History & character

Launched in 1957, the 3500 GT was the first Maserati built in series production: following Fangio's world title and the marque's official withdrawal from Formula 1, it was tasked with securing the brand's financial survival. The Cabriolet, styled by Giovanni Michelotti for Carrozzeria Vignale, made its debut at the 1959 Turin Motor Show on a chassis shortened by 10 cm, with a steel body and aluminium bonnet and boot lid. Only around 242 Spyders were produced between late 1959 and early 1964.

From 1961, the twin-ignition 3.5-litre six-cylinder engine swapped its three Weber carburettors for Lucas mechanical fuel injection — hence the GTI designation — raising output to 235 bhp, supported by the ZF 5-speed gearbox and disc brakes. Rare and elegant, the Vignale Spyder now occupies a place apart in the collector world: recent transactions typically fall between $500,000 and $770,000, well above the Touring-bodied coupés, with a clear premium commanded by well-documented examples.