https://www.bonhams.com//auctions/24810/lot/140/?category=list&length=100000&page=1
One of the most elegant and understated Grand Touring cars of the 1960s, the Maserati Sebring offered here is the much sought after Series 1 model fitted with the ultra-desirable five-speed ZF gearbox. According to the cars original factory order documents, it was delivered to Cornacchia Automobili of Milano, Italy, on September 4th, 1963 before its first owner, Mrs. Elena Gelmi Cattaneo took possession. Eventually making it way to the U.S., the car is believed to have been owned and cared for by an enthusiast for much of its life before being purchased by the consignor. Upon purchasing the car, the consignor discovered that aside from a repaint in the incorrect color, the seldom seen Series 1 was in superbly original condition. The odometer reading of just 70,000 kilometers was believed to be the actual mileage the car had traveled.
The decision was made to bring the car back to its original specification and glory. All of the glass was removed from the vehicle before it was brought down to bare metal and refinished in a concourse quality respray in the original and fitting, glossy shade of red. While the car was disassembled for the paintwork, the brightwork was re-chromed and the original engine was sent off to be fully rebuilt, including the rare Lucas Mechanical Fuel Injection system. Over the years many Sebring owners have opted for the cheaper route of replacing the fuel injection system with an incorrect carburation setup, making an example complete with its original injection setup a rare sight. Receipts for the mechanical rebuild are on file, with the fuel injection overhaul alone costing over $12,000. The engine itself is missing the more commonly seen engine number on the block, but it does possess its engine internal number, which has been verified by Maserati Classiche department as the numbers matching engine with which the car was born. Evidence of this can be found on the original build records. The interior of the car was in outstanding condition so the decision was made to keep it largely original with the exception of recovering the front seats.
Accompanying the sale are a full host of documents including a copy of the original delivery note, technical and aesthetic characteristic document, the build records, and the certificate or origin. Thanks to the love and care that the consignor has given to this amazing Series 1 Sebring, today it offers an endless number of possibilities for its next owner. With its incredible presentation, the car is sure to draw a crowd at any show and with its fully rebuilt original engine and Lucas Mechanical Injection system, the grand tourer would be an absolute blast to enjoy any number of driving events.