Built from 1963 to 1970, the Maserati Mistral is a low-production grand tourer that spawned only 953 units. It's not as rare as some contemporary Ferraris, but it's not the kind of classic you'd expect to find in a junkyard. Yet one of these rare Italian gems was recently discovered in an abandoned car graveyard somewhere in Britain.
Unearthed by barn find hunter "IMSTOKZE," this old Maserati looks like it spent much of its life off the road. Sadly enough, though, it wasn't parked in a heated garage like most classic Maseratis do. This Mistral was retired in a building that's part of a large junkyard. One that was abandoned many years ago based on how most of these vehicles look.
Missing quite a few parts inside and out, the Maserati may have been stripped off for restoration. But whoever owned this rig never got around to completing it, and the Mistral is now a derelict shell. I'm not saying it's not salvageable, but it's the kind of project that will swallow a fortune. It's a very sad sight, especially considering how rare these cars are.
Despite its long production run, the Mistral moved only 953 units. Maserati also built 125 convertibles, which makes this barn find one of 828 coupes produced. However, this Maserati is a right-hand-drive example, which makes it notably scarcer. Specific numbers are not available, but experts estimate only 20 to 30 units were built like this.
The model year remains a mystery, with all the exterior trim and the engine missing. Maserati fitted the Mistral with three different inline-six powerplants. The early cars got a 3.5-liter unit rated 235 horsepower before the Italians introduced a 245-horsepower 3.7-liter engine. The third unit, a 4.0-liter lummp, came with 265 horsepower on tap.
The Mistral is now a highly expensive classic that changes hands for six-figure sums. The Spyder version is the most sought-after, with more than a handful of examples having found new homes for more than $500,000. The current record is £739,200 (about $934,755) for a 1967 4000 Spyder version. Coupes in tip-top condition aren't quite as expensive, but they can easily fetch more than $250,000.
In addition to the Mistral, our host also discovered a 1980s Maserati Biturbo and a Porsche 924. These aren't as desirable as the Mistral, but both are vehicles I hate to see rotting away in a place like this. Finally, the Mistral shares the same building with a 1950s Jensen.
The fiberglass shell resembled that of a 541, which Jensen produced from 1954 to 1959. The bulge on the hood, on the other hand, suggests that it might be a 514R version, built from 1957 to 1960. Either way, both are super rare at only 226 and 53 units made, respectively.
Unfortunately, it looks like none of these cars will go anywhere soon, so the word "restoration" is only a beautiful dream to them.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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