1963 Maserati Sebring 'Series I' Coupé Coachwork by Carrozzeria Vignale

• Chassis AM101*02105

• Engine AM101*02105

• 1 of only 591 produced

• 1 of only 5 factory delivered with caburettors

• Delivered new to Sweden

• Full engine-gearbox rebuild in 2016

• 100% Matching numbers and colours

• Comes with Maserati Certificate of Origin

• Registered in Belgium (previously in Sweden)

Introduced in 1962, the Sebring was one of the final manifestations of the landmark 3500GT, which had been the linchpin of Maserati's programme to establish itself as a manufacturer of road cars. Despite numerous racetrack successes that included Juan Manuel Fangio's fifth World Championship - at the wheel of a 250F - and runner-up spot in the World Sports Car Championship with the fabulous 450S - both in 1957, the marque's most successful season - Maserati was by that time facing a bleak future. Its parent company's financial difficulties forced a withdrawal from racing and Maserati's survival strategy for the 1960s centred on switching production from competition to road models.

The Modena marque's new era began in 1957 with the launch of the Touring-bodied 3500GT, its first road car built in significant numbers. A luxury 2+2, the 3500GT drew heavily on Maserati's competition experience, employing a tubular chassis frame and an engine derived from the 350S sports car unit of 1956. Suspension was independent at the front by wishbones and coil springs, while at the back there was a conventional live axle/semi-elliptic arrangement. The 3500GT's designer was none other than Giulio Alfieri, creator of the immortal Tipo 60/61 'Birdcage' sports-racer and the man responsible for developing the 250F into a World Championship winner. The twin-overhead-camshaft, six-cylinder engine was a close relative of that used in the 250F and developed around 220bhp initially, later examples producing 235bhp on Lucas mechanical fuel injection. Built initially with drum brakes and four-speed transmission, the 3500GT was progressively updated, gaining five speeds, front disc brakes and, finally, all-disc braking.

A car possessing such impeccable antecedents not unnaturally attracted the attention of Italy's finest carrozzeria: Allemano, Bertone and Frua all created bodies for the 3500GT chassis. Most coupés were the work of Touring, while all but one (a Frua-bodied example) of the much less common spyder version were the work of Carrozzeria Vignale. Introduced in 1959, Vignale's Maserati 3500GT Spyder was the creation of Giovanni Michelotti, at that time the company's star designer. Built on a slightly shorter wheelbase - 250cm as opposed to 260cm - than the coupé and constructed of steel panels rather than the closed car's aluminium, the spyder lasted in production until 1964, by which time only 245 cars had been made.

Built on the short-wheelbase chassis of the spyder and likewise styled by Vignale, the Sebring 2+2 coupé arrived in 1962. By now a five-speed gearbox, four-wheel disc brakes, and fuel injection were standard equipment, with automatic transmission, air conditioning and a limited-slip differential available as options. A 3.7-litre, 245bhp engine became available as the original developed into the Series II (introduced in 1965) while some cars left the factory with 4.0-litre units towards the end of production in 1966, by which time 591 Sebrings had been built.

Confirmed by Maserati as one of only four Sebrings completed with carburettor induction, his 3.5-litre 'Series I' was first registered in Sweden and submitted for the Swedish TüV in Gothenburg. The first recorded registration is from the Varmland region, indicating that the first owner was in Karlstad, 'S18573' being his number plate. In order, its first three owners were: Rune Jonsson, Lars Johansson, and Tom Andersson. The Maserati was then registered to the dealership AR-Bil AB Linnegatan, Stockholm, which kept the car for five years, indicating that it was used as the owner's personal transport rather than retained for stock. It was then sold to an industrialist resident in Stockholm, Benkt Skarne, who owned the Maserati until 2015 when he sold it due to illness. Sold through a dealer in Danderyd, Stockholm, the Sebring was next owned by Michael Bile in Stockholm, followed by the current vendor in Germany.

The Sebring was partially restored in 2015, being repainted and re-trimmed in its original colours, while the engine-gearbox was completely redone in 2016. Finished in Grigio Flemington with red leather interior, this beautiful and rare Maserati coupé is sold with a Maserati Certificate of Origin, and Belgian registration papers.