1969 Maserati Mistral Spyder
Chassis: AM109/A1*1786* – the last Mistral built
Registration: KJC 203G
• Conversion to RHD and Spyder specification
• 4.0-litre engine with fuel injection
• ZF five-speed gearbox
Only around 120 Maserati Mistral Spyders were built, only 13 in right-hand drive and of those only three had the later 4.0-litre engine. Available from 1965, the 4.0-litre engine was a development of the straight-six designed by Giulio Alfieri for the 3500GT and in this guise produced 265bhp with vastly increased torque. Allied to other late-model upgrades like Lucas Fuel Injection, the new ZF S5-20 gearbox and 15” wheels with Pirelli Cinturato tyres, these last cars were smooth, effortless and yet still sporting, the perfect vehicle for grand touring, especially with the hood down. And yet being so rare means few have enjoyed the pleasure.
Chassis 1786 is actually the last Mistral that Maserati built. According to Maserati factory records, it was delivered new to its first owner, Signor Vittorio Vitale in Vicenza, Italy, in June 1969. It was built as a coupé and left-hand drive. Little is known of its early years but a reference in the file shows that in 1980 it was exported from Italy to The Netherlands to a new owner just south of Amsterdam. By 1984, the car was in poor condition and was transported to Bill McGrath’s workshop, initially for an engine rebuild. However, Bill realised that the aluminium body was in poor condition and the owner was advised that a full body restoration was going to be required. It was by now the late 1980s and the classic car boom had bust. Restorations were halted halfway and owners licked their financial wounds. Such was the case with this car, which was stored for some years hoping that the rainy days would stop. Eventually the Dutch owner gave up on the restoration. At this point (1998), the car was officially imported into the UK and sold by McGrath Maserati as a project.
The legendary Vale Cottage Motors in Hornsey, run by Eddie and Friday Noone, bought the project in the early 2000s. Their work as a bodyshop for all sorts of exotica was well known and one of their specialities was converting Mistral Coupés into Spyders. This was a popular conversion at the time, given the differential values between the two and the rarity of original Spyders and completed to the highest standard. A Vale Cottage conversion follows the original factory Spyder convention of using steel for the new rear panelwork, married to the original aluminium of the front section and doors. Lowering the windscreen rail and deletion of the side vents are also essential for an original look. At one point, Eddie Noone favoured keeping this car for himself, and so he also went the extra mile to convert from left to right-hand drive. With the rest of the body thoroughly restored, it was painted in gun-metal grey but as with any ‘shop’ project, it took some years to reach this point.
Enter the current owner, who sought a Mistral Spyder to replace his Maserati Sebring. Looking for a car predominantly to use, the idea of the conversion, rather than a rare original, appealed and so in December 2014 he purchased the Mistral.
Whilst the body was in perfect condition, the rest of the car still required restoration. Over the following sixteen months, McGrath Maserati carried out an extensive list of jobs, including a total engine rebuild, gearbox rebuild, axle rebuild, suspension and brake rebuilds, new wiring loom, new wheels, complete re-trim and new hood, new windscreen and a concours level build including chroming. Needless to say, details of all the work and photos are on file. The total cost post-purchase was approximately £200,000, including over 2500 hours of labour. An article on the restoration and pictures of the car in Newmarket Grey are still available in the restoration section on our website and the history file of invoices and photographs is extensive. Completed in May 2016 and registered for the first time in the UK, the now right-hand drive Mistral Spyder was immediately put into service for a trip to Italy, followed by Northern Spain and latterly trips to Belgium and France.
Since 2016 the car has covered over 33,000 km and has been maintained by us annually, with every possible fault rectified at the earliest opportunity. In 2023, a minor accident while queuing for a roundabout led to the need to repaint the rear of the car, and the decision was then taken to freshen up all of the paint and change the colour to the current Blue Sera. This work was completed in early 2024.
It is being offered for sale now only because the owner has an option to buy an even more exotic Maserati. Needless to say, it is ‘on the button’ and ready to give the next owner enormous pleasure.
Over the years, the values of converted Spyders has tended to track around halfway between an original and a Coupé, condition for condition. This example is priced with that in mind but it is in Concours condition, inside and out. Compared to an original Mistral Spyder and also compared to its peers from Ferrari or Aston Martin, it offers a huge amount of value.
If this is starting to make sense to you, please get in touch. The car is available to view at our workshops.
