With the 3500 GT nearing the end of its successful run, Maserati entrusted Pietro Frua with the task of designing a new two-seater coupé, based on the Tipo 109 chassis and so was born the Mistral, the first in a series of classic Maseratis to be given the name of a legendary wind and the last model from the Casa del Tridente to be equipped with a straight six-cylinder engine before Maserati moved on to V8 engines for their production cars.

Frua's new creation, originally named the Due Posti (two seats), was first shown in a preview at the Salone Internazionale dell'Automobile di Torino in November 1963 before entering production in 1964 which continued until 1970.

Seven years of production in a world where fabulous new designs from established Carozziere appeared almost annually was proof of the beauty and originality of Pietro Frua's original design.

It was at the suggestion of Col.

Simone, the French Maserati Concessionaire, that the Due Posti should be renamed 'Mistral'.

Natura...