An extraordinary example of a Maserati 3500GT – restored by the coachbuilder Touring Superleggera with the support of the Maserati Classiche department at the House of the Trident, which provides Restoration Certification and its Certificate of Authenticity – is on display under the spotlight at Rétromobile 2025.
The Maserati 3500GT on display at the French show is a particular 1959 example originally intended for the California market and with an extraordinary heritage, having been owned by the Dodge family for decades. The car has now been finely restored in a true tribute to the Italian spirit. This unique model comes complete with all original functional components, and the proven historical continuity of the vehicle has been carefully maintained, ensuring unique and authentic identification.
Fully restored in the Touring Superleggera workshop, this iconic grand tourer was meticulously restored to its original splendour by the celebrated Milan coachbuilder, with technical and documentary support from Maserati Classiche.
The Restoration Assistance Service checked and validated every component of the vehicle, including the chassis, the engine and its compartment and the transmission, and also ascertained the condition of the suspension, brakes, wheels and tyres. The bodywork, interior and exterior, and colours and materials were inspected and authenticated, as were the electrical system and all the accessories.
The exceptional craftsmanship and value embedded in Touring Superleggera’s restoration services were acknowledged at the same time.
At the end of this journey, the 3500GT was awarded the Certification of Authenticity by Maserati Classiche, after undergoing more than 300 technical verifications against the Historical Archives to ensure its conformity with the original drawings.
Maserati Classiche programme
Through the activities of the Maserati Classiche programme, the House of the Trident’s department protects and promotes the preservation and originality of its automotive heritage with an exclusive service dedicated to the brand’s customers and collectors, including a Certification of Authenticity process.
The Certification process is guaranteed by a committee of experts and involves Maserati cars more than 20 years old, as well as special series, including those of the recent past such as the MC12 or the Quattroporte limited series. Also included in the program is the ability to service the car, plus an “on-demand” Car Detailing service completed in-house.
Working alongside collectors and customers, the programme provides a service to support the preservation of cars and the restoration of every detail to conform to the original.
A dedicated service plan enables owners of Classic, Youngtimer and Special cars to be taken care of in various maintenance or restoration operations. Maserati Classiche’s primary tasks also include making replacement parts that are no longer available on the market, following the directions of the original drawings, using the best technologies available today, improving reliability and functionality of parts without altering their appearance.
Maserati 3500GT (1957/1964)
The Maserati 3500GT represents an important model for the House of the Trident, as it was the first road car to be produced on a large scale.
The creativity of Carrozzeria Touring gave rise to the elegant shapes of the body, made of aluminium and connected to a tubular frame (Superleggera patent).
Low and smooth car body, simple front end, chrome bumper, aluminium construction with Superleggera technology, which limited the weight to 1,300 kg, represent the characteristics for the perfect definition of Italian-style gran turismo.
The six-cylinder engine was derived from the 1956 350S race car and featured excellent torque delivery at low engine speed. In 1961, the triple Weber carburettors were replaced by the Lucas fuel-injected system, boosting power to 235 CV (3500GTI). The four-speed gearbox (five from 1960) was manufactured by ZF, whereas other components were sourced from the best suppliers of the time. Front brake discs were made available as an option starting in 1959.
In the same year, the coupé was joined by a spider version, built to a design by Giovanni Michelotti.
Salon Rétromobile 2025
Rounding off Maserati’s participation in Rétromobile 2025, in addition to the Maserati 3500GT on the Touring Superleggera coachbuilder’s stand (Stand K-068, Pavilion 1), space has been made for three highly prestigious Trident cars on the Maserati Schumacher Paris dealer’s stand (Stand B062, Pavilion 2): the glorious MC12 Corsa Blu Victory, the new GT2 Stradale and an exclusive MC20 Cielo Blu Victory.
Rétromobile, the world’s leading international classic car show, is taking place from 4-9 February 2025, at the Porte de Versailles exhibition spaces in Paris.