One to Buy: ex-Rudi Klein Grigio Fumo 1964 Maserati 3500 GTi Sebring Series 1
Although the Touring-bodied 3500 GT and GTi ranked as arguably the most handsome 2+2 Grand Tourers on offer during the late 1950s and early 1960s, Maserati elected to commission Carrozzeria Vignale to clothe a slightly shorter wheelbase model that would be sold alongside for the 3500’s last couple of years in production.
The resultant 3500 GTi Sebring first broke cover at the Paris Motor Show in October 1962. Named in honour of Maserati’s famous 1-2 victory at the 1957 Sebring 12 Hours with the 450 S, it used the aforementioned short wheelbase chassis (reduced by 100mm) but otherwise imported the rest of its essential components from the existing 3500 GTi.
A cosmetically tweaked Series 2 followed in 1965, by which time Maserati had replaced the original 3.5-litre dual overhead cam straight six with a 3.7-litre version. Soon afterwards, a 4-litre engine was also offered.
Sebring production continued until 1968, by which time a little under 600 examples had been completed.
Set to go under the hammer as part of RM Sotheby’s Rudi Klein Junkyard sale in Los Angeles on October 26th is a remarkable example of the Sebring theme: chassis ‘02035’.
Completed in 1964 to the prettier Series 1 specification (one of approximately 350 built), chassis ‘02035’ was completed on December 13th 1963 and configured in the gorgeous colour scheme of Grigio Fumo with Rosso leather upholstery.
The car was dispatched shortly afterwards to its first owner in Garda, Northern Italy, and later exported to the US.
Chassis ‘02035’, which is accompanied by its original matching numbers engine, found its was to Rudi Klein’s Foreign Auto Wrecking in March 1978 where it has resided ever since.
Reprinted below is RM Sotheby’s description:
Estimate: $30,000 - $40,000 USD
Chassis No.: AM101 02035
One of approximately 350 Sebring Series I examples produced
Italian-market car sold new to Garda, Italy
Originally finished in Grigio Fumo (Dark Gray) over red leather
Recorded factory production date of 13 December 1963; documented by Storico Maserati S.p.A.
Acquired by Porche Foreign Auto Wrecking in 1978
First introduced in 1962 as the sophisticated successor to the flagship Maserati 3500 GTi, the Maserati Sebring stands as a quintessential example of mid-20th-century Italian automotive elegance. Named in honor of Maserati’s victory at the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring, this grand touring masterpiece was exquisitely crafted to navigate the post-war era’s vast highways and freeways with ease.
Powered by a fuel-injected, 3.5-liter inline six-cylinder engine, the Sebring merges respectable acceleration—achieving 60 mph in approximately 8.5 seconds—with a top speed nearing 140 mph, all while embodying the luxury of a meticulously appointed 2+2 interior.
Embraced by the affluent clientele Maserati envisioned, the Sebring eventually saw enhancements with the debut of the Series II, featuring increasingly larger engines. The Series I, however, endures as a prized gem among enthusiasts, celebrated for its original design, with approximately 350 units believed to have been produced.
Per Storico Maserati, this Sebring was completed 13 December 1963 cloaked in the handsome livery of Grigio Fumo (Dark Gray) over red leather trim. Following completion, the car was distributed to its first owner, a resident of Garda in Northern Italy.
Accompanying photographs, dated March 1978, document the car arriving at Porche Foreign Auto Wrecking in much the same condition as it presents today. Significantly, the Sebring retains a correct-type, fuel-injected 3.5-liter inline six-cylinder engine, maintaining its performance integrity and authentic character.
This Sebring offers an alluring opportunity to reawaken a timeless classic, one encapsulating the legend of the Italian gran turismo through its superb fusion of everyday practicality, exquisite elegance, and thrilling performance.
