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The brand's roots trace back to early 20th century Italy. F. P.
Iconic Cars in Maserati's 110-Year History

Iconic Cars in Maserati's 110-Year History

Canal Motor

Jueves, 16 de enero 2025, 09:51

After 110 years of crafting iconic vehicles, Maserati's history is rich with the development of true automotive masterpieces, pioneering models, and successful racing cars.

Its roots lie in early 20th century Italy. Founded in Bologna in 1914 by the Maserati brothers, the brand has left an indelible mark on automotive history. The Maserati brothers, Alfieri, Bindo, Carlo, and Ernesto, were passionate about mechanics and racing. Initially, they focused on repairing and modifying cars, but soon their passion led them to build their own vehicles. The family workshop became a benchmark in the manufacture of racing engines.

One of Maserati's most recognizable symbols is its trident. This emblem was inspired by the Neptune Fountain in Bologna's Piazza Maggiore, the Maserati brothers' hometown. The trident represents the strength, elegance, and power that characterize the brand's cars.

In its early days, Maserati excelled in the world of motor racing. Its racing cars achieved numerous victories in events such as the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This racing experience allowed Maserati to develop innovative technologies and hone its skills in building high-performance engines.

Over time, Maserati evolved into a manufacturer of luxury and sports cars. The brand's road models began to gain popularity among a discerning clientele seeking exclusivity and performance.

To celebrate its 110th anniversary, we have compiled 10 key models that have marked significant milestones in the brand's timeline.

Maserati Tipo 26

After the first years offering maintenance and preparation services for racing cars, Officine Alfieri Maserati presented its first racing car in 1926 with the Maserati Trident logo. The Maserati Tipo 26 featured an inline eight-cylinder engine, supercharged by a compressor, with a displacement of 1,493 cc to comply with the Grand Prix regulations of the time. With an aluminum body, it weighed less than 800 kg and delivered 128 hp. On April 25, it participated in the Targa Florio with Alfieri Maserati at the wheel, who won his category.

Maserati Typo 26 F. P.

Over the years, the Tipo 26 achieved podiums and category victories in major grands prix, ensuring that by the early 1930s, the Maserati name was already recognized in Italian motorsport.

Maserati A6

Under the initials A6 (Alfieri, 6 cylinders), Maserati created a series of beautiful street sports cars and successful racing cars and single-seaters that placed the brand in the exclusive position it has maintained to this day in the motor world.

Maserati A6 F. P.

The A6 1500 Gran Turismo of 1947 was the brand's first street car. Variations in small series of the A6 1500 and the later A6 G 2000, with bodies designed by Pinin Farina, Zagato, Frua, Vignale, or Allemano, led to some of the most beautiful Italian cars of the 1950s. Until the end of its production in 1956, multiple Gran Turismo bodies were made with two and four seats, convertibles, and competition coupé and barchetta bodies.

Additionally, the A6 led to the successful single-seater variant A6GCM, which participated in the newly created Formula 1 and Formula 2 world championships, regaining the affection of Italian enthusiasts achieved before World War II.

Maserati 250F

Following the successes of the Maserati A6GCM in the grands prix of the Formula 1 and Formula 2 World Championships, Maserati presented a new model with a 2.5-liter engine at the 1954 Argentine Grand Prix: the Maserati 250F.

Maserati 250 F F. P.

With Juan Manuel Fangio at the wheel, the 250F won on its debut and again in Belgium, helping the Argentine to secure his second world drivers' championship. The single-seater featured a six-cylinder, 2.5-liter engine with nearly 300 hp. It soon became known in the world championship, driven by great drivers like Fangio and Moss.

The 250 F achieved twelve victories in Formula 1, five of them in 1957, and allowed Fangio to win his fifth world drivers' championship, which fueled the 250F's fame as a legendary single-seater. The 250F continued to compete in private hands until the regulatory change in 1961.

Maserati 3500 GT

Maserati raised the bar with the street replacement for the A6. In 1957, it introduced the Maserati 3500 GT, undoubtedly one of the fundamental cars in the brand's history and in that of Italian grand tourers.

After several designs and prototypes, the beautiful and elegant silhouette presented by Carrozzeria Touring was chosen, built with the Superleggera technique of tubular chassis and aluminum body. The engine was a 3.5-liter inline six-cylinder with 220 hp, derived from the one used in the Maserati 350S endurance barchetta.

Maserati 3500 GT F. P.

The 3500 GT fascinated movie stars and the jet set of the time, helping to forge Maserati's legacy as a brand of great sports cars. In 1959, the convertible version designed by Vignale was launched, and in 1960, the 3500 GT became the first Italian production car to incorporate electronic injection in its 3500 GTI version.

Maserati Quattroporte

In 1963, Maserati pioneered a new segment by combining its expertise in sports cars with the body of a luxury four-door car. The concept was so innovative for a brand associated with racing and coupés that they opted for a descriptive and direct name: Maserati Quattroporte. This left no doubt that it was a Maserati despite having four doors.

The Quattroporte has become another essential model of the brand and is the vehicle that has been in production the longest, reaching our days through six generations.

Maserati Quattroporte of 1963 F. P.

Among the memorable versions is the Quattroporte Royale of the 1980s, the sporty and successful generation of the early 2000s, and the sixth generation, which has embodied the epitome of driving for more than a decade. This model combines a spacious, comfortable, and exclusive interior with performance and exciting behavior.

Maserati Ghibli

In 1966, Maserati once again revolutionized the automotive world by presenting a new sports car called the Maserati Ghibli at the Turin Motor Show, which would go down in history as one of the most beautiful cars ever produced. The elongated and sharp line, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, included retractable headlights, a fastback rear, and standard magnesium wheels. Under the long hood was a 4.7-liter V8 engine with a dry sump capable of delivering 330 hp.

In 1969, the Ghibli SS version appeared, with the engine enlarged to 4.9 liters and boosted to 335 hp, as well as the convertible Ghibli Spyder version. Total production reached 780 units of the Coupé version, 424 of the Coupé SS 4.9, 82 of the Spyder 4.7, and 46 of the Spyder SS 4.9, which are today coveted pieces in exclusive collections.

Maserati Ghibli of 1966 F. P.

The name Ghibli is so important to Maserati's history that it was resurrected in the 1990s with a model based on the family of coupés with a V6 Biturbo engine. This model combined luxury and performance and even had its own competition, the Ghibli Open Cup.

In its third generation, presented in 2013, the Ghibli took the concept of beautiful and elegant design to the sports sedan segment, offering an iconic model with an exclusive interior and high performance. Variants include V6 Biturbo, V8 Biturbo, and high-performance turbodiesel engines.

Maserati 3200 GT

A key model in Maserati's history was the 3200 GT, introduced in 1998. This car marked the beginning of a new era, modernizing the brand's offering in the late 1990s and revitalizing interest in the Trident's grand tourers.

The groundbreaking design of the 3200 GT stood out for its curvaceous lines, perfect coupé proportions, and unique details that marked an era. It was the first production vehicle equipped with boomerang-shaped LED taillights, an iconic and ahead-of-its-time design.

Maserati 3200 GT of 1998 F. P.

The 3200 GT was powered by a 3.2-liter V8 Biturbo engine with 370 hp, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds in the manual version and 5.8 seconds with an automatic transmission.

The first series of the 3200 GT was in production until 2002, when its evolution, renamed the Maserati Coupé, was introduced. This model, along with its convertible Spyder variant, increased the displacement to 4.2 liters and initially offered 390 hp, reaching 400 hp in the GrandSport versions. It also debuted the Cambiocorsa robotized gearbox system.

In total, more than 13,500 units were produced between the Coupé and Spyder versions, consolidating Maserati's position in the modern grand sports car segment.

Maserati MC12

In the early 2000s, Maserati decided to revive its official participation in high-level competitions. Endurance racing was the category chosen for its historical connection with the brand, and a new supercar was designed for this purpose. The MC12 debuted in 2004 as a competition vehicle in the FIA GT1 category. In 2005, the Vitaphone Racing team won the FIA GT1 championship, repeating the feat every year until 2009. Its overwhelming superiority in the category and successes in GT championships in Italy and North America established the MC12 Versione Corse as an icon of competition.

Maserati MC 12 of 2004 F. P.

To homologate the racing model, Maserati produced a street version. The street MC12 shared the aerodynamic silhouette of the competition car, although it incorporated a removable roof that gave it an exotic touch. The 6.0-liter V12 engine delivered 630 hp, allowing it to reach 330 km/h. The radical design, with elongated lines, absence of a rear window, and a performance-focused interior, captured worldwide attention.

Two street series were produced: an initial 25 units in 2004 and a second in 2005, also 25 units, to homologate changes in FIA regulations. As for the Maserati MC12 Versione Corse, a total of 13 units were manufactured. Today, the MC12 is recognized as one of the most important vehicles in Maserati's history.

Maserati GranTurismo

In 2007, Maserati unveiled the Maserati GranTurismo at the Geneva Motor Show. This model combined high performance with comfort, offering a classic two-door, four-seat coupé design with a sleek line, chrome details, and a presence as elegant as it is commanding on the road.

The GranTurismo debuted with a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 engine and 405 hp paired with an automatic transmission. Its production spanned 12 years, and in addition to the GranCabrio version launched in 2009, multiple variants were developed that incorporated innovations such as increasing the engine's displacement to 4.7 liters and its power to 460 hp. Some versions featured a transaxle robotized gearbox system with the clutch on the rear axle.

Maserati GranTurismo of 2007 F. P.

In 2022, Maserati announced the second generation of the GranTurismo, which began production in 2023. This new model improves all aspects of design, comfort, technology, and performance.

The 2023 Maserati GranTurismo is available in gasoline versions with all-wheel drive and the Nettuno V6 Biturbo 3.0-liter engine, delivering 490 hp in the Modena version and 550 hp in the Trofeo. Looking to the future, the Trident brand has reached the pinnacle of innovation with the development of a 100% electric version of the model, which has indeed become Maserati's first electric grand tourer. Thanks to its three motors, one at the front and two at the rear, the GranTurismo Folgore guarantees the sportiness of a brand model with a total power of 761 hp.

To celebrate the brand's 110th anniversary, Maserati has launched a special series of the Gran Turismo limited to the same number of units as the Trident's years, becoming the ultimate bridge between the brand's past, present, and future. This series is available in two configurations with 55 units each: the first in Rame Folgore color and the second in the exclusive Blu Inchostro, both featuring specific details, exclusive series wheels with black and copper tones, and the characteristic Econyl upholstery in denim or black with copper or blue stitching.

Maserati Grecale

In 2016, Maserati entered the competitive high-end SUV market with the Maserati Levante, laying the foundation for the brand's expansion in this segment. The Maserati Grecale was launched in 2022, a luxury SUV that combines versatility, elegance, performance, and innovation.

Maserati Grecale Trofeo of 2023 F. P.

The Maserati Grecale is available in the GT version, equipped with a four-cylinder mild-hybrid engine capable of developing 300 hp; the Modena variant, which features a four-cylinder mild-hybrid engine with 330 hp.

The Trofeo variant, the most performance-oriented of the range, is equipped with a 530 hp V6 engine. The Maserati Grecale Folgore has been the latest addition to the range, a fully electric version with a power of 410 kW and capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds.

Today, Maserati is part of the Stellantis group and continues to offer a range of luxury and sports vehicles, such as the Quattroporte, Levante, and GranTurismo. The Italian brand remains a benchmark in the automotive world, combining tradition and modernity to offer unique driving experiences.

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todoalicante Iconic Cars in Maserati's 110-Year History