Newest Addition

Greetings from Sunny Palm Desert. I am pleased to announced the latest addition to my very small collection. A one owner, totally original "estate find" ( thats a play on "barn find) early 3500 GT. AM101.708



The car was purchased new by SF Businessman Mitchel Mitchell. Shortly after the death of Mr. Mitchell and on December 24th 1987 the title was passed to his now 70 year old daughter Gladyne K. Mitchell.

On Oct 29, 2010 Gladyne sold it through a NY broker to Francis G. Mandarano.
Upon Googling Mrs. Gladyne K. Mitchell, I discovered she is a San Francisco socialite who still owns her fathers home which can only be described as a Renaissance Palace built in 1927 on the gold coast hilltop in San Francisco
The address is 2901 Broadway in San Francisco. I draw your attention to the title of the 3500 GT which clearly shows the 2901 Broadway address and Gladyne’s signature.

It appears her father was a car guy who owned many cars over the years.

Check out the following links to see this amazing home which is currently on the market for $45 million dollars. If you google 2901 Broadway San Francisco you will get 147,000 hits.

http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Francisco/2901-Broadway-St-94115/home/1419428.
Needless to say I am delighted to have the luck to own this car and will NOT restore it but only clean it up and leave it original.
Ciao FGM
View attachment Title to AM101.708 copy.pdf
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

That is awesome! Is the car running and driving now?

I like the garage pic on the house listing, as well.

 

Here is the copy of the title.
Yes the car checked out really well. It drives shifts and stops as it should.
I have it at RMB Garage in Stockton CA (I highly recommend) where Jon the owner is doing some minor servicing. Oil and filter change. Trans and diff oil change. Flush the brake fluid and renew. Install new brake and clutch hoses. Pull the tops off the Webber's clean and reset. Basta.
He pulled the rear drums and the shoes were excellent and no signs of brake cyc seepage.
The leather is still relatively soft and not dried out.
I will have it delivered to the desert next Sat and plan to have the valve clearances checked down here. Then its just clean it up and drive it.
Ciao,
FGM
View attachment Title to AM101.708.pdf

 

Was she driving it regularly?

 

Absolutely beautiful car. Please let us know if we can help with restoration type detail to get this thing looking like it should and could.

John

 

Stunning, great find. Frank, you should have bought the house to go with it, you could have saved 10 million, Lol

J

 

I've always loved the 3500. Beautiful car. And they're actually easier to maintain now -- back in the day nobody could keep them running, because too few mechanics were familiar with the quirks and even when new getting parts was a pain. My father actually had three friends (including the one who introduced him to my mother) who all bought 3500s new. There was never a time that all three were running at the same time!

 

I love the window cranks! Really elegant.

For at least the past two decades, Mandarano has been THE guru of older Maseratis. He was a great source of information and parts when I had my Merak, and I assume he'd be the go-to guy for anything related to that 3500. The house, btw, looks spectacular, but according to Zillow, it's worth about an eighth of what they're asking!

The father of a friend of mine, the comedian most of you are probably too young to remember, "Professor Irwin Corey, World's Foremost Authority", had a 3500GT convertible. We had a great time blasting around in it one day when I was in high school.

 

I find it fascinating to think of that old car sitting in her garage at 2901 Broadway all these years. I found 2 more photos.
The House and Gladyne on the right at the 2007 Decorator Showcase which she hosted in her home.

According to her neighbors, billionaires Gordon Getty heir to an oil fortune and Larry Ellison chief executive officer of Oracle Corp Gladyne Mitchell threw a dam good party.

"Amid the buzz over the 2007 Decorator Showcase socialite party of the year, a wealthy couple offered to buy the Mitchell house for between $40 million and $45 million, says Dianne Weaver, the would-be buyers' agent. Weaver says Mitchell declined the offer for the home her father had bought for $93,000 in the 1940s and left to his only daughter upon his death in 1987. (Mitchell’s real estate agent, who said Mitchell is travelling and cannot be reached, disputed this version of events but declined to elaborate."

I am enjoying tracking down the history of this car more and more.
The history is beginning to read like a novel.
Ciao
FGM
Chck out the party
http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/1509
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Great find Frank! I hope you will post up additional photos after the clean up, and give us your impressions of driving it.

When was that we saw each other on I-405? I couple months back?

Regards,
Dave

 

Glad to hear you plan on just cleaning it up Frank. It looks like it's in good shape and should look great once it's spruced up a bit! Look forward to checking it out sometime!!

John

 

Very cool!

 

Very well done Frank!

 

Great addition to go with your Series 1 Quattroporte!!! Can't wait to see some "side by side" shots!

Congrats!

Mike

 

I really only have time and space for 1 old car, so my 1964 sires 1 Maserati Quattroporte AM107.034 will now be put on the market and sold.
Interested collectors are invited to PM me for additional information including price.
This car is a time capsule with great history going back 35 years. It is totally original, original navy blue paint, original pumpkin leather and carpets. A definite preservation class winner. Dyno tuned at carbcon and ready to be driven anywhere.
This is a very early car with the Di Dion rear suspension.
Arguably the best sires 1 QP in NA. Fitted with a beautiful 4 cam, 4 webber V8, 5 speed, inboard disc, and A/C. To add to the rarity, 034 carries body number 2 (two)
In 1964 Road & Track called it "The fastest 4 door in the world"
Shown here by Maserati North America at Pebble Beach during the launch of the new Maserati Quattroporte in 2003.
If you are inclined to original unmolested top quality cars, this is a very inexpensive entry level exotic car that has aged well and will always be in style.
Ciao,
FGM
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

That's the one you had at Edmonds a couple years ago right Frank? Amazingly good looking original car!!