Maserati 3500 GT Spyder Vignale Spider
The Maserati 3500 GT Spyder, bodied by Vignale, was the open-top counterpart to the Touring-bodied 3500 GT coupe, Maserati's first series-production road car and the model that transformed the Modena manufacturer from a racing specialist into a viable producer of grand touring automobiles.
While the coupe was clothed by Touring in Milan, Maserati entrusted the spider body to Vignale, working to designs by Giovanni Michelotti. The result was a distinctly different car that shared the coupe's mechanical specification but offered a more glamorous, open-air personality. The Vignale body was slightly shorter and lower than the Touring coupe, with flowing lines that emphasized elegance over aggression.
The mechanical heart was Maserati's magnificent twin-cam inline-six engine, derived directly from the 250F Grand Prix car. Initially fitted with three Weber carburetors, later examples received Lucas mechanical fuel injection that improved throttle response and power delivery. The engine produced 235 horsepower in road tune, delivered with a smoothness and willingness to rev that reflected its racing pedigree.
The chassis was a conventional tubular steel frame with independent front suspension using double wishbones and coil springs, while the rear employed a live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs. Early cars had drum brakes at all four corners, but disc brakes were introduced progressively, initially at the front only and later at all four wheels. A ZF five-speed manual gearbox provided well-spaced ratios.
Only 242 examples of the 3500 GT Spyder were produced between 1957 and 1964, compared to approximately 2,000 Touring coupes. This relative scarcity, combined with the appeal of open-top motoring and the evocative inline-six engine, has made the Spyder significantly more valuable than the coupe in the collector market.
The 3500 GT Spyder represents a pivotal moment in Maserati's history, marking the transition from pure racing marque to manufacturer of some of the world's most desirable grand touring cars. It offered a driving experience that few contemporaries could match, combining race-bred performance with the sensory pleasure of open-air motoring through the Italian countryside.
Rarity makes every 3500 GT Spyder significant. Check for rust in sills, floor pans, and around the windshield frame. Verify whether the car has Lucas injection (later) or Webers (earlier). The inline-six engine is robust but specialist knowledge is required for maintenance. Soft top condition and mechanism should be checked. Borrani wire wheels should be inspected for trueness. Provenance and documentation important for values at this level.
Only 242 Spyders were produced versus approximately 2,000 Touring coupes. All Spyder bodies were built by Vignale to Michelotti design. Lucas fuel injection replaced Weber carburetors during the production run. Front disc brakes were added from 1959, with four-wheel discs available from 1960. The ZF 5-speed gearbox replaced the earlier 4-speed unit during production.