Philippe has recently advised me of a very interesting Maserati, a 3500 GT with coachwork by Frua, due to come up for auction by Gooding & Company at their sale 'The Scottsdale Auction' on January 20 and 21 January 2012.

I immediately contacted Gooding & Company and was delighted and grateful when they gave me permission to publish details and photos.

LOT 142

Formerly the Property of John Bookout

1961 Maserati 3500 GT Coupe Speciale

Coachwork by Frua
CHASSIS NO. AM101.1496
Estimate: US $300,000 - $375,000 (Without Reserve)

SOLD FOR US $302,500

One of Only Two Built and Likely the Sole Survivor
Well-Documented Ownership History
Offered with Certified Maserati Classiche Documents
Restored by a Marque Expert
Bodied by One of Italy’s Most Influential Coachbuilders

3,485 CC Inline DOHC 6-Cylinder Engine
Triple Weber 42 DCOE Carburetors
220 BHP at 5,500 RPM
5-Speed ZF Manual Transmission
Hydraulic Front Disc and Rear Drum Brakes
Double Wishbone and Coil Spring Front Suspension, Live Axle and Leaf Spring Rear Suspension

This Car

This 3500 GT Coupe, AM101.1496, is one of only two similar cars bodied by Frua in 1961. The other, 1494, is believed to be lost. Finished in May 1961, the car left the masters at Frua finished in red with a special-order light brown Connolly leather interior and Borrani steel wheels. According to extensive research carried out in Italy and Switzerland, the Coupe was delivered through the prominent Maserati dealer Martinelli & Sonvico of Lugano, Switzerland. It was first registered in Bern in June 1961 with the license plate “BE 999997” to Jacques Bordier, who is thought to have kept the car for several years.

No record has been found of precisely when the Maserati came to the US, but by 1976 it was in the hands of auto-brokers DeBickero & Hach. By then, 101.1496 was missing its distinctive curved rear window glass and the original engine. Sometime in 1976 or 1977, Dr. Harms of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, purchased the Maserati from DeBickero & Hach. From his ownership, the 3500 GT passed to noted Maserati personality and founder of Maserati parts source M.I.E. and the Concorso Italiano, Frank Mandarano. In 1988, Mr. Mandarano sold the car to Doug Speer, and it is believed that 101.1496 was then purchased in 1993 by Jerry Wood.

John Bookout was 101.1496’s next caretaker, buying the car in 1996. In his hands, an extensive research project was undertaken to determine the exact identity of the car and to establish when the original engine was replaced. It was eventually discovered that the interim chassis number of the car, 101.1070, was derived from the replacement engine, which was from a standard production 3500 GT. It was only through international queries by leading Maserati experts in Europe and the US, including Dr. Adolfo Orsi and Stefan Dierks of the Registro Pietro Frua, that the true identity of 101.1496 was recovered. This work, which lasted from May 2001 through October 2003, confirmed that this car is indeed 101.1496.

In 2007, Mr. Bookout sold 101.1496 to the consignor, a well-known marque enthusiast who is known for his thorough restorations on Maseratis as well as rare Alfa Romeos. When the consignor acquired the car, it was in a state of partial restoration and largely contained in boxes. After taking a thorough inventory of all the components, the exacting restoration work began. The restoration was completed in late 2010, with Pebble Beach Best of Show-winning restorer Chris Charlton of Oxford, Maine, performing the body finishing and painting, while the mechanical work was carried out in the consignor’s own facility. The final assembly was completed in time for the car to debut at the 2011 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. During the restoration process, it was discovered that the engine was in poor condition and it was therefore replaced with a freshly rebuilt un-numbered 3500 unit, a fairly common practice among engines of this type.

The car comes with a certified copy of the original Technical Data Sheet and a Certificate of Origin for AM101.1496, provided by Maserati Classiche on August 24, 2011. This fascinating set of documents includes copies of the handwritten build record and the original shipping notice.

Although this Frua coupe was originally delivered in red, during restoration it was given a lovely light blue metallic finish, a choice that elegantly complements the brown leather interior. With its deeply angled grille and four imposing chrome-surrounded headlights, the dramatic nose gives the car a very aggressive appearance. In contrast, the sides are sleek and clean, with the flat panels showing an excellent fit and the side exhaust grilles hinting at the power of the engine. At the rear, delicate lights placed high on the fenders invoke the great 5000 GT and the Coupe abounds with marvelous detailing such as the delicate chrome edging on the roof and the small trident emblems at the top of the C pillars.

With the style of the legendary 5000 GT at a much more accessible price and a chance to own a car unlike any other 3500 GT ever built, this is an opportunity any admirer of Maserati GT cars should seize. Restored to an impressive level by a marque expert, it would be a welcome addition to any concours lawn and a definite conversation starter wherever it goes.