Spotter Dylan. found this Maserati Mistral in the city center of Zurich. This particular Mistral was spotted in 2024, 2023, and previously in 2012. Interestingly, the paint condition was much better in 2012. It’s unclear what caused the deterioration, but it’s still great to see a car from the 1960s still being driven. The Mistral is a rare find; only 14 sightings of 11 distinct cars have been documented on our site since 2009.
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Maserati produced the Mistral from 1964 to 1970, producing a total of 828 Coupés and 123 Spyders. Named after a cold northerly wind from southern France, the Mistral marked the start of Maserati’s tradition of naming cars after winds. Initially called the 3500 GT 2posti, the name "Mistral" was officially adopted in 1966, inspired by Maserati’s French importer, Colonel John Simone, who suggested the name.
The Maserati Mistral featured a body designed by Pietro Frua, which influenced later cars like the British AC 428 and Swiss Monteverdi High Speed 375 S. Originally, the Mistral's body was made entirely of aluminum, but from 1967 onward, it used pressed steel panels with aluminum for the doors and hood. Initially offered as a two-seater coupé with a large rear hatch, the car later included small rear jump seats. In 1965, Maserati introduced a two-seat convertible version called the Spyder, which was also available with an optional hardtop.
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The production process was complex. Maserati built the engine and chassis in-house, while the body panels were pressed by Carrozzeria Maggiora in Turin. The chassis were transported by truck to Maggiora, where the body was welded to the frame. The cars were then sent to Officine Padane in Modena for painting, glass installation, electrical systems, and interior fitting. Finally, the cars returned to Maserati, where the engine, suspension, transmission, and brakes were installed as the final step.
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