1958 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder (more photos 👇)
Five unbodied chassis left the Maserati factory destined for coachbuilders to propose designs for the new 3500 GT range, with Pietro Frua receiving his allocation in 1958.
Among his submissions, just one emerged as an open spyder, establishing design themes that would later influence the 5000 GT and foreshadow elements of the Mexico and Sebring models.
Headlights nestled into gently rising front wings, while chrome-dressed side air intakes and subtly flared rear fins created a distinctive silhouette.
Though Vignale ultimately secured the production contract for the 3500 GT Spyder, this December 1958 Frua prototype demonstrated his characteristic attention to detail and helped establish his ongoing relationship with the Modenese manufacturer.
Underneath sat a 213-cubic-inch (3.5-liter) inline-six derived from the 350S racing program. The dual-overhead-cam engine featured aluminum construction with cast-iron cylinder liners, hemispherical combustion chambers, and three twin-choke Weber carburetors producing approximately 220 horsepower at 5,500 rpm.
A four-speed ZF manual gearbox transferred power through a Salisbury rear differential.
Total 3500 GT production reached 2,226 units between 1957 and 1964, though this singular Frua spyder represented a completely unique interpretation of Maserati’s first successful gran turismo model.
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