-derived 3.5-litre twin-overhead-cam inline six-cylinder engine produces 235 horsepower, delivering performance that ranked among the very finest of the early 1960s. A top speed of approximately 230 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in around eight seconds placed the GTI among the fastest and most advanced grand tourers of its day. This exhilarating performance is complemented by a precise ZF five-speed manual gearbox, sophisticated independent front suspension and state-of-the-art Girling disc brakes on all four wheels.

The success of the 3500 GTI was reflected in its distinguished clientele. Notable owners included Prince Rainier III of Monaco, Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson, Dean Martin and Anthony Quinn, all of whom were drawn to a car that uniquely combined elegance, performance and unmistakable Italian style. Today, the 3500 GTI is widely regarded as one of Italy's most important classic grand tourers and as the model that paved the way for Maserati's later legends.

The example offered here was delivered new in June 1962 to its first owner, a garage proprietor from Liestal in the Canton of Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland. Particularly remarkable is its exceptionally well-documented ownership history: the current custodian is only the car's second owner, having acquired it at auction in 2009. Even the original Swiss registration booklet, issued to the first owner and bearing the official registration stamps from the period, accompanies the car—a rare historical document that vividly illustrates the Maserati's continuous and fully traceable provenance.

This example is equipped with the highly desirable Lucas mechanical fuel-injection system. Of all Maserati 3500 GTs produced, only around 400 were built in GTI specification with mechanical fuel injection. As many of these cars were subsequently converted to carburettors, original GTIs have become the most sought-after and valuable variants of the entire model range.

Originally finished in Bianco, the car underwent a comprehensive frame-off restoration approximately twenty years ago, during which it received its current elegant finish in Rosso Inglese. As part of the restoration, the distinctive aluminium bodywork was meticulously restored and refinished. At the same time, the engine was completely rebuilt by Broggli in Windisch and reset to zero kilometres. Since then, the Maserati has covered only approximately 18,000 kilometres.

The car has continued to benefit from careful maintenance and sympathetic mechanical improvements in recent years. In 2018, the engine underwent a further rebuild, during which a high-quality stainless-steel exhaust system was also installed. The interior remains largely original, with only the front seat cushions having been professionally reupholstered in leather. Accompanying the car is an extensive file of invoices and documentation relating to the restoration and ongoing maintenance, providing compelling evidence of the exceptional care this GTI has received throughout its life.

Thanks to its lightweight Touring Superleggera body, powerful fuel-injected engine and beautifully balanced chassis, the Maserati 3500 GTI remains an exceptionally refined and accomplished grand tourer. It effortlessly combines sporting performance with outstanding long-distance comfort, perfectly embodying the type of Italian grand touring car that made Maserati world-famous in the early 1960s.

A Swiss Veteran Vehicle certification issued in April 2025, its exceptionally well-documented Swiss history, the rare Lucas mechanical fuel-injection system and the comprehensively documented restoration all combine to make this a truly outstanding collector's motor car. This Maserati 3500 GTI Coupé by Touring represents Italian design, racing-derived engineering and exceptional rarity at the highest level. It offers a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most significant Italian grand tourers of the post-war era—a motor car that not only represents Maserati's golden age but today ranks among the most desirable classics ever to bear the Trident emblem.