Mistral brought revolutionary styling to Maserati coupe
Fastback or convertible, sleek coupe proved a winner

The early 1960s was a period of remarkable development for Maserati. On the racing front there were the renowned ‘Birdcage’ cars, Tipo 60, 61, 63 and 64. After the 3500GT had proved a successful Gran Turismo, the company developed the Sebring sports coupe. And in 1963 came the Quattroporte, the company’s first four-door car and the world’s first luxury sports sedan.

Yet among these superb stablemates, the Maserati Mistral still stands out as an exceptional sports car. Where the Sebring was clearly an evolution of the 3500GT, the Mistral had bold and dramatically different styling. Gone was the upright grille from the earlier cars – the hood swept up from the front fender to the base of the windshield, flanked by the headlights. Below the fender the air intake gave the car an aggressive, purposeful look – its sporting intent emphasized by the Borrani wire wheels.

At the rear the conventional trunk was done away with in favor of a ‘fastback’ design -  the luggage area was covered by a large glass hatch. The car was penned by Pietro Frua, one of his finest designs; eliminating the two small rear seats of the Sebring allowed very modern styling.

The car was powered by the tried and trusted 3.5-liter straight six engine which was used in the 3500GT – the sleek body shape helped it to propel the car to a top speed of over 145mph. The engine showed its racing heritage, with chain-driven double overhead camshafts and two spark plugs per cylinder. Over the car’s five year production life it was also offered with 3.7-liter and 4-liter versions of the same engine. With power outputs of up to 265bhp, the top speed rose to almost 160mph. In fact, the Mistral was the last Maserati to use a straight-six; the cars which followed - Mexico, Ghibli, Indy and Bora – all used the V8 format now closely associated with Maserati road cars.

Mechanically the Mistral was very similar to the Sebring that was under development at the same time. One change was the use of square-section tubular elements in the chassis, offering the same rigidity with reduced weight. The interior was typical Maserati – leather seats, wood-rimmed steering wheel and comprehensive instruments.

The first Mistral coupe was delivered early in 1964, its high beltline, long hood, smooth lines and generous greenhouse made for a low-slung impression evocative of modernity and speed. At the Geneva motor show of that year a Spyder version was also shown, necessitating a significant change – the dramatic ‘fastback’ had to be replaced with a conventional trunk lid. When down, the soft top stowed neatly behind the seats, giving the car a very sleek and stylish silhouette. The Mistral helped define what has become the classically artistic Italian interpretation of the 1960s sports car, a clear break from the less intuitively functional shapes of the 1950s.

The Mistral was also notable for being the first of a series of Maserati cars to be named after winds with their relevant connotations of power, speed, and exotic foreign climes. The Mistral is a cold north-westerly wind, which blows over the opulent French Riviera and the island of Sardinia. It is believed that the suggestion to use the names of winds came from Pietro Frua – it led to such famous names as Ghibli, Bora and Khamsin.

The Maserati Mistral was produced until 1969, finally being sold at the same time as the V8-powered Mexico and Ghibli coupes. Almost a thousand examples were built, and it remains a much sought-after model. With modernist styling, a powerful engine and sumptuous interior, it is easy to see why it remains in demand. The Mistral is a worthy ancestor of today’s GranTurismo – which offers a similarly ground-breaking design and excellent performance, yet has the added advantage of full-size rear seats.