Introduced
as a prototype (called simply 'Due Posti') at the Turin Motorshow of 1963,
the Mistral (internally the Tipo 109) was a further development of the
3500GT.
A shortened and stiffened chassis (using square section tube) was fitted
with larger 3.7-litre dohc all-aluminium six cylinder in-line engine (the
prototype used the smaller 3500 unit from its predecessor) and a completely
new coupe body. At Geneva in the following year the Spider or Convertible
version was introduced, which continued to use the 3.5-litre engine from
the earlier car. Both cars entered production in 1964.
Both bodies were designed by Frua and built by Maggiora,
using light aluminium alloy for the panels (except the rear wings of the
Spider which were steel), as well as glass for the large hatchback, which
covered a luggage area, the Mistral being a strict two-seater. For the
spider there was also available a metal hard-top which included an inclined
rear window and small butresses.
Mechanically
the Mistral was a refined 3500GT with a similar suspension layout, Girling
disc brakes all round (dual circuit with assistance), a Salisbury differential
(an LSD was optional) and a similar (shortened) tubular chassis. In 1966
a version using a 4-litre development of the same engine was introduced.
Later versions of th Spider used first the 3.7 and then the 4.0-litre
engines. All variants used a Lucas fuel injection system and most were
produced simultaneously, the smaller engined cars being built alongside
the more powerful variants.
The Mistral entered production in 1964 and remained
so until 1969, by which time 830 coupes (532 with 3.7-litre and 298 with
4-litre engines) and 125 spyders (65 with 3.5-litre, 20 with 3.7-litre
and 40 with 4-litre engines) had been produced.
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Technical Details
| Engine |
3485cc (86x100mm) 6 cyl dohc twin-spark with 235bhp @ 5,500rpm (Spider)
3692cc (86x106mm) 6 cyl dohc twin-spark with 245bhp @ 5,500rpm
4012cc (88x110mm) 6 cyl dohc twin-spark with 255bhp @ 5,200rpm |
| Suspension |
front : Independent with double wishbones and coil springs plus anti-roll bar
rear : live axle with leaf springs plus anti-roll bar
wheelbase : 2,400mm
track (front/rear) : 1390mm/1360mm (rear track 1364mm on 4-litre versions) |
| Brakes |
discs all round
dual hydraulic circuit with assistance
handbrake operating on rear wheels |
| Steering |
worm and sector |
| Transmission |
5 speed manual ZF unit (optional automatic)
Salisbury diff, optional self-locking unit |
| Kerb weight |
1430kg (3.7 coupe) |
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Introduced
as a prototype (called simply 'Due Posti') at the Turin Motorshow of 1963,
the Mistral (internally the Tipo 109) was a further development of the
3500GT.
A shortened and stiffened chassis (using square section tube) was fitted
with larger 3.7-litre dohc all-aluminium six cylinder in-line engine (the
prototype used the smaller 3500 unit from its predecessor) and a completely
new coupe body. At Geneva in the following year the Spider or Convertible
version was introduced, which continued to use the 3.5-litre engine from
the earlier car. Both cars entered production in 1964.
