At Auction for the First Time

The Briggs Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale
Live and on-line auction starts Saturday 6th March 2021 at 2pm AEST

OVERVIEW

Hailed as one of the most beautiful cars ever made, a 1961 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder with coachwork by Vignale will be offered at a single car auction at Australia’s most prestigious concours, the 2021 AXA Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance, on Saturday 6 March.

The Maserati has been owned for 28 years by prominent Perth car collector Peter Briggs who said that he had always had a love affair with the lines of the Ferrari California Spyder and when he was offered a Maserati with the interpretation of the same lines designed by Michelotti and clad by Vignale he had to have it.

“This Maserati has been part of our family life for a quarter century and it is now time that for a new owner to fall in love with its timeless style,” he said.

“There can be few road cars which embody of the spirit of the Maserati brothers’ racing cars as the 3500 GT. The Spyder version with bodywork by Carrozzeria Vignale of Turin speaks to the swinging 60s and the wind-in-the-hair motoring of the age.”

Adolfo Orsi Jr, the grandson of the owner of the Maserati company from 1937 to 1968 and one of the most respected Italian motoring historians said that the decision to put the engine of the Maserati 250F grand prix car into a sports car created one of the great cars of the era.  He said that the Maserati 3500 GT was the car of choice for Italian film stars and celebrities and the convertible Spyder was an even more exclusive model enjoyed by the privileged few.  Only 242 Spyder variants were manufactured during the limited production run.

Chassis number AM1011305 was manufactured in June 1961 with Maserati  six cylinder in-line 3485cc carbureted engine with five speed ZF gearbox.

The car was delivered in the late 1970s to an Italian diplomat who registered the car in Canberra.  It was sold in the 1970s to the well-known car enthusiast Graeme Snape and after several owners became part of the Peter Briggs Collection in Perth, Western Australia.

The Maserati Classiche documentation on file confirms that this particular car was completed on the 5th June 1961 and despatched to Arcugnano, Vicenza in northern Italy. It was fitted with Maserati’s 3485cc engine (with carburettors), a 5-speed manual gearbox, Borrani disc wheels and a factory hard top. The car was finished in ‘argento luna’ (silver) with a red interior. 

Today this Maserati 3500 GT Vignale Spyder presents and drives beautifully. The paintwork is bright with a strong depth of colour. There are a few minor defects and blemishes evident, but, overall it is very good. Importantly, the car looks to be structurally excellent. All the exterior trim, badges and the glass are in very good condition. The front indicator lenses and the left hand rear tail-light lens look to be original and are slightly faded. This Maserati now runs on Borrani wire wheels that are in excellent condition and suit the car perfectly.  Inside, the cabin is ‘just a lovely place to be’. The leather seats, door cards and centre console show ‘just the right amount of patina’. There are no rips or tears. The red carpets show some wear, though they are still presentable. A highlight of any Maserati 3500 GT is the dash, instruments and controls. On this car they all present well, and everything looks to be in working order. The car starts easily once the Weber carburettors have been primed. The engine idles incredibly smoothly, and it sounds fabulous making all the right noises and with a raspy exhaust note. The car doesn’t take long to warm up, select first gear and away you go.

Highlights:

• Confirmed by Maserati Classiche as delivered on the 5th June 1961 and sold new into Vicenza, Italy.
• Matching numbers chassis and engine.
• This car has been in Australia for most of its life and comes from 28 years of continuous ownership with a major collector.
• Known history back to the late 1960’s.
• Special order with carburettors.
• Desirable specification car with disc brakes and a five speed gearbox.
• This is a beautifully presented and driving car.
• Maserati built only 242 examples of the 3500 GT Vignale Spyders making this one of the rarest and most exclusive models.
• We understand this to be one of only a handful of examples in Australia.
• The Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale is included in Classic Cars Magazine “Hot 30 Classics to Buy in 2020” list of cars GBP 500,000+