If your into rare Maserati cars- then your in luck.

RM Sotheby’s has two examples for sale at Arizona that are extremely rare and important later this week.

First off we have an absolutely stunning 1959 Maserati 3500GT prototype by Vignale (main picture).

The 3500 GT is important in Maserati history (see history post here) as it was a huge success for the brand and finally put the car firmly on the map as a serious rival to Ferrari and Aston Martin and other luxury sports cars. What makes this car special is that is it among the first 3500 GT spiders ever built and shown at the Turin show in 1959. It is among the earliest of 3500 GT – one of only three prototypes made before the regular production models.

There many little design features that make this car special – added chrome around the lights, a golden Maserati Emblem in the grill. Also the air vents of this car and chrome lines on the side are unique to this car. The lines  of this Vignale designed car are simply breathtaking. Furthermore the car seems to be matching numbers according to RMSothebys.

My only word of caution: Presumably this car is not been restored in a while and it will take considerable money and time to put this car back to concours standards. 

But it could be worth it as the original colors of this car are even more stunning than the color now: Grigio with a red leather interior. (The original listing can be found here).

NB: Collectors should note that a similar car so also a 3500 GT prototype sold at RM Sotheby’s in 2014 at Monterey for $1.07m.

(All picture credits: RM Sothebys).

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Lets take a look at some pictures. The interior is clean and simple only showing the necessary instruments (which are beautiful Jaeger). I am not sure the electric windows are original (seems a little early for them).

The lines of this car are extremely elegant. Indeed Vignale was a master in detail and elegance. Notice the chrome accents under the headlights – no other 3500 has this.

The rear is equally beautiful with the delicate lights (that remind me of the 250 GTE Ferrari).

The next car is equally special.

Commissioned originally by the Shah of Iran, the 5000 GT is Maserati’s most exclusive powerful GT car ever made. Only 34 examples of the 5000 GT were made – all by different coach builders like Touring, Allemano and Vignale. Maserati soon stopped production however of the 5000GT (the cars were built at a loss for Maserati who struggled to find buyers for the super expensive 5000GT that was 2x the price of a 3500GT ). The 5000 GT is special also for the powerful 5L, V8 45oS engine taken from Maserati’s racecar.

This car being sold is a 1962 car by Allemano that is matching numbers (according to RM) and still carries the original color combination. The 5000 GT has a five speed gearbox with an estimated  400 bhp. The car presumably has not been restored since the late 1980s (maybe early 1990s) and last won a trophy at the 1997 Pebble Beach concours.

With an estimate of only $1.5 – 2m the car is reasonably priced. Having said that and my only word of caution:  the new buyer will presumably have to put in a good – $500’ooo to $1m to make this car a concours worthy entrant.

For the Maserati collector who has to the time to restore to this car to perfect condition – it is worth considering given its rarity, matching numbers and attractive original color combination (see picture below). For more information please see the original listing here.

by Edmond Saran