Maserati Mistral
{{Refimprove|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Maserati Mistral
| image = 1967 Maserati Mistral Coupe - silver - fvr (4637057473) cropped.jpg
| caption = 1967 Maserati Mistral
| manufacturer = Maserati
| production = 1963–1970
968 produced
| aka = Maserati 2 Posti
Maserati 4000 GT
| designer = Pietro Frua
| class = Grand tourer
| layout = Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
| body_style = 2-door, 2-seat coupé
2-door, 2-seat spyder
| related =
| engine = 3.5 L I6 (petrol)
3.7 L I6 (petrol)
4.0 L I6 (petrol)
| transmission = 5-speed ZF manual
| wheelbase = {{convert|2,400|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|4,500|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|1,675|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|1,300|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|1,430|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} (dry)
| predecessor = Maserati 3500 GT
| successor = Maserati Ghibli
| sp = uk
}}
The Maserati Mistral (Tipo AM109) is a 2-seat gran turismo produced by Italian car manufacturer Maserati between 1963 and 1970. The successor to the 3500 GT, it was styled by Frua{{Cite news|url=https://auto.howstuffworks.com/maserati-sports-cars.htm|title=Maserati Sports Cars|date=2007-05-20|website=HowStuffWorks|language=en|access-date=2019-04-12}} and bodied by Maggiora of Turin.{{cite web|url=https://www.kidston.com/kidston-cars/2546/1966-Maserati-Mistral-Spyder|title=1966 Maserati Mistral Spyder|website=kidston.com|accessdate=2 July 2019}} A total of 844 coupés and 124 Spyders were built.
Named after a cold northerly wind of southern France, it was also the first in a series of classic Maseratis to be given the name of a wind. The Mistral was succeeded by the Ghibli gran turismo, which overlapped production from 1967 on.{{cite web|url=https://www.maserati.com/international/en/brand/our-story/maserati-classic-cars/gran-turismo/mistral|title=Mistral|website=maserati.com|accessdate=2 July 2019}}
History
The Mistral is the last model from the Casa del Tridente (“House of the Trident”) to have the company's renowned twin-spark, double overhead cam straight six engine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=35541|title=1967 Maserati Mistral car specifications, auto technical data - performance, fuel economy, emissions, dimensions 35541|website=www.carfolio.com|access-date=2019-04-27}} Fitted to the Maserati 250F Grand Prix cars, this engine won eight Grand Prix between 1954 and 1960 and the F1 World Championship in 1957 driven by Juan Manuel Fangio. The engine featured hemispherical combustion chambers fed by a Lucas indirect fuel injection system, a new development for Italian car manufacturers. Maserati subsequently moved on to V8 engines for their later production cars to keep up with the demand for ever more powerful machines.
Three engine were fitted to the Mistral, displacing 3500, 3700 and 4000 cc and developing {{Convert|235|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 5500 rpm, {{Convert|245|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 5500 rpm and {{Convert|265|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 5200 rpm, respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.maserati.com/international/en/brand/our-story/maserati-classic-cars/gran-turismo/mistral-spyder|title=Mistral Spyder|website=maserati.com|accessdate=2 July 2019}} Only the earliest of the Mistrals were equipped with the 3500 cc, the most sought after derivative is the 4000 cc model.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} Unusually, the body was offered in both aluminium and, from 1967, in steel, but no one is quite sure how many of each were built. The automobile was equipped with a standard five-speed ZF transmission and four-wheel solid disc brakes. Per Maserati practice, the front suspension was independent and the rear solid axle. Acceleration from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) for both the 3.7- and 4.0-liter engines was around or just under 7 seconds, and top speed approximately {{Convert|140|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} to {{Convert|145|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}. When leaving the factory the car was originally fitted with Pirelli Cinturato 185VR16 CA67, then later 205VR15 tyres (CN72) on Borrani wire wheels. Only the Spyder received the 3500 engine; just 27 were made, along with 46 3.7 L and 51 4.0 L Spyders. 20 of the spyders built were right hand drive.
The body was designed by Pietro Frua and first shown in a preview at the Salone Internazionale dell'Automobile di Torino in November 1963. It is also often confused with the very similar looking but larger and more powerful Frua designed AC Frua.
| class="wikitable" cellpadding="0" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%;"
!Model !Coupé !Spyder | ||
| 3500 | 3 | 27 |
| 3700 | 387 | 46 |
| 4000 | 454 | 51 |
| Total | 844 | 124 |
Gallery
File:Maserati Mistral 4000 red vr.jpg|4000 Coupé
File:1967 Maserati Mistral Spyder.jpg|1967 Spyder
File:Maserati Mistral 4000 Spider 1X7A7867.jpg|4000 Spyder
File:Maserati (4890003196).jpg|Interior
References
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{{reflist}}
- [http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/alfieri00a.htm Enrico's Maserati Page - The Maserati Mistral]
{{Maserati}}
{{Maserati early timeline}}