·
Maserati 350S-derived straight-six cylinder,DOHC 3485 cc litre 42 DCOE WEBER carburetor engine (220 bhp at 5500 rpm),
·
Mechanical Magneti-Marelli ignition, dual spark
plugs and dual fuelpump
·
4-speed ZF S4-17 gearbox (2.98:1, 1.99:1, 1.34:1,
1:1),
·
Girling 12"
turbofinned drum breakers front and rear
·
Borg & Berg -made
single-plate dry clutch,
·
live rear axle,differential(mechanics)
by Salisbury,
·
suspencion by Alford
& Alder: Front wishbone and
coil-springed suspension; rear semielliptic springs.
·
16" steel wheels
with 6.5" Pirelli Cinturato diagonal tires
Minor design changes were done before
production of the 1,420 kg (3,131 lb) Touring-based body started late
1957. Front disc brakes and limited slip differential became optional in 1959,
standardized in 1960; rear discs became standard in 1962. Borrani knock-out wire wheels
complemented the standard steel wheels, as well as wider 185x16" radial
tyres. All cars had leather interior and Jaeger-LeCoultre
instruments. Power windows was added as standard.
In 1959, the Maserati 5000 GT was introduced using
the chassis of the 3500GT. Two steel-bodied convertible prototypes by Carrozzeria
Vignale and Michelotti were
developed in 1959 and shown at the Salon
de l'Auto in Paris
1959.
The 3500 GT spider by Carrozzeria Vignale (242 made).
A spider made by Carrozzeria
Vignale went into production in
1960, as the 3500 GTs or just «Vignale spider», and had a
shortened 2,499 mm (98.4 in) chassis weighing 1,380 kg
(3,042 lb).
The 3500
GTi was introduced in 1961 as
the first fuel-injected Italian production car. It had a Lucas fuel injection (235 bhp). A 5-speed ZF S5-17
gearbox was now standard (3.02:1, 1.85:1, 1.29:1, 1:1, 0.85:1), as well as disc
brakes all round. The body had a lowered roofline and become somewhat longer;
minor outward changes appeared as well (new grille, rear lights, vent windows).
The rather similar Maserati
Sebring (3500 GTiS) also a 2+2 coupe entered production in 1962.
The first year (1958) sold 119 cars, 1961
was the best-selling year totalling 500. All together, 242 Vignale convertibles
and nearly 2000 coupes were manufactured, of these, 1973 being Touring coupe,
the rest were bodied by other coachbuilders, Carrozzeria
Allemano (four coupes, including the 1957 prototype), Zagato (one coupe, 1957), Carrozzeria Boneschi (two cars; 1962, 1963 Salone dell'automobile di Torino,
1962); Salon International de
l'Auto in Geneva, 1963), Pietro Frua (two or three coupes, one spider) and Bertone (one coupe). The last was a coupe by Moretti (Salon International de l'Auto in Geneva,
1966).
Maserati
5000 GT
Maserati 5000 GT (1959–1965)
were thirty-two 2-door coupé automobiles, made by Maserati of Italy.
The first car in the Tipo 103 series, was the Shah of Persia, delivered to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who had been
impressed by the Maserati 3500.
He commissioned Maserati's chief engineer Giulio
Alfieri to utilize a slightly
modified 5-litre engine from the Maserati
450S on the 3500GT's chassis. Carrozzeri Touring developed the superleggera tubing and aluminum body of the two-seater coupe. The
second car, also by Touring, was displayed at Salone
dell'automobile di Torino 1959.
Specifications
Specifications for the first 5000 GT were:
· Maserati 450S-derived V8 cylinder,
four-OHC, 4937.8 cc,
· Lucas mechanical injection or four 45
DCOE Weber carburetor (325 bhp at 5500 rpm),
· mechanical Magneti-Marelli ignition, dual spark plugs and dual
fuel pump
· 4-speed ZF (later
5-speed)
· Front discs, rear drums (later
all-discs)
In 1960 the engine got some modifications:
received a displacement of 4940cc with a bigger stroke and a smaller bore and
were fuel injected; in the new configuration engine developed 340 bhp.
After the first body by Touring, the main body partner since 1960 became Carrozzeria Allemano which did 21 of the cars. Other
builders were Pietro Frua (2),Carrozzeria Monterosa (2), Pininfarina (1), Ghia (1), Michelotti (1) and Carrozzeria Touring (2 more).
Buyers
The 5000 GT was sold at prices around USD
17000 (twice the cost of a Maserati
3500), and in many respects individualized to the desires of its celebrity buyers,
including Aga Khan, Italian
industrialist Gianni Agnelli,
sportsman Briggs Cunningham,
actor Stewart Granger, Ferdinando Innocenti, Basil Read,
count Giuseppe Comola, and president Adolfo López Mateos. Over time, some
of the cars were added to Alfredo Breners collection, that was auctioned in 2003.
Maserati
Mistral
The Maserati
Mistral (Tipo 109), named
after a cold northerly wind of southern France, was the successor to the
iconic 3500 GT, it was also the
first in a series of classic Maseratis to be given the name of a wind. It was
offered both in Coupe and Spyder form. 830 coupes and 120 Spyders were built in
total. Maggiora of Turin supplied both bodies under contract.
The Mistral is the last model from the
"Casa del Tridente" or “House of the Trident” to have the famous
straight six cylinder, twin-spark, double overhead cam engine, as fitted to the Maserati 250F Grand Prix cars that won 8 Grand Prix
between 1954 and 1960 and one F1 World Championship in 1957 driven by Juan Manuel Fangio. The engine also
featured hemispherical combustion chambers and was fed by a Lucas indirect fuel
injection system which was novelty at the time for Italian car manufacturers.
Although the Lucas fuel injection system enhances performance, quite a few
owners, especially in the U.S.
have converted their cars to Weber carburetors due to difficulties in tuning
the system properly. Maserati subsequently moved on to V8 engines for their
later production cars. There were three engine variants fitted to the Mistral;
3500, 3700 and 4,000 cc. The most sought after derivative is the 4000 cc model.
Only the earliest of the Mistrals were equipped with the 3500 cc engine.
Unusually, the body was offered in both aluminum and steel but no one is quite
sure as to how many of each were built. Use of the aluminum body panels had no
effect on the performance of the Mistral. The mixture of the aluminum body on a
steel substructure can lead to corrosion due to the dissimilar metals. The
automobile was standard with a five speed transmission from ZF and
also had four wheel solid disc
brakes. As was Maserati's practice at the time the front suspension was
independent while the rear made do with a solid axle. Speed for the 3.7 liter
engine and the 4.0 liter engine was around 7 seconds or a little better and the
top speed was around 140 mph (225 km/h) to 145 mph
(233 km/h).
The body which had been designed by Pietro Frua was first shown in a preview at the Salone Internazionale dell'Automobile
di Torino in
November 1963. The Maserati Mistral is generally considered as one of the most
beautiful Maserati of all time. It is also often confused to the very similar
looking but larger and more powerful AC
Frua, which was a Frua design as well.
The vehicle was unveiled in 2007 Geneva Motor Show. The GranTurismo has a drag coefficient of 0.33. The standard
version has a 4.2 litre (4,244 cc (259.0 cu in)) V8 engine with
405 PS (298 kW; 399 hp) and automatic ZF gearbox
six-speed transmission. The 2+2 body has been derived from the Maserati Quattroporte V, with double-wishbone
front suspensions and a multilink rear suspension.
GranTurismo S (2008-2012)
The S version was unveiled in 2008 Geneva Motor show and features a 4.7 litre
(4,691 cc (286.3 cu in)) V8 engine rated 440 PS (324 kW;
434 hp) at 7000 rpm and 490 N·m (360 lb·ft) at 4750 rpm, a
robotic 6-speed sequential semi-automatic
transmission with transaxle
layout, 47% front and 53% rear weight distribution. The standard suspension
set-up is fixed-setting steel dampers, with the Skyhook adaptive suspension
available as an option. It was available in the North American market only for
2009 MY.
GranTurismo MC (2009-2010)
It is a limited production car based on the GranTurismo MC Concept, but
included 6-points seat-belt, 120 L (32 US gal;
26 imp gal) fuel tank, 380 mm (15.0 in) front and
326 mm (12.8 in) rear brake disc with 6-piston front and 4-piston
rear calipers, 11x18-in wheels with 305/645/18 front and 305/680/18 rear tires,
carbon fiber shock absorbers.
The vehicle was unveiled in Paul Ricard circuit, in France. It went
on sale in 2009-10 at Maserati Corse with MSRP of €135,000.
GranTurismo S Automatic (2009-2012)
It is a version of Maserati GranTurismo S with ZF 6-speed automatic
transmission from the base model vehicle, standard Skyhook adaptive suspension,
alternate under-door mini-skirts, 20 inch wheel rims with "Trident"
design, standard Bluetooth wireless technology and iPod interface.
The vehicle was unveiled in 2009 Geneva Motor Show.
GranTurismo MC Sport Line (2009-)
It is a customization programme based on the works on GranTurismo MC
Concept. Changes include front and rear carbon-fibre spoilers, carbon fibre
mirror housings and door handles, 20 inch wheel rims, carbon fibre interior (steering
wheel rim, paddle shifters, instrument panel, dashboard, door panels), stiffer
springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars with custom Maserati Stability
Programme software and 10 mm (0.4 in) lower height than GranTurismo
S. The programme was initially offered in GranTurismo S, with the product line
expanded to all GranTurismo vehicle and all Maserati vehicles in 2009. Fifteen
GranTurismo MC racecars were developed, homologated for the European Cup and
National Endurance Series, one of which was taken to be raced by GT motorsport
organization Cool Victory in
Dubai in
January, 2010.
A GranTurismo S with MC Sport Line parts was unveiled in 2008 Bologna Motor Show.
GranTurismo MC Stradale (2011-)
In September 2010, Maserati released that they will be officially showing a
new version of the GranTurismo - the MC Stradale - at the 2010 Paris Motor
Show. The strictly two-seat MC Stradale is more powerful
(450 PS/331 kW; 444 hp), lighter, and more aerodynamic than any
previous GranTurismo model - all with the same fuel consumption as the regular
GranTurismo. In addition to two
slits in the bonnet, the MC Stradale also receives a new front splitter and
rear air dam for better aerodynamics, downforce, and improved cooling of brakes
and engine. The body modifications make the car 48 mm (2 in) longer.
The car usually operates in an "auto" mode, but the driver can
switch this to "sport" or "racing", which affects gearbox
operations, suspension, traction control, and even the sound of the engine. The
MC Stradale is the first GranTurismo to break the 300 km/h barrier, with a
claimed top speed of 301 km/h (187 mph).
GranTurismo Sport (2012-)
Replacing the GranTurismo S, the Sport was unveiled in March 2012 at the
Geneva Motor Show. Main changes
include a revised 4.7L engine rated 460 PS (338 kW; 454 hp), a
restyled front spoiler, new headlights and an interior trim with new steering
wheel and seats. Two transmissions choices will be offered on the Sport; the
standard gearbox is a six-speed automatic, while a six-speed sequential manual
transaxle comes as an option. The latter has steering wheel-mounted paddle
shifters, a feature that’s optional with the automatic gearbox.
GranCabrio (2010-)
The GranCabrio (GranTurismo Convertible in the U.S.) is a
convertible version of GranTurismo S Automatic, equipped with a canvas roof.
The GranCabrio retains the 2+2 seating configuration of the coupé GranTurismo,
and is thus Maserati's first four-seater convertible.
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt
Motor Show with production
beginning in 2010. The vehicle is built in the Viale Ciro Menotti Maserati
factory. European sales were to begin in February 2010, with the United States
receiving its first cars a month later. Planned sales for 2010 were 2,100
units, of which two thirds were intended to go stateside.
The GranCabrio is powered by the same 4.7-litre V8 engine
(440 PS/324 kW; 434 bhp at 7,000 rpm,
490 N·m/361 lb·ft at 4,750 rpm) that is fitted to the
GranTurismo S Automatic.
GranCabrio Sport (2011-)
At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show Maserati unveiled a new version of the
GranCabrio, with an enhanced level of performance and handling. This version
also has the 4.7-litre V8, coupled with the ZF six-speed automatic transmission
and fitted with the slightly uprated 450 PS/331 kW; 444 bhp
version of the V8 engine, with 510 N·m (380 lb·ft) torque..To hint at the car's more sporting nature, the
headlights have black surrounds and other details such as the bars in the
grille are also finished in black. There are also larger sideskirts as well as
tiny winglets on the lower front corners.
GranCabrio Fendi (2011-)
It is a version of GranCabrio designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi.
The vehicle was unveiled in 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.
GranCabrio MC
Maserati Corse-style four-seater open-top is 48 mm (1.9 in)
longer than GranCabrio with front end inspired directly by MC Stradale, also
much improved aerodynamics compared to standard models. Power comes from 4.7 L
90° V8 delivering 460 hp (343 kW) and 520 N·m (384 lb·ft)
of torque. Top speed is 289 km/h (180 mph) and acceleration
0–100 km/h is 4.9s. For transmission only one choice, MC Auto Sfift, 6-speed
ZF automatic. Wheels are 20 inch MC Design rims. Premiere at Paris Motor Show 27 September 2012.
Maserati Gran Turismo S Superior Black Edition
tadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
The car tuners from Anderson Germany wanted to improve the Maserati Gran Turismo S and that’s how they came up with the “Superior Black Edition”, an improved version of the car, with new looks and performances as well. The Gran Turismo S received a carbon fiber body kit which includes a new bonnet, side mirrors, tailgate and roof ledges, front and rear aprons and side inlets as well.
After they’ve installed the new body kit, the car has been coated in a silky matte black finish with a few shining highlights and also received tinted headlights and tail lamps to match the car’s blacked out look. The car’s suspension was also lowered a bit and a new set of 21″ wheels wrapped in high performance tires complete the car’s new exterior look.
Under the hood, the Maserati Gran Turismo S Superior Black Edition went through a couple of tweaks and upgrades and that’s how the 4.7L V8 engine is now able to develop 485 hp instead of the 434 hp of the standard version of the car. A new stainless steel is another great upgrade for this car offering to “sing” in two separate keys.
The interior of the car was also refined with black carbon leather and black Alcantara with contrasting red seams and stitching.
