A very interesting Maserati is coming up for sale at Bonhams' "Important Collectors' Motor Cars, Motorcycles and Automobilia" sale at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands on the 6th December 2010 at 10:00am.

A 1964 Maserati 3500 GTi Coupe, formerly the property of the late Bill McGrath.

Lot No: 507

Formerly the property of the late Bill McGrath
1964 Maserati 3500GTI Coupé

Coachwork by Touring, of Milan
Registration no. CLN 129B
Chassis no. AM101*2850*
Engine no. AM101*2850*

Estimate: £65,000 - 75,000

SOLD FOR GB £78,500

FOOTNOTE:

By the end of the 1950s Maserati was facing a bleak future. Its parent company's financial difficulties forced a withdrawal from racing, and Maserati's survival strategy henceforth centred on establishing the company as a producer of road cars. The Modena marque's new era began in 1957 with the launch of the Touring-bodied 3500GT, its first road car built in significant numbers. A luxury 2+2, the 3500GT drew on Maserati's competition experience, employing a tubular chassis frame and an engine derived from the 350S sportscar unit. Suspension was independent at the front by wishbones and coil springs, while at the back there was a conventional live axle/semi-elliptic arrangement. The twin-overhead-camshaft, six-cylinder engine developed around 220bhp initially, later examples producing 235bhp on Lucas mechanical fuel injection. Built initially with drum brakes and a four-speed gearbox, the 3500GT was gradually improved, gaining five speeds, front disc brakes and, finally, all-disc braking.

The example offered here represents the pinnacle of the model's development, featuring the five-speed ZF gearbox, disc brakes all round, twin-plug ignition, air conditioning and Lucas mechanical fuel injection, hence the name change to '3500GTI', the first time the now common 'GTI' appellation had ever been used. Chassis number '2850' is one of the last 3500GTIs built and one of only around 100 right-hand drive cars from a total production of a round 2,000. It is of particular significance to UK Maserati enthusiasts, having been owned for the last 37 years by Bill McGrath.

A non-runner when Bill McGrath's wife discovered it in a builder's yard in 1973, '2850' was purchased for £500 and Bill then set about restoring it. During this process he realised that there was very little known about these Maseratis and very few parts available. Having nursed the car back to health, Bill started to gain a reputation within the nascent Maserati Club as someone who could make these cars work properly. In 1977 he gave up his job running an 'everyday' garage and became a full time Maserati specialist.

The 3500GTI was used as daily transport by Bill and his wife - taking the children to school, carrying hay bales for their horses - but as Bill became busier with other Maseratis so his time to look after his own car diminished and in 1986 it was taken off the road. Bill's company grew, restoring many significant Maseratis over the years as well as supporting owners with servicing and parts. Bill promised himself that one day he would restore his own car again but it was only when he finally retired in 2004 that it actually happened. Together with the team that now runs 'Bill McGrath Maserati', Bill restored his car and was able to use it once again, though only some 1,000-or-so miles have been covered since the engine was rebuilt seven years ago. Sadly, Bill McGrath died in December 2009.

Sold here on behalf of his family, this 3500GTI was the first and the last Maserati restored by Bill McGrath, a name that will be forever linked with the great Italian marque. '2850' is offered with MoT to November 2011 and Swansea V5 registration document. Additional dashboard gauges for fuel pressure and vacuum are the only notified deviations from factory specification, while slow synchromesh into 4th gear is understood to be the only fault.

Photo and text courtesy of Bonhams