Rare 1961 Maserati 3500 GT Joins DFW Car & Toy Museum Collection

The Ron Sturgeon Collection at the DFW Car & Toy Museum has acquired a historically significant 1961 Maserati 3500 GT, originally commissioned by British Viscount Guy Neville Montagu. This rare Italian grand tourer represents Maserati's first true production grand touring car, originally introduced at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show, offering visitors an intimate look at automotive engineering excellence from the mid-century era.

The vehicle features Carrozzeria Touring of Milan's Superleggera construction with aluminum body panels wrapped over a tubular steel spaceframe, creating a lightweight yet structurally robust coupe. This particular example underwent an extensive three-year restoration in Italy from 1990 to 1993, emerging in pristine Bianco (white) finish with a luxuriously re-trimmed red leather interior that maintains the car's original aristocratic character.

Mechanically, the Maserati showcases advanced engineering for its time with a 3,485cc Tipo 101 DOHC inline-six engine featuring an aluminum block and cylinder head, hemispherical combustion chambers, triple Weber 42 DCOE carburetors, and twin-plug ignition. Power is delivered through a ZF five-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels, while the suspension system combines double wishbones and coil springs upfront with a leaf-sprung solid rear axle and tubular shock absorbers, providing the ideal balance of handling and ride quality for grand touring purposes.

Ron Sturgeon, owner of the DFW Car & Toy Museum, emphasized the vehicle's significance, noting that few cars capture the romance of mid-century Italian motoring quite like the Maserati 3500 GT. The museum, now located at 2550 McMillan Parkway in Fort Worth, Texas, features over 200 classic and exotic cars in its 150,000-square-foot facility. Visitors can explore the collection Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm with free parking and admission available to all guests. Additional information about current exhibits and special events can be found at https://dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.

The addition of this historically important Maserati strengthens the museum's position as a premier destination for automotive enthusiasts and historians, preserving significant vehicles that represent key moments in automotive design and engineering evolution. The vehicle's aristocratic provenance and meticulous restoration make it a standout example of Italian automotive excellence from the golden age of grand touring cars.