History of Maserati
The rich history of the Italian car manufacturer Maserati is inextricably linked to the history of automotive plants. Four brothers, the zvučným name Maserati (Alfieri, Ettore, Ernesto and Bindi) founded the 14th December 1914 in Bologna the Society Anonima Officine Alfieri Maserati, "initially aimed at repairing cars and the production of spark plugs. The first real Maserati has been designed in 1926. On the radiator was placed character, created by another Maserati brothers, designer Mario - stylized Neptunův trident, symbol of the city of Bologna. Maserati factory on Viale Ciro Menotti in Modena with an area of 43 500 m2 and currently employs 300 people. Celebration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the company were held in Milan, Modena, Mugello and Rome. Roman Kolosea passed around the column of historical and current cars, Maserati, reminiscent of significant events the past 90 years.
Twenties - racing beginnings
The first racing cars built Maserati brothers for the company Isotta FRASCHINI a small turínskou car Diatto. The first was to design their own in 1926 Maserati Tipo 26, driven by ordinary osmiválcem mechanical compressor Roots. Engine with a cylinder capacity of 1.5 liters gave the performance of 88 kW (120 k). Right at the first start of a demanding race Targa Florio won in its class and was ninth overall. Alfieri Maserati drove himself and the passenger"s seat occupied mechanic Guerrino Bertocchi. Racing Maserati is developed further, the volume of the engine is gradually increased to 2 liters and then to 2.5 liters. Cars were four transmission. In 1929 Maserati overcome the special car with the engine V16 Italian speed record on the line 10km, which has greatly contributed to promoting the brand.
Thirties - owned by the family Orsi
In the early thirties of Maserati cars glorify great achievements in the racing lines and, along with alpha Romeo and Bugatti created the legendary trio of winning. The most successful models belonged to the type of 8C-3000 from the year 1932. In 1932 greatly hindered the development of the company Alfieriho death and the temporary departure from the company Bindi. The 1933 comes racing monoposto 8cm. At the wheel of this car different osmiválcovými engines with the lines of Grand Prix races replaced competitors zvučných names like Tazio Nuvolari and Giuseppe Campari. Nuvolari won the Grand Prix of Belgium average of over 142 km / h, Campari won the Grand Prix of France. World economic crisis has caused us considerable financial difficulties, so that in 1937 took control of the company businessman Adolfo Orsi and his son Omer. The first race car built in directing Orsiů was Maserati 8CTF. While in Europe he nenavázal on the achievements of their predecessors, but in the years 1939 and 1940 amounted to the car with třílitrovým charged osmiválcem two victories in the race 500 miles Indianapolis American Wilbur Shaw.
Forties - travel sports cars
In 1940 the company moved Orsi Maserati in Modeny on Viale Ciro Menotti. Maserati brothers there appeared only in the role of consultants and under contract to leave the company after ten years, in 1947. This year, actually left the company Maserati in Bologna founded his own company Osca. Immediately after the Second World War, the Maserati brand-led Orsiů embarked on a tour of construction vehicles. Based on the A6 Sport has been racing at the Geneva car show in 1947 presented Maserati A6 1500 GT class car with bodywork from Pininfarina. Produced only piece (it produced a total of about 60 cars) and its sales increase, or an increase of 2 liters of engine and valve overhaul of divorce on dvouvačkový.
Fifties - Fangio World Champion at Maserati
Once again, the Maserati company tried to build on the achievements of their race monoposto. In 1954 came the last car of this brand, which has participated in races Formula 1st It was the type of 250F, which between 1954 and 1957 achieved many significant achievements. From 84 races Formula 1 was able to win thirty times. Legendary pilot Juan Manuel Fangio won once at the first start of the Grand Prix of Argentina in 1954 and obtained the title of Champion of the World (Part races left in the Mercedes Benz cars). At the world championships in 1956, won on this car Stirling Moss second place, and finally in 1957 took Fangio for this brand of the title. In the same car entered the world of F1 Maria Teresa de Filipis and won the Grand Prix of Syracuse. Major credit for these achievements is the constructor efficient engines Gioacchino Colombo. Year 1957 ended the official participation of Maserati in the plants and reduce the production and race cars for private teams. Priority was given production GT cars.
A6 continued development model types A6G, A6GCS and A6G54. For them has been developed a new two-krátkozdvihový inline six with three carburettors. These cars are often used for sports purposes and known and less known karosáři on their chassis created many beautiful creations. For all you připomeneme handsome built in karosárnách Frua, Ghia, and Allemana Heutiger. Shone on the sports field in the second half of the fifties types 300S and 450S. The coupe Sport 300S, 1956, the volume of ordinary šestiválce increased to 2991 cm3. The performance of 191 kW (260 k) sufficient to achieve at that time impressive speed of 265 km / h. At the end of the fifties rescued honor company Maserati sports roadster to 200 (won in 1957 the title of European Champion in the races to top) and famózní series Birdcage. Models Tipo 60 (2 l) and the Tipo 61 (2.9 l) in front of the engine were later replaced by models Tipo 63 and 64 with the engine at the rear.
However, still unable to ward off burdensome financial situation of the company. Turnover is only an indication of luxury four-Maserati 3500 GT coupe with aluminum body from the Milanese Touring at the Geneva Motor Show 1957. Převrtáním šestiválcového engine of the type A6G 2000, the cylinder capacity increased to 3485 cm3. In particular the U.S. market had a Maserati 3500 GT extraordinary success. Until 1964, is produced much more than two thousands of these pohledných cars. Cars are supplied is open body, mainly from Vignale. Compartment is chassis were shortened name of Sebring. On a modified chassis 3500 GT model was established in 1959 Maserati 5000 GT, which use a V8 engine of the racing machines 450S. The first of the 32 cars produced was made to order Shah of Persia.
Sixties - Ghibli and Indy
Sixties for the Maserati has been extremely fruitful. In November 1963 surprised čtyřdveřový luxury sedan Quattroporte with bodywork Frua. The car was owned Mastroiani such as Marcello, Anthony Quinn, Prince Rainier and even Leonid Brezhnev. In the same year is presented Mistral coupe (1963-70), also with bodywork Frua. For almost a thousand cars were produced 120 pieces of the open body. Successor model 5000 GT coupe has become a 2 +2 Mexico (1966-72) with body Vignale. Given the high price of the sold only 250 cars. In 1966 came one of the most beautiful Italian cars of all time, Maserati Ghibli. This superautomobil was founded on the basis of Mexico and driven by the civilian version of the racing osmiválce V8 4.7 liter. Balanced line of the body proposed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, which considers the car as his best work. In the years 1966 - 1973 cars were produced in 1274, of which 125 convertibles.
In 1968 Maserati sold Orsiové mark the French automobilce Citroën. This is especially interested in the experience of building efficient engines. Six Maserati is actually appeared in the model of Citroën SM. The latter type of this decade came four coupe Indians (1969-76) with body Vignale. The name came as a car memory of a double victory for Maserati cars in Indianapolis. Classically designed car is supplied with engines of 4.2 and 4.7 liter and sold a lot more than one thousand cars.
Seventies - Citroën and De Tomaso
Under the new leadership of the Maserati diverge from traditional manufacturing cars with front engine and rear wheel drive. Two models that had the engine placed in front of the rear axle: Bora (1971-1979) with a V8 engine and Merak (1972-83) with a V6 engine, both with the body from Italdesign. Citroën also introduced the second generation model Quattroporte (1974-1977) with mechanical parts and Citroën SM propelled the front! For the scant interest seen the light of the world only 13 cars, a model was never approved. Another fruit of cooperation of companies and Citroën Maserati coupe has been fitted with a body 2 +2 from Bertoneho Khamsin (1973-1982). In a low, sloping bow was placed fork osmiválec 4.9 liters.
As a result, the oil crisis and the failed model policy has been weak sales figures, Citroën cooperation ceased, and Maserati declared bankruptcy. In 1976 the company took the Argentine businessman Alejandro De Tomaso, reorganize the company and began to use the Maserati engines in their cars. In the spring of that year in Geneva was presented by the new Maserati Kyalami, coupe derived from the car De Tomaso Longchamps. To turínském Motor Company introduced the Maserati Quattroporte sedan III (1979-1986) with bodywork from Giugiara and vidlicovým osmiválcem 4.9 litru/207 kW.
Misc - Biturbo
The Biturbo (1981) meant in the history of the company a significant turnover. Two-car, driven by the new V6 engine dvoulitrovým, charged two compressors, was able to substantially increase the number of cars produced by Maserati. Soon followed by an open version of Spyder and Maserati čtyřdveřový model 425 (with extended wheelbase and 2.5 liter engines). Crowned a series of successful model 430 and Karif, a two-compartment derived from Biturbo sedan, both with a 2.8 liter engine. Relationship with the models Biturbo to maintain the Shamal (1989) with a 3.2 liter V8 engine and 240 kW power.
In 1989, acquired 49% of the company Maserati, Fiat and increasingly began to interfere with the production program.
Nineties - new owner Fiat
Fiat gradually increased its holding in the company to Maserati in May 1993 assumed full control. To lead the company built Eugenia Alzatiho, which immediately reduced production program at a series of two basic models - Ghibli II and a new generation Quattroporte. Two-compartment Ghibli II (car based on the model Biturbo, with the model 1966 had nothing to do) drove the supercharged fork šestiválce 2.0 and 2.8 liters for the amateur competitors, the series races held Ghibli Open Cup with cars on the performance of 243 kW. Quattroporte sedan IV is presented in Turin 1994. K-charged engines V6 24V 2.0 and 2.8 liters in 1996, added an engine V8 32V (3.2 liters capacity, performance, 247 kW).
Reorganization within the Fiat was completed in 1997, when the management of the company initially took the Maserati competitive Ferrari. The first fruit of cooperation with Ferrari has become an attractive sports coupe GT 3200. Body proposed four-Giugiaro, 3.2 V8 biturbo engine performance reaching 270 kW. Representative Quattroporte sedan IV has been modernized in 1998 (the name was added to the evoluzione), but his production has been terminated after two years.
Present - a successful revival signs
3200 GT coupe to make very good sales results, but the production program in 2001, supplemented by an open Spyder with a linen sliding roof. Wheelbase has been reduced by the coupe 220 mm, stylistic changes affected mainly the rear of the vehicle. Spyder was a completely new 4.2 V8 engine with the power of 287 kW. Later in 3200 came on the Boomerang GT rear lamps, received the same atmospheric engine as the new Spyder and renamed the GranSport. Remained in production until 2007. At the Frankfurt Motor Show 2003, the fifth-generation Quattroporte luxury sedan. Pětimetrovou sporting body style was designed Pininfarina. Three ducts on the sides recall the Maserati coupe, 1947. Auto given to vinca technology transaxle, excellent atmospheric osmiválec 4.2 and richly-equipped interior coated with a specially modified skin.
Further good news for fans Maserati brand is the official return the company to the racing line. Celebrated comeback, thanks supersportovnímu Maserati MC12, a relative model of a Ferrari Enzo. Shortly after the presentation of 25 specimens of inspectors FIA, the cars took part in the championship race of the FIA GT class in Oschersleben, Germany. Mika Salo and Andrea Bertolini at first race win and build it to the rich tradition of sports brand Maserati.
In 2007, introduced the successor model GranSport, the new GranTurismo coupe using technology in the Quattroporte and the excellent sales of both models of the company for the first time under the auspices of Fiat into black numbers. At present the company produces nearly 10 thousand vehicles a year and the medium-term goal is to the border 15 000 cars a year. Thanks to group policy was Maserati in 2007, newly assigned to Alfě Romeo. The reason for this new connection is cooperation (in the case of Maserati smaller in the case of Alpha highest) of new models. High models of Modena would not be able to continue to be available technology from Ferrari daughter, who owes so much the current economy.