| 1959 Maserati 3500GT Vignale spyder prototype |
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Click on any of the thumbnails to enlarge.
Notice the hood bulge which then visually follows the contour of the instrument panel The hood
and trunk lids are made of aluminum. The hood extends all the way to the windshield and hides the
wipers. This long hood design made it through the first production cars and was later dropped in
favor of the shorter hood found on most Vignale spyders.
and trunk lids are made of aluminum. The hood extends all the way to the windshield and hides the
wipers. This long hood design made it through the first production cars and was later dropped in
favor of the shorter hood found on most Vignale spyders.
The gaps in the rocker panel would lead you to
believe the doors open down to the rocker
panels. In reality it is just a visual effect as the
door stop at the chrome trim, just like the
production cars. The chrome trim is significantly
wider than the production model, and the door
itself is made out of aluminum.
believe the doors open down to the rocker
panels. In reality it is just a visual effect as the
door stop at the chrome trim, just like the
production cars. The chrome trim is significantly
wider than the production model, and the door
itself is made out of aluminum.
Dash layout is rather plain. There is an antenna and speakers but no place for a radio. There is an indentation where a radio would most probably be located but instead there are two unlabeled indicator
lights. The seats have an cool design ... they should have kept them for the production cars! Notice the use of chrome of the door pillars. These were not used on the production spyders but can be seen
on other Vignale productions cars such as the Maserati Indy.
lights. The seats have an cool design ... they should have kept them for the production cars! Notice the use of chrome of the door pillars. These were not used on the production spyders but can be seen
on other Vignale productions cars such as the Maserati Indy.
The top mechanism is very different from the production cars, it reminds me of an Alfa Giulietta. The
top swings out and fits over what looks like a leather soft top cover. In reality this leather cover is just
a visual effect since that cover is not removable. Without it the trunk area would look too long. The
top itself folds under this metal cover. I can understand why on the production cars the factory would
choose to go with a more conventional design.
top swings out and fits over what looks like a leather soft top cover. In reality this leather cover is just
a visual effect since that cover is not removable. Without it the trunk area would look too long. The
top itself folds under this metal cover. I can understand why on the production cars the factory would
choose to go with a more conventional design.
There is no rubber gasket around the grill,
headlight trim or tail light lenses, the fit is superb.
headlight trim or tail light lenses, the fit is superb.
