With the Mistral, Maserati set in motion what would become a tradition of naming its Gran Turismo cars after famous winds: the Ghibli, Bora, Khamsin, Karif, Shamal and Levante would follow.

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Visitors to the south of France at the end of summer may well be acquainted with the mistral. Often described as the chilly wind that blows in from north Africa heralding the shift to fall, that is not actually the case.

The mistral originates in the Atlantic ocean, whenever there is an area of high pressure off Portugal in the Bay of Biscay. When this collides with a region of low pressure around Italy’s Gulf of Genoa, the flow of high and low pressure areas draws in a current of cold air from further north in France. When other parts of France have clouds and storms, Provence is rarely affected for long, since the mistral quickly clears the sky.

The mistral has the reputation of bringing good health, since the dry air dries stagnant water and mud, giving the mistral the local name ‘mange-fange’ – mud-eater in English.

Simultaneously powerful and soothing, there is something perpetually reassuring about the mistral. As there is with the Maserati version.

Equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox, fuel-injected 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, 4-wheel hydraulic disc brakes, twin exhaust finishers, Smiths instruments, Lucas ammeter gauge, EFFPI wood steering wheel with a Trident logo in the center, chrome trim/bumpers, Lucas-branded headlights with chrome headlight rings, grille-mounted fog lights, toggle switches, Michelin tires, Borrani knock-off wire wheels, and a full-size spare tire perfectly fitted in the trunk. Amenities include rare air conditioning, power windows, pop-out rear quarter windows, driver-side rearview mirror, center console, dash-mounted rearview mirror, Maserati-branded floor mats, Blaupunkt AM/FM radio, glove box, map pockets, and sun visors with a vanity mirror on the passenger side.

The Mistral shared its mechanical features with the Sebring, but its two-seater fastback body, with its streamlined framework designed by Pietro Frua, had a much more modern appearance compared to the more traditionally styled 2+2 Sebring. In fact, the Mistral was primarily marketed as a more sporting alternative to the popular Sebring.

A first prototype of the Mistral was presented at the Salone Internazionale dell’Automobile di Torino auto show in the autumn of 1963, but production did not start until 1964. Available with Maserati’s race-bred inline-6 engine, it could be specified in 3.5-liter, 3.7-liter and, later, 4.0-liter displacement – as is the one we presently have at Beverly Hills Car Club. All cars were fitted with mechanical fuel injection from Lucas. The body was steel, but the doors, hood and rear window frame were made from aluminum to reduce weight.

The top speed for the 4.0 engine was between 225 and 233 kilometers per hour (140 to 145 miles per hour). An acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just under 7 seconds was also impressive. This enabled the Maserati Mistral to be one of the fastest production models of its time.

The Maserati Mistral is considered one of the most beautiful touring cars ever. And the version we have, the 4.0 liter engined model, is considered the most desirable coupe.

You’ll be blown away!

-Alex Manos, Owner