1962 Maserati Sebring: Power, luxury, and speed.

Engine Inline 6Horsepower235hp at 5500 rpmTorque314 Nm at 4000 rpmEngine locationLongitudinal frontDrive TypeRWDF/R Brakes DiscWeight3400 lbs | 1560 kgTransmission 5-speed manual

In 1961, on the drawing boards of the Vignale company another remarkable project was born, designed to replace the outdated 3500 GT Touring. The new stunning car was named the Sebring, in honor of the brand’s victories on the North American track, where in 1957, Maserati took 1st and 2nd place in the famous 12-hour race.

Source: Car Pixel

In the early 60s, Maserati cars stood out from other prestigious brands due to their power and speed. At the same time, the brand’s products severely lacked luxury and comfort which narrowed the circle of potential customers. The company in a short time developed and launched new, improved high-speed sedans – Sebring, Mistral, and Quattroporte. These cars had retained the dynamics and controllability of the famous Italian carmaker, but with their luxury and comfort, they could compete even with Rolls-Royce or Bentley!

The origins

Source: Klassiekerweb

During WWII, Maserati was mainly engaged in the production of military equipment. The company returned to its civilian production two years later after the war ended, and introduced its new Gran Turismo class model – A6 1500 at the Geneva Motor Show in 1947. It was the first vehicle designed by the company not for racing, but for everyday use. The 50s was a big test for the company, as the increasing competition coming from Ferrari and Alfa Romeo created a lot of trouble for the company. In 1953, when Gioacchino Colombo, the author of the Italian Grand Prix winner A6 GCM, came to the post of chief engineer, it became decisive for the brand. Then the 250F model was released and several honorary titles were won, and in 1958 the famous 3500 GT was released. After 4 years – in 1962, the first four-door Sebring model was presented to replace the outdated 3500 GT.

The 1962 model year

Source: Classic Driver

The name of the Maserati new automobile came from the victory of the 450S model in the 12 Hours racing at Sebring in 1957. The company was proud of this achievement because the place was located in the USA- the company’s main target market. Initially, the car was designated as the Maserati 3500 GTI Sebring and was considered a sports modification of the 3500 GT, discontinued in 1964. With this model, it shared a DOHC inline 6-cylinder engine with Lucas mechanical fuel injection with the displacement of 3485 cm3, and the ability to produce 235 hp, as well as a 5-speed manual transmission, suspension, disc brakes, and Borrani spoked wheels with Pirelli Cinturato tires. All this was installed on a reinforced tubular frame with a wheelbase shortened to 2500 mm. The only body option for the new automobile was the Vignale 2+2 coupe designed by Giovanni Michelotti. It featured twin round headlights, a forward-facing rectangular grille, a decorative air intake on the hood, and functional air ducts in the front fenders. The novelty was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1962 and the Turin Motor Show in 1963. Later, the prototype two-seater convertible (Spyder) did not go into production, because the Mistral model already had such a body. From 1962 to 1965 the company sold 348 units of Series I cars.

Did you know?

Source: ArtPhotoLimited

Among the 593 owners of the first Maserati Sebring were the great Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, then just starting his stary track, and the Austrian crystal magnate Adrian Swarovski.