Page 1 of 1 From the second half of the 1950s, Maserati underwent a complete metamorphosis; from a pure racing car manufcaturer to a pure road car manufacturer. The first true road car to bear the Trident badge was the 3500 GT, which was available with coupe and convertible body styles. For the richest of customers Maserati produced the 5000 GT of which only 32 were produced, all fitted with custom bodies.
In 1963 the metamorphosis was complete with the introduction of the four-door Quattroporte. Responsible for the exterior design was Pietro Frua. He used various styling cues, first seen on the 5000 GT, which he had designed for the Shah of Persia. The steel bodies were constructed at the Vignale factory.
The Frua body was fitted on an all new box-section chassis. The rear suspension was made up of a DeDion axle, derived straight from the Maserati racing cars. From 1966 the sophiscticated but complex setup was dropped in favour of a simpler live-axle. A quad-cam 4.2 litre V8 engine provided the large four-door sedan with plenty of poke. Later in the production run a 290 bhp 4.7 litre engine was also available.
In its day the Quattroporte was the only Italian luxury saloon and a good alternative for cars like the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. Production ceased in 1970, but it was not until 1976 when a real replacement was introduced.
Pictured are two Quattroportes seen at Italia a Zandvoort 2003 and the 2003 European Concours d'Elegance. Page 1 of 1
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Quattroporte
From the second half of the 1950s, Maserati underwent a complete metamorphosis; from a pure racing car manufcaturer to a pure road car manufacturer. The first true road car to bear the Trident badge was the 3500 GT, which was available with coupe and convertible body styles. For the richest of customers Maserati produced the 5000 GT of which only 32 were produced, all fitted with custom bodies.