It’s easy to look at the Maserati Levante and assume the SUV era somehow disrupted the lineage of one of Italy’s most evocative marques. But look beyond the fastback silhouette and growling exhaust note, and you’ll find a bloodline that reaches right back to 1957 – to the car that arguably set the tone for Maserati’s modern identity: the 3500 GT.
Before the 3500 GT, Maserati was a name spoken mostly in racing paddocks and whispered reverently by petrolheads. With wins at the Indy 500 and Mille Miglia, the marque had earned its stripes on track. But what it hadn’t yet done was translate that motorsport heritage into something that could ferry two passengers and a set of bespoke luggage from Milan to Monaco in style. The 3500 GT changed that.
With its elegant Touring Superleggera bodywork and a detuned version of the marque’s race-bred inline-six engine, the 3500 GT was Maserati’s first true grand tourer – a car designed to blend long-distance comfort with high-speed capability. It wasn’t about lap times; it was about arriving in style and loving every kilometre in between.
Fast-forward to today, and the Levante plays much the same role – albeit dressed in SUV tailoring. It, too, bridges the gap between performance and refinement, between heritage and modernity. Where the 3500 GT was aimed at a new generation of wealthy post-war clientele wanting a slice of Italian exclusivity, the Levante does the same for today’s family-focused buyer who refuses to sacrifice passion on the altar of practicality.
INTERGENERATIONAL MILESTONE
Both cars represent pivotal moments for Maserati: the 3500 GT as its shift from circuit to strada, and the Levante as its leap into the booming SUV market. Crucially, neither was a cynical move. Just as the GT retains the spirit of Modena’s racing years, the Levante stays true to the brand’s DNA, featuring Q4 all-wheel drive, snarling engines, and interiors swathed in rich Italian leather.
The badge on the nose may have evolved with the times, but the mission remains unchanged. Maserati has always been about performance, yes – but never at the expense of emotion, design, or the sheer joy of the journey. The Levante, like the 3500 GT before it, understands that completely.
Report by BERNIE HELLBERG JR | Images © Wikimedia Commons
