From the Maserati company’s beginnings, its road cars have been characterized by thoroughbred engineering and contemporary styling. The Mistral is a particularly successful example of this approach to building high-performance GT cars, as it combines the competition-derived DOHC straight six with masterful Pietro Frua styling.

The successor to the popular Vignale-bodied Sebring, the Maserati Mistral was produced in relatively limited numbers, with 828 examples of the two-seater coupe built from 1963 through 1970. This model represented a major turning point for the company, as the Mistral was the last Maserati to use the time-tested straight-six engine on which so many of the company’s accolades were built. It was also the first in a series of models to be named after famous winds – the Mistral taking its name from the cold, northwesterly wind that blows from southern France into the Mediterranean Gulf of Lion.

Factory records confirm that this Mistral 4000 Coupe, chassis 109/A1732, was completed on May 7, 1966, originally finished in Rosso Capannelle, an elegant shade of dark red inspired by Chianti wines. Consistent with its build date, this Mistral Coupe is equipped with the ultimate four-liter engine, the final and most powerful variation of the classic Maserati twin-cam six. With its Lucas mechanical fuel injection and twin-plug ignition, this refined engine produced 255 bhp and outstanding torque, and was mated to a robust German-made ZF five-speed gearbox.

Delivered new in Modena, Italy, the Maserati eventually made its way to the US, where it was repainted blue and registered in New York circa 1976. Presented today in untouched, as-found condition following decades in static storage, this Maserati is a rare find and the ideal candidate for a concours-quality restoration. Appearing largely complete, but in need of a comprehensive restoration, this Mistral 4000 Coupe retains its matching-numbers engine and other important original details, including its Lucas fuel-injection system and original data tags.

Rare, glamorous, and capable of world-class performance, the Mistral is certainly among the most desirable sports cars of the late 1960s and a worthy rival to contemporary offerings from marques such as Aston Martin and Ferrari. This unrestored four-liter Coupe, hidden away for decades and presented at auction for the first time, is an exciting discovery.

*Please note that this vehicle has been in long-term static storage and may not be currently operational. It will require mechanical attention prior to road use.