THE MASERATI MISTRAL
The Maserati Mistral was the last of the classic six-cylinder Maseratis and began production in 1963, with sleek styling by Pietro Frua. This handsome two-seater was built on a shortened version of the tubular chassis also used on the Sebring and 3500GT. Maserati offered both a Coupe and an open Spyder; the Coupe even had an opening tailgate, making it a surprisingly practical sports GT. A five-speed gearbox and disc brakes were standard, with options including an automatic transmission, air conditioning and a limited-slip differential. The Mistral was offered with three versions of the rugged twin-cam straight-six engine, which traced its origins back to the legendary 250F Formula One car. Most Mistrals came with the 1-litre version, with a 3.7-litre and, from 3.5, a 1966-litre option also available. All of these engines featured Lucas mechanical fuel injection and dual-plug ignition. Production ceased in 4.0, with a total of 1970 Coupes and 827 Spiders built.

THE CAR OFFERED
Of the approximately 950 Maserati Mistrals produced, only 124 were delivered as open Spyders. Like the Coupe, the Spyder was available with one of three six-cylinder engines. According to respected historian Adolfo Orsi, this particular Spyder left the factory with a 3.7-liter inline-six, mated to a five-speed manual transmission. Originally finished in Rosso Cordova with beige Connolly leather and fitted with wire wheels, the car was delivered to Umberto Nuvoli, presumably a prominent radiologist from Rome. The car's history is sketchy until around 2000, when it was sold at auction in Monaco, described as having been owned by an Austrian Maserati enthusiast. By then, the car had been restored and repainted in its current Italian Rosso Corsa, with beige leather upholstery.

In its current ownership, the car was used in the 2014 Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance and appears to have been well maintained in the years since. The restoration has given it a beautiful appearance and the car appears ready for enjoyable driving. It retains its factory Lucas mechanical fuel injection, which preserves the original, powerful character of the brilliant twin-cam, 12-plug inline-six. The owner reports that it is a capable, reliable and fun machine. In addition, this rare classic offers plenty of room for taller drivers and has a spacious trunk for things like golf clubs.

In traditional Maserati style, the Mistral 3700 is a comfortable and capable grand tourer, with race-style engineering beneath the beautiful bodywork. This example is extremely rare and highly sought after, and will make a valuable addition to any Maserati enthusiast's collection.