This car, Lot 131, sold for $114,800, including buyer’s premium, at Bonhams’ Audrain Concours Auction on September 30, 2022.
In 1957, Maserati abruptly abandoned racing, the same year star driver Juan Manuel Fangio must have decided he had enough money in his 401k for an early retirement. For the first time, the firm would be primarily producing road cars. Its first entry was the 3500 GT, a great success, with over 2,200 sold. While this may sound like a small number, it was huge for the small company from Modena.
There and back again
Maserati’s 6-cylinder engine proved to be more than adequate (and quite reliable) and would go on to be used in later models. The firm essentially built only the engine, with everything else outsourced. In the case of the Mistral, the frame was constructed nearby in Modena, then shipped to Maggiora, some 200 miles away. There the body panels were welded to the frame and the car was trucked back to Modena — not to Maserati but to coachbuilder Officine Padane to paint and finish the body. It was then put in the back of a truck and shuttled through the streets of Modena to Maserati, where the engine and suspension would be installed, and the finished car tested. Speculation is that this convoluted production contributed to Maserati making barely any money on each car it sold.
Initially the car was to be named “2 Posti,” or 2-seater. This name comes from the same very literal marketing department that decided to name its 4-door “Quattroporte,” which, of course, translates to four doors. Fortunately, someone had the idea to rename the car after a Mediterranean wind, and “Mistral” was adopted. It is interesting to note that this name can be found nowhere on the car.
The Pietro Frua styling is not universally loved. Some feel the rear hatch makes the car look like an Italian Pacer. Regardless, the workmanship and attention to detail in these cars was excellent, with robust mechanicals and pleasing leather everywhere in the interior. From the start, Maserati road cars were more about elegance and comfort than top speed.
Triple threat
Our subject car has the desirable 4.0-liter engine but has had its Lucas fuel injection replaced with a triple-Weber setup. This was not uncommon back in the 1970s and ’80s, as mechanics would often blame the fuel-injection system they did not understand for an engine not running as it should.
I recall purchasing a Mistral spyder about 20 years ago, and the owner had already bought the replacement Weber parts, as he could not get the engine to start. After I received the car, I found the culprit: A screw that secures the ignition rotor had come loose. With the screw back in its place, the engine ran great for the 12 years I owned the car. No need to swap the Webers for the Lucas injection.
Having said this, however, Webers do make the car easier to maintain, as more mechanics know how to tune them. Although not original, there is no big issue with this conversion, at least not in a car such as this one. Were it a concours-quality example, switching it back would be necessary, as judges are likely to take a dim view of the substitution.
Something borrowed
Conventional wisdom says that obtaining Maserati parts is difficult. While it is true that there are fewer sources when compared to Ferrari or Alfa Romeo, Maserati used mostly off-the-shelf stuff. The Mistral front suspension uses Jaguar parts, the brakes are Girling, the gearbox is from ZF, wiper motors are Lucas, the alternator is Bosch, etc. In my many years of Maserati ownership, with the help of Google and the Maserati group I’ve been able to find everything I’ve needed.
Mistral bodies are aluminum, and while aluminum does not rust, the steel frame behind it does. This leads to electrolysis, which damages the aluminum. Bubbles under the paint are a sure tell, and bodywork on these cars is a lot more difficult than most.
Mistrals are strictly 2-seaters, but they make great rally or tour cars. They have plenty of luggage space, yet they are still nimble, with plenty of torque. They were even sold with optional air conditioning (which is fitted on our subject car).
Undervalued?
Assuming this example holds no immediate surprises, the $115k paid here was market-correct, perhaps even a bit of a bargain depending upon how much recommissioning is necessary. The new owner has an exclusive, coachbuilt Italian exotic at a price that is much less than most competitors from the era. The seller didn’t do nearly as well, paying $149k for the car in 2014 and adding just 180 miles over the ensuing eight-plus years.
Those of us who have been collecting Maseratis for a while have been waiting for the day when people realize how great these cars are and value them at par with their competitors. To the buyer of this car, I would say I hope you plan to keep it for a while, as we are still waiting. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.)
