Maserati 3500 GT Spyder Touring prototype

The 3500 Spyder is a rare and highly coveted jewel in Maserati’s rich history. At first glance, the car featured here appears to be one of the approximately 250 examples built between 1960 and 1964. In reality, it predates the production model by two years and was clothed not by Carrozzeria Vignale, but by Carrozzeria Touring.

At the 1957 Geneva Motor Show, Maserati unveiled the prototype of a new 2+2 coupé designed by Federico Formenti. The response was overwhelmingly positive and later that year the grand tourer entered production. Known internally as the Tipo 101, this 3500 GT is widely regarded as Maserati’s first true production car. Between late 1957 and 1964, a total of 1,981 examples were built. While hardly a mass production figure, it represented a significant step forward for a company that had previously operated on a far smaller scale.