A RARE 1964 Maserati Mistral Spyder that captured the heart of Diana Dors is set to fetch up to £550,000 at auction.
The famous British actress fell in love with the car when she saw it at the Earls Court Motor Show in October that year. Deciding she simply had to have it, Dors, frequently described as the “English Marilyn Monroe”, bought it off the Italian marque’s stand.
The flamboyant star obviously appreciated the finer things in life and featured in the news when she became the youngest person to own a Rolls-Royce, despite the fact that she was not even old enough to drive at the time.
The highly desirable Mistral would undoubtedly have fitted in with the movie star’s high-profile lifestyle and was one of only 14 right-hand-drive models produced.
Fitted with a straight-six 3.7-litre engine mated to a ZF five-speed manual gearbox, its 160mph top speed and 0–60mph time of 6.2 seconds made it a true “supercar” of the era.
Dors’ Spyder was finished in Argento Auteuil (silver) paintwork with a Black Connolly leather interior and Borrani spoked wheels.
The car was later sold on to an Australian and spent nearly 40 years down under before returning to the UK and being sold to its current owner.
Renowned restorers McGrath Maserati then carried out a substantial amount of work on the Mistral, addressing many areas of the car – including the mechanicals, bodywork and interior – between March 2017 and November 2019.
It is being sold by Silverstone Auctions at its event at Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire, on May 28.
A spokesman said: “We are very proud to offer this special example to the market with everything in its favour – one of very few, a Motor Show Car, celebrity provenance, Maserati Classiche Certification and delightfully presented.”
