100th Certificate of Authenticity for Maserati 3500 GT Vignale Convertible Prototype (1959)

Not every milestone revolves around the number of cars sold. Sometimes a round number says more about the attention to detail and provenance. Maserati Classiche issued its 100th Certificate of Authenticity, and it went to a car that marks a clear starting line in Maserati history: the 1959 Maserati 3500 GT Vignale Convertible Prototype, with chassis number 101*505.

Maserati Classiche and the Certificate of Authenticity

Maserati Classiche was founded in 2021 and is based at the Maserati factory in Modena. The department supports customers and collectors in preserving historic Maseratis and is part of the BOTTEGAFUORISERIE project. An important component is the Certificate of Authenticity: for this, a committee of experts examines each car based on technical characteristics, historical documentation, and Maserati archives.

The certification is intended for cars older than twenty years and also applies to special editions and limited editions of the brand. The 100th certificate is therefore a tangible milestone within a program that has now established a permanent place in Modena.

Vignale, Michelotti and a prototype with a sequel

The certified example is the 3500 GT Vignale Convertible Prototype, developed by Carrozzeria Vignale under the stylistic direction of Giovanni Michelotti. The car was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in 1959. Five examples were built, and it was Vignale's first styling project for Maserati. The project was not intended for series production, but it did form the basis for the later 3500 GT Vignale Cabriolet.

The 3500 GT Vignale Cabriolet was produced in approximately 250 examples between 1959 and 1964. In that sense, this prototype is the starting point of Maserati's open grand touring line, which the brand later extended to the GranCabrio models.

Restoration in Modena, back to 1959

The car was built in Modena in the late 1950s and underwent a restoration in the same city between 2023 and 2026, with the direct support of Maserati Classiche. During this process, the original characteristics were verified based on Maserati's historical archives, with the involvement of brand specialists. The goal was to return the car to the condition in which it was presented in Turin in 1959.

The prototype features a silver body with an interior in ivory and red tones, blue carpeting, and gold details. Power comes from Maserati's 3.485 cc inline six-cylinder engine with Weber carburetors, producing 235 hp at 5.500 rpm, mated to a ZF four-speed manual transmission. The chassis is classic in design, with double wishbones at the front and a rigid axle with longitudinal leaf springs at the rear, on Borrani wire wheels. Maserati quotes a top speed of approximately 235 km/h.

The restored prototype will be on display from April 16 to 19 during the first edition of the Anantara Concorso Roma at Villa Borghese, between Casina Valadier and Piazza Bucarest. Approximately seventy rare and prestigious Italian cars from around the world will be exhibited there.

There are more photos below.