Cars and Tuning

The mark of the trident, founded in 1914 by the brothers and Ernesto Ettore Alfieri Maserati in Bologna, is devoted almost exclusively to the competition, which achieves great success. His mechanics, highly advanced and sophisticated, contrasts with poor business management. The Orsi family takes control and Maserati OCSS founded in 1947. Maserati accumulates triumphs after the war, as the world title pilots Fangio (1957). Of the six cylinders in line with the trays, category Sport stem the mounting of the series until mid-1960. The elegant Mistral is the latest supply it. Maserati develops a civilian version of the 450 S V8 competition, which debuted on the 5000 GT.

Mexico

In the year 1964, Maserati serves the last of the 5000 GTS but continued sporadically receive orders from automobiles special eight-cylinder engine. To meet these requests, small in number but important in the face of the brand image, Omer Orsi decided to deliver a few racks to the coach who work regularly to the factory. A practice very effective because these vehicles, built especially for leading-edge customers, Maserati has the opportunity to experiment with new solutions, and often are obtained and some ideas quite interesting.

One of the applications, arrival in early 1965 from South Africa, is a 2 +2 coupe classical style, and express desire of the buyer; lines shortly striking. On a rack of 2,640 mm battle that Maserati sent to Turin, Alfredo Vignale develop a sober body whose three-volume discrete aspect faithfully conforms to the client’s needs, something quite understandable if we take into account the country of destination of the vehicle and its conflicting social situation. By then South Africa lived under a harsh regime of racial segregation (apartheid), and their future president, Nelson Mandela, still remained defendant in a maximum security prison.

Based on the Quatroporte technically, it takes its independent front suspension with triangular arms and rigid rear axle, transmission and ZF five relations as a power plant V8 clear vocation sports but conveniently civilized by Giulio Alfieri, which manages 290 hp draw their 4,700 CC. This engine, and later with another version of the same 4,200 cc and 260 hp, equip the model series presented that year at the Hall of Turin under the name Mexico, attributed by some sources to the fact that one of the first copies it acquires the president of that country.

Until the cessation of production at the end of 1972 will be manufactured 482 copies of Mexico, 305 of them with the impeller 4.2 liters and 175 with 4.7. The remaining two are two really interesting specimens. Its peculiarity: the bodywork, designed and conducted by Pietro Frua. But existing information about them is very parca: unknown reasons which prompted its creation, do not appear in any book devoted to the brand, nor is it mentioned in any record except for the very Maserati, which stated briefly that were built two Copies on the same basis mechanics Mexico with bodywork Vignale and therefore is regarded as a model Mexico.

They leave the Indy, and Ghibli Quatroporte, grow sales and not entirely abandoned the competition. Alfieri projected the type 60 and 61 Birdcage, and V12 engines are built from F1 to Cooper.

In the seventies and reach the Kamshin Bora with the core engine.

Bora

At the Geneva Motor Show 1971, Maserati introduced Bora (model adopted by the name of the northeast wind blowing on the shores of the northern Adriatic Sea), a two-seater coupé bodywork by Ital Design, which was its first model with core engine later namely a 4,700 cc V-8 and 310 hp, which moved more than 1,500 kg their happily.

Merak

And in 1972, in Paris, introduced another novelty: Is or was not…? Well, yes, there was a novelty because although at first glance looked like a Bora, instead of his great lunette tilted back and the two side windows, had a small lunette vertical and two pillars on each side. With this change the design of Giorgetto Giugaro weighed less, without compromising its harmonious beauty. Besides that Bora had an unusual dashboard Citroen SM, and after two others had their seats although not worth torturing or for children, there were; But how, if that was the site of the engine? Quite simple: instead of the V8 was the C-114′s Citroen SM, much shorter, extrapolated to 2,965 cc rising 4.6 mm diameter cylinders. Thus, the maximum power was 190 hp, 120 less than the Bora, but since the car was 150 kg lighter (1,350), were sufficient to make a worthy carrier of the trident.

Thus, hybrid and SM Bora, Merak was born. Its mission: to enter the then burgeoning segment of the sports media, but prestigious, and customer dispute as to rival the Ferrari Dino. And their fate: arrive just before the oil crisis of 1973 that damaged a large sports and capearla succeeded so brilliantly that even their record sales (430 units) in the same year. And 1974 also was given bad.

Maserati launched at the Geneva Motor Show 1975, the SS Merak, more powerful, more careful with internal termination, dashboard design and a grid on the bonnet to dispose channeled to the flow of air passing through the radiator. In addition, he had his first ready Drive: the Quattroporte II, a huge saloon carrozada by Bertone based on the SM () 1974, and that also used the engine C-114 with specifications Merak SS.

But the problems would soon be available, Citroën leaves the group Michelin and Peugeot which is absorbed by liquid Maserati. But that was not the only problem, its liquidation is not only left without Maserati owner, but could be eating engine C-114 destined for Citroen SM, while assuming that the Quattroporte II had been sentenced to death. A serious blow to the 795 employees of the factory in Modena, in March introduced the SS Merak, in April started selling and have the new list saloon, and in May…, pull!, Forced to celebrate the end of the French domination echándose… to the streets to try to not stay in it!

Fortunately with its rapid and forceful action mobilized unions, the chamber of commerce and even the Government, achieving a period of 6 months to find a way out. And the output came on 8 August, when the former pilot Argentine Alejandro de Tomaso (owner of brands Guzzi and Benelli motorcycles, and the car carrying her last name) signed an agreement with the GEPI (INI body similar to Spanish , which was involved) to implement a complex plan that ensured the survival viability of Maserati… and transferred substantial package of its shares to Benelli, namely him.

Either way, the plan was and Maserati launched a feverish activity that disrupted their entire range. At the Geneva Motor Show in 1976 remains the SS, the basic replaces a 2,000 (in Italy pays a 18% tax, instead of 36), and becomes the model sold each year, with a market share very stable, until in 1980 he beat the Quattroporte III (presented at the Hall of Turin, in the autumn of 1976, and begun to produce in 1979), and then in 1982, the Biturbo, which was sold to thousands each year something hitherto unthinkable for a Maserati. From there Merak sales declined and production ceased in 1983.

But back problems: oil crisis… appears in the 80 range Biturbo competing with BMW and Mercedes, but the mark remains erratic path until its entry into Fiat by the end of the nineties.