The Maserati Mistral Spyder was introduced one year after the coupé version, at the 1964 Geneva motor show. The Mistral’s supremely elegant design was further enhanced by the convertible form. The styling came courtesy of Giovanni Michelotti’s pen, and Vignale was the coachbuilder. It was offered with a choice of either the 3.5 liter engine from the 3500 GT or the 3.7 liter variant, to which a further enhanced 4 liter unit was added a couple years later (see separate descriptions).
In the first year of production the car was still called simply “2 Posti” spyder before it was christened the more poetic Mistral. Even in 3.5 liter guise performance was much more than simply poetic, as a healthy 235 hp was on tap. Mistral roadsters were predominately steel-bodied, with the hood, doors and trunk lid in alloy. A very rare optional hardtop was designed for the car and was also produced in light alloy.
Maserati Mistral Spider 3.7 (1964 to 1970)
Maserati customers who wanted to purchase a Mistral Spyder could choose between no less than three different engines, of which the 3.7 liter version was the middle option. Already available in the coupé and in the Sebring, it became a somewhat less popular choice, when, in 1966 the new 4 liter unit was introduced. However, more than half of the total Mistral Spyders assembled were produced with the 3.7 liter engine. A customer could specify an automatic gearbox on both the 3.7 and 4.0 liter versions.
Maserati Mistral Spider 4.0 (1966 to 1970)
In its third year of production, the Mistral Spyder received a 4.0 liter version of the straight-six engine which also appeared in the coupé. Wire wheels came as standard, but from 1967 light alloy wheels similar to those on the Ghibli became available.
Maximum speed was around 250 kph (156 mph). Italian actors Alberto Sordi and Ugo Tognazzi figured among Mistral Spyder owners. Overall, 125 Mistral Spyders were assembled between 1964 and 1970; 20 of them were right hand drive models. In 1968 the Mistral Spyder became the most modern car ever to win the Best in Show award at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elégance.
Specifications and Features
