Maserati Sebring
Maserati 3500 GTI S
The Maserati 3500 GTI S ( from 1965: Maserati Sebring, internal: Tipo 101/10 ) is a sports car of Italian car manufacturer Maserati, which was produced from 1962 to 1970 in a total of 591 copies. The car offered only as a coupe based on the technology of the Maserati 3500 GTI, but had a shortened wheelbase and an independent body.
Model history
At the beginning of the 1960s Maserati competed on the international market, among others, the British sports car manufacturer Aston Martin. The produced since 1957 3500 GT had over the years become increasingly difficult to compete with the British DB4. To remain successful, especially on the American sports car market, Maserati decided to position between the incumbent 3500 GT and 5000 GT the exclusive another model that should represent an evolution mainly externally.
Nomenclature
The new model was initially the name 3500 GTI S; from 1964, the car Maserati Sebring was named. By the term the work recalled the double victory of Juan Manuel Fangio / Jean Behra ( Maserati 450S ) and Harry Schell / Stirling Moss ( Maserati 300S ) in the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1957, a round of the World Sportscar Championship at Sebring International Raceway.
Technology
Technically, the 3500 GTI S / Sebring was based on the shortened by 10 cm chassis of the 3500 GT Spider. Its chassis including the repeated critical acknowledged rigid axle was unchanged.
As different drive six-cylinder engines were offered over the years:
- From 1962 to 1966, the 3.5 -liter six- cylinder engine of the 3500 GTI as the standard engine was used. Unlike in the case of the 3500 it was available here exclusively with fuel injection. The first engine made 235 hp. 1965, with the introduction of the second series of Sebring, the power was increased to 235 hp.
- From 1964 to 1966 Maserati offered the alternative of a 3.7 -liter six- cylinder engine that made 245 hp.
- Between 1966 and 1970, finally an enlarged four -liter engine was the standard engine. His performance amounted to 255 hp. This engine had been previously introduced the Maserati Mistral.
As power transmission was standard manual five-speed gearbox. With the release of the Series II an automatic transmission from Borg Warner was available as an alternative.
Body
The 3500 GTI S / Sebring was only available as a 2 2- seater coupe. The body was manufactured by Carrozzeria Vignale. According to the prevailing view came the design of Alfredo Vignale itself; some sources suggest, however, assume that Giovanni Michelotti have designed the bodywork for Vignale. In contrast to the models 3500 GT and 5000 GT, there was no special bodies independent body corporate.
The car was a compact body with high, straight running belt line and just cut the passenger compartment. The design was felt in comparison to the 3500 GT as square and so contemporary, but also more aggressive. There was a simple barred grille, the trident, the hallmark Maseratis, was integrated at the front end. Left and right of the grille were arranged horizontally round twin headlights. With the release of the Series II in 1965 they were integrated into an oval chrome surround, which had been taken over by the NSU 1000 TTS. Front and rear sections took so stylistic features, designed by Pietro Frua Quattroporte.
The individual series
The 3500 GTI S / Sebring was produced in two series. The first series ran from 1962 to 1965. According to the Geneva Motor Show in March 1965 appeared in the second series, the optically mainly differed from its predecessor.
External appearance of the second series were:
- Oval framed double Spotlight front
- Larger, but non-functional vents in the front fenders
- Horizontal, one-piece tail lights
- A newly designed dashboard.
In technical terms, II, the following changes were introduced to the series:
- Alternative availability of the 3.7 -liter six- cylinder engine from the Mistral.
- Availability of an automatic transmission
- Availability air conditioning.
The production
The first prototype for Maseratis 2 2- seater coupe was completed in November 1961. A first public presentation of the car took place at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1962; finally began mass production in late summer 1962.
From the first series (1962-1965) presented a total of 348 specimens Maserati ago. In the second series (1965-1970) developed further 243 vehicles. During this time, however, the Sebring came increasingly behind the perceived attractive models Mistral and Ghibli; only a few examples of Sebring were each built in the last years.
Production of the Sebring ended in 1969; the last models were delivered in 1970.
Market situation today
After the Sebring had stood on the classic market for a long time in the shadow of the 3500 GT, the second hand prices of Sebring reach now closer to that of the 3500 GT. For a Sebring in good condition in the summer of 2011, a price of about 95,000 euros is required. He surpasses the price of a Mistral coupe or a Ghibli coupe.