Maserati

Maserati, famous Italian automobile manufacturer specializing in luxury sports cars with imposing exterior and extra high performance. Currently Maserati is the subdivision of Fiat Corporation.

Each of Maserati brothers – Carlo, Bindo, Alfiedi, Mario, Ettore and Ernesto – played their more or less important roles in company establishment and developing which bears their name up to nowadays. Carlo, the oldest among brothers was the first to start dealing with automobiles. It was right he who constructed the first Maserati automobile with 1-cylinder engine and simple-construction chassis. But he was seriously ill and subsequently died at the age of 29. Activity about automobiles stopped for a period.

But December, 14, 1914 Alfieri Maserati founded Officine Alfieri Maserati Company. The principal activity purposes of the company were set automobiles development and manufacturing, as well as of engines and spark plugs. The company was disposed in Bologna where on central square Neptune sculpture by Giambologna was standing.

Inspired by this work of art Mario Maserati contrived plate for the company – trident subsequently served the symbol of prosperous Maserati future.

In 1925 Alfieri, Ernesto and Bindo brothers constructed 2 liters cubic displacement engine for Diatto, big Italian automobile manufacturer. This engine was set up on successful Grand Prix racing model car.

Actual Maserati birth as worldwide known company and trademark came in 1926, April, 25, at Targa Florio racing start. The third of brothers – Alfieri – was participating the race with first serial Maserati – Grand Prix 1500 model with trident fixed on the hood.

In 1927 Ernesto Maserati won Italian scudetto with Tipo 26 model and after several crucial and important victories Maserati cars became famous throughout Europe. That was the moment marking Maserati specializing start in exclusively racing cars constructing. Collective genius of Maserati brothers was focused on extra powerful engines inventing. In 1929 Baconin Borzaccini, a racer, set new speed record on 10 km distance with Maserati TipoV4 – 246 km/h.

From 1932 to 1939, after Alfieri died, all efforts relating to automobiles construction performed the youngest brother – Ernesto Maserati. During this period he was designing all engines on his own and additionally an array of races with his cars. In 1933 Ernesto Maserati was the first car constructor to set up brakes hydraulic booster on racing cars.

1938-1939 was the period of Maserati integrating into Orsi Gruppo Company. In 1939 the company moved from Bologna to Modenugde where is situated nowadays.

In 1939 and 1940 Vilbur Show, an American racer, won with Maserati 8 CTF Indianapolis 500 race placing the name of Maserati to the history treasury of this legendary American race. In fact, Maserati 8 CTF powered by fabulous 8-cylinder engine is the only Italian car in the race history that came first.

After WW II Maserati brothers left the company though granted their name and organized new own OSCA Officina Specializzata Costruzione Automobili Fratelli Maserati) venture. New enterprise focused manufacturing on racing cars but couldn’t manage to gain previous success and scalable recognition.


1947 was marked by A6 1500 model, first GT class car presentation with body designed by Pininfarina. Racing modification of AG GCS driven by Alberto Ascari won a couple of races in Modena and gained esteem in Mille Mila and Targa Florio races.

The road version of this car was manufactured in small numbers. A6 1500 was equipped with racing chassis and light-weight 2.0 liter 6-cylinder engine, which was first constructed with one camshaft and one plug per cylinder; then it gained two camshafts and two plugs per cylinder.
All those cars were hand made special cars produced in small batches hence each car was an exclusive piece.

In 1954 Maserati 250F won Formula 1 race in Argentina. And in 1957, 250 F with powerful and reliable 6-cylinder engine served the guarantee for famous Fangio racer winning his fifth champion title though unfortunately the last title for Maserati cars. 1957 became the year of Maserati official leaving racing events and transferring of racing technologies to serial road automobile manufacturing.

In 1957 Maserati introduced 3500 GT car – which subsequently became company’s bestseller model. It was the first serial road model powered by 3.5 6-cylinder engine with twin can system (two upper camshafts location). The body Maserati 3500 GT was designed by Milan based Touring house. “3500”-serie had its own peculiar model – coupe Spyder designed by Vignale body house. As some designers and automobile historians suppose this car produced in the number of 242 vehicles only was the ever elegant among all Maserati car produced. In 1961 the model was equipped with Lucas mechanical fuel injection system and gained “GTI” to its name. Thus, Maserati GT was the first Italian car with fuel injection. 3500 GT manufacturing was stopped in 1964. There were produced 2000 cars by the moment.


The border of 50-60s was the time of launching Maserati 5000GT manufacturing. It was the car that restored the prewar tradition of constructing custom cars. Maserati was bringing engines and chassis parts while car bodies were designed and manufactured in the work shops of Allemano, Michelotti and Bertone car ateliers.


In 1963 drawing boards of Vignale bore new project aimed at replacing fusty Touring designed body. New automobile called Sebring, in the honor of Maserati victories in North American races, was arranged with reliable and high-quality tuned engine placed into modern and aggressive looking car body. Sebring in two versions with 6-cylinder 3.7 and 4.0 liter engines was in production till 1969.



In 1963 one more important event on Maserati history that put the company at special position among all car makers of the time. The world saw expensive and fast Mistral and Quattroporte sedans. In Great Britain Quattroporte, standing out for its luxury and speed was more expensive than Rolls Royce. Quattroporte became the first business class car of Maserati having 42 V8 engine of 5000 GT. For those who desired the luxury of Quattroporte with sportive temper Maserati issued Mexico model.




1966 is notable for Ghibli model producing. Body for new model was designed in atelier of young Giorgetto Giugiaro who was working for Ghia Company. This car occurred a real sensation in automobile world and served a face of
Maserati in 60s.



In 1968 controlling interest of Maserati purchased French Citroen. The most appreciable result of their joint work became Indy model which was manufactured in 1104 numbers. By the highest standards nothing more real this partnership resulted in.




Despite Maserati officially left formerly racing events its cars were winning regularly here and there. Cooper equipped with Maserati V12 300 engine won two championships in a row – in Mexico (1967) and South Africa (1968).



In 1971 was constructed Bora model – the first Maserati with engine mid-location. Bora marked the beginning of Maserati new car concept. Henceforth the company strives to create not just extra fast cars but also endows them with comfort and luxury features.


Next year Maserati introduced Merak model with V6 engine developed specially for Citroen SM. Merak became serious rival and competent for its class-fellows – Ferrari 308 GT4 and Lamborghini Uracco. In 1976 Merak was renewed, named Merak SS; and restyles gained modernized V6 3.0 engine and more stylish dashboard borrowed from Bora brother.


At the end of Citroen era in Maserati history Ghibli was replaced by new model – Khamsin, with Bertone designed body. Khamsin had front-located 4.9 V8 engine and outstanding design.


Maserati-Citroen short-time alliance broke up the company was joined by famous Alessandro de Tomaso. He refreshed Maserati model line-up by constructing Kyalami model. Kyalami was manufactured in two versions – with 4.2(manual transmission) and 4.9 (hydro) engines accordingly.


In 1976 revised marketing strategy Maserati company entered new niche of car market by releasing its Quattroporte III – the first representative class model in its history designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro.



In 1981 de Tomaso changed the strategy and the result was Biturbo model – 2-door sedan with 2.0 engine assisted by two turbines producing finally 180 h/p. Biturbo became a real hit in Italy and in 1986 appeared on international car market. Export version of Maserati Biturbo had modified V6 2.5 engine.


The last creature of de Tomaso era of Maserati was Shamal model which was born in 1989. It was Biturbo equipped with 3.2 V8 and possessed enormous power of 325 h/p.


Soon was constructed Maserati Karif – pure sports car – after Biturbo chassis was set up with reliable and deserved 2.8 V6 engine. Kariff occurred the fastest Biturbo-serie model; when the constructors removed top from the model it transformed into real rocket.


From 1993 to 1995 Fiat Auto SpA, Italian car industry giant obtained 90% of Maserati stock and in 1996 under Fiat trusteeship Maserati issued new Quattroporte IV Evoluzione – Maserati of nowadays.

In 1995 under Fiat patronage was held a serie of races for Ghibli Open Cup. This event was dated by presenting road version of Ghibli Cup. The model with 2.0 engine had imposing 330 h/p power output per 1 liter of engine cubic displacement – the ratio that not a single serial car of the time had including McLaren F1.

In 1997 Maserati and Ferrari united though in reality Ferrari seized managing over Maserati. From November, 1997 till 1998 Maserati manufacturing plants in Modena were modernized so Ghibli and Quattroporte models production was provisionally stopped. Soon in autumn, 1998 was issued Maserati 3200 GT model.


In 2002 was constructed one more new model – Spyder GT.
Current marketing strategy of Maserati provides the objective to manufacture comfort luxury sports cars with effective guise and high speed specifications.