Maserati

Maserati is famous a make of car of sport and Italian race founded by the Frères Maserati in 1914 and whose symbol is a Trident.

History

The Maserati brothers

The mark is created in 1914 with Bologna by Alfieri Maserati, born in a family from seven brothers (Frères Maserati), of which five were implied in the development of cars. The sixth brother, Mario, an artist, are supposed to have drawn the emblem of the mark: a three-pronged fork.

See also: Brothers Maserati

Carlo, the elder one, was the first to be launched out. It manufactured bicycles, then motor bikes. Later he becomes test pilot at FIAT and Isotta Fraschini. He commits suicide in race in 1910.

In 1917, Alfieri launches out in the manufacture of spark plugs.

Alfieri and Ettore are engaged in 1922 by the firm Diatto to produce a first racing racing car: Tipo 20. Unhappy in Grand Prix, Diatto will however be a fast and reliable car. It will show it by removing its first large success, in race of endurance, at the 24 Hours of Monza, in 1924.

The second car, one 2 liters with engine 8 cylinders, conceived by Alfieri, was less brilliant, and its failure led Diatto to withdraw race.

In 1926, the two brothers decide to build their own racing racing cars. It is on this date that the automobile mark Maserati is really launched. The first Maserati car was developed on the basis of Diatto and took the name of Type 26, we are in 1926. It is the first " vraie" Maserati. It quickly becomes the frightening rival of the Bugatti. In 1926 it gains the Targa Florio.

Alfieri dies in 1932. With its death the firm loses its engineer and especially his manager. The three brothers Bindo, Ernesto and Ettore, continue the business. Bindo takes the Head office, Ernesto Technical Management and Ettore with the financial responsibility. It will prove to be the weak link of the organization which in spite of sporting and commercial successes will be sold in Adolfo Orsi.

Orsi family

In 1937, the Maserati brothers sell their shares in the company with the Orsi family. Adolfo Orsi is a large industrialist of the area of Modena which with the passion of the automobile race. Conscious of its limits it takes care to sign with the three Maserati brothers a contract which binds them to the mark for ten years.

Vis-a-vis the rise in cubic capacity and power of the manufacturers German and the unfavourable regulation, especially starting from 1933, Maserati will concentrate its efforts on smaller, multicylinder and sometimes overfed engines. These engines find their place in " voiturettes" or " Formulate Junior" (single-seaters of 1,5 liter, generally) such as the 6CM. The innovation remains always a priority, Maserati 8CM of 1932 will be the first sport scar equipped with hydraulic orders of brakes.

Maserati takes part in tests in the USA in 1939 and 1940 or the absence of the German candidates still made it possible to gain some successes. Wilbur Shaw, at the wheel of a Maserati Tipo 8CTF with engine of 3 liters - called Special Boyle - gains celebrates it American race of the 500 miles Indianapolis by twice and it not less famous race of Pikes Peak. No European car had gained these trophies for more than 20 years.

In 1940 Maserati moves with Modena. At the time of the Second world war, the company will be obliged to take part in the military effort. The automobile activity is stopped with the profit of the design and manufacture of electric utility and accumulator battery and spark plugs of with dimensions small of another.

Once peace returned Maserati starts again to build cars of competition. A key man integrates the team Maserati the engineer Alberto Massimino, old of FIAT, also last at Alfa Romeo and Ferrari. He will be responsible for the design of all the models competition during ten years. With him and the engineers Giulio Alfieri (1924-2002), Vittorio Bellentani and Gioachino Colombo (1903 - 1987), the author of the engine V12 Ferrari, which joins it, Maserati finds successes in race in particular with the famous pilot Juan Manuel Fangio in the Années 1950 including the championship of the world in 1957 with the Maserati 250F. Fangio will be surrounded by other famous pilots like Emmanuel de Graffenried (1914-2007), Louis Chiron (1899-1979) and the Prince Bira (1914-1985).

Maserati is then distinguished in the races from sports cars with the Tipo 60 and the Tipo 61 called “  cage with oiseau  ” in reference to its unusual multitubular frame. Benoit Musy (1917-1956) Swiss pilot, will run on a purely basis deprived on A6GCS /53 in 1954, on 300S n°3057 in 1955 and finally on 200S with which it committed suicide in Montlhéry in 1956.

In 1946, the first sporting cars of road leave the Maserati factory, to start with the A6 1500, presented to the Living room of Geneva. It will be built with approximately 150 specimens.

In 1947 the contract that the Maserati brothers and the Orsi family had signed comes in the long term. Ettore continues its career at Maserati. Bindo and Ernesto found, on December 1st, the firm OSCA which will develop racing racing cars and models of sport. After take againbeing taken again by the group MV Agusta in 1962, this one will disappear in 1967.

In 1953, Adolfo Orsi becomes the only shareholder of Maserati. After a complete reorganization, his/her Omer son is named managing director. A motor cycle activity is launched… which will finish quickly in 1961.

In 1957, first Maserati of road is produced on a production line, it is the 3500 WP .

It is at that time that Maserati founds the tradition to give to each commercial model the name of a wind: Mistrals, Bora, Merak and well of others will be used to baptize these marvellous cars.

In 1958 the financial problems push the Group to stop all the direct sports activities.

Many private stables will then become the new customers of Maserati.

In 1963, the first Maserati Quattroporte (four doors), drawn by Pietro Frua is born and it will be the fastest truck of the world of the time, driven by an engine of 4,2l initially and 4,7l then. But the financial problems remain….

The Citroen period

In 1968, Maserati passes under the control of Citroen. This to allow Citroen to acquire a V6 engine to equip its SM.

This association gives rise to three new Maserati models equipped with sophisticated hydraulics: the Bora (the large one), the Merak (the small one) - both with central engine - and the Khamsin. Dividing the same banks of components and the same designers as the Citroen, the cockpits of these Maserati will be more or less charged with elements taking again the not very sporting design of Citroen (stealing inclined monobranche, meters, control units of headlights and indicators, orders of heating….)

The Maserati engine and the gear box of SM even will finish under the cap of the Ligier JS2, a new French automobile mark which starts. Guy Ligier meets, at the time, of enormous concern to fill the driving compartment with his racing racing car which it will vainly try to civilize.

The service competition of Citroen, on several occasions, equipped DS with the Maserati engine of SM, like the prototype of Björn Waldegård, on rallys raids or cross-country such as the Rallye of Bandama. Among the pilots of the TEAM Citroen, one finds Bob Neyret organizing the last Citroen Sport Classic.

The period Alejandro de Tomaso

Given up by Citroen in bankruptcy in 1975 following the commercial failure of the SM to engine V6, Maserati once more changes hands to fall under the crook from the GEPI, a company of State Italian in charge of the revival of companies in difficulty.

Recovery then by Alejandro de Tomaso for a very moderate amount, it surprises the automobile world by producing the astonishing truck Biturbo and all its décendantes: Biturbo Spider, Maserati Karif, 2.24V and 4.24V, and finally the Maserati Racing without forgetting the Maserati Barchetta.

All these sporting cars will share the same concept of engine, receiving model after model of notable improvements, to see the page Liste of the engines of Maserati Biturbo.

Into a new series, Maserati will introduce the Ghibli II and the Shamal.

The Chrysler period

As the mishaps never finish, in 1983, Chrysler, which wishes to offer a range of top-of-the-range vehicles, comes to meet Maserati. These discussions two models will leave to Chrysler engine prepared by Maserati, with the luxurious completion, for the American consumers: The Chrysler Convertible TC Touring convertible, a shandy of very glorious technologies not always.

Lee Iacocca, then President de Chrysler and old knowledge of Alejandro De Tomaso, invest 35 M$ in the company. But Chrysler will take too much time to introduce the model on the US market…

Chrysler is withdrawn 4 years later and Alejandro De Tomaso also decides him to sell its shares.

The recovery by FIAT and Ferrari

In 1987, the company is taken again by FIAT which initially tries to make function the teams Ferrari and Maserati together, hazardous thing waited until the two marks always were of serious concurentes. One will see of them some traces in programmes of improvement of quality and fiabilté, as with the Quattroporte evoluzione. Then, in 1977, group FIAT decides to amalgamate Maserati and Ferrari, the adversaries of yesterday.

In 2006, FIAT constituted a sporting pole medium-high of range with Esparto-Romeo and Maserati for permetre with Ferrari to shine with the firmament of the automobile marks.

Models

1946-1960

  • A6 1500
  • A6G 2000
  • A6G54 2000
  • A6G54 2000
  • A6GCM
  • A6GCS
  • A6GCS \ 53
  • 3500 WP
  • 3500 WP Convertible
  • 5000 WP

1961-1970

  • Mistral
  • Mistral Spyder
  • Sebring
  • Quattroporte I (1963)
  • Ghibli Spider S
  • Ghibli S
  • Mexico City
  • Mexico City 4200
  • Indy 4900
  • Indy Europa 4700
  • Indy America 4700

1971-1980

1981-1996

1997 to date

  • 3200 WP
  • 3200 AWG
  • Cut (Maserati)
  • Cut WP
  • Cut Cambiocorsa
  • Spyder
  • Spyder Cambiocorsa
  • Quattroporte V - 2004
  • MC12
  • Maserati GranTurismo

Cars of competition

  • Tipo 151 · Prototype Tipo 154
  • : Birdcage 75th
  • 150S
  • 200S
  • 200SI
  • 250F (1957)
  • 250F T2
  • 250S
  • 300S
  • 350S
  • 450S
  • 420 \ M \ 58 \ Eldorado
  • 4C2500
  • 4CL
  • 4CLT \ 48
  • 4CM 2000
  • 6C34
  • 6CM
  • 8CL
  • 8CLT
  • 8CM
  • 8CTF (1939)
  • Tipo 26
  • Tipo 26B
  • Tipo 26BMM
  • Tipo 26C
  • Tipo 26M
  • Tipo 26MM
  • Tipo 26R
  • Tipo CM 1100
  • Tipo CM 1500
  • Tipo 4CS 1500
  • Tipo 4CTR \ 4CS 1100
  • Tipo 60
  • Tipo 61
  • Tipo 63
  • Tipo 64
  • Tipo 65
  • Tipo 8C 2800
  • Tipo 8C 3000
  • Tipo V4
  • Tipo V5
  • Trofeo
  • V8RI

External bonds

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