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Glorious Heritage of Maserati
Maserati was founded on 1 December 1914 in Bologna, Italy. The company has it’s headquarter in Modena. It is owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A..
Nearly a century of activity has brought with it glorious achievements both on the road and the track, which have helped forge Maserati’s character and personality. This article covers the most important milestones in the story of the Maserati marque. However, Maserati’s history involves more than its glorious sporting achievements and the launch of great road cars. The company has also developed industrially over the years. Maserati is a marque that began life in a local context but then went on to become a major international player, with representation in 57 countries.
The Maserati brothers, Carlo, Bindo, Alfieri, Mario, Ettore and Ernesto, were all involved with automobiles from the beginning of the 20th century. Alfieri, Bindo and Ernesto built 2-litre Grand Prix cars for Diatto. In 1926, Diatto suspended the production of race cars, leading to the creation of the first Maserati and the founding of the Maserati marque by Alfieri. One of the first Maseratis, driven by Alfieri, won the 1926 Targa Florio.
Mario had designed the trident emblem of Maserati. The company began making race cars with 4, 6, 8 and 16 cylinders. In 1929 the V4 appeared, with a 16-cylinder engine, making its debut at the Italian Grand Prix and setting the world Class C speed record over 10 km at 246.069 km/h in Cremona, with Baconin Borzacchini. In 1931 came the 4CTR and the front-wheel-drive 8C 2500, the last car to be designed by Alfieri. Alfieri Maserati died in 1932 but Bindo, Ernesto and Ettore kept the firm going, building cars that won races.
In 1936, Maserati found a patron in Gino Rovere who invested a great deal in the company and appointed Nino Farina as Chairman. In 1937 the Maserati brothers sold their shares in the company to the Orsi family from Modena.
The company dominated the racing scene, despite strong competition from Mercedes. On 30 May 1939, Maserati scored an important victory in the Indianapolis 500 with Wilbur Shaw at the wheel of the 8CTF, a feat it repeated the following year. The company relocated from Bologna to the now historic headquarters on Viale Ciro Menotti in Modena in 1940. The Maserati brothers stayed on in Modena as chief engineers until 1948 and Ernesto had designed the 4CL and 8CL engines, which powered the cars of the same name in the late 1930s.
During the World War-II, Maserati adapted its production accordingly, turning out machine tools, electrical components, spark plugs and electric vehicles, but returned to its original activities after the war, with a new GT car, the A6 1500.
The A6G CS successfully debuted on the Modena circuit with Alberto Ascari at the wheel. In 1953 Gioacchino Colombo was appointed Chief Engineer and modified the A6GCM . The team was also strengthened by the arrival of drivers of the calibre of Fangio, Gonzalez, Marimon, Bonetto and de Graffenried and brought home some important victories in the 1953 season. In fact, Fangio won that year's Italian Grand Prix ahead of Ascari’s and Farina’s Ferraris in race that was only decided after the final corner.
Nearly a century of activity has brought with it glorious achievements both on the road and the track, which have helped forge Maserati’s character and personality. This article covers the most important milestones in the story of the Maserati marque. However, Maserati’s history involves more than its glorious sporting achievements and the launch of great road cars. The company has also developed industrially over the years. Maserati is a marque that began life in a local context but then went on to become a major international player, with representation in 57 countries.
The Maserati brothers, Carlo, Bindo, Alfieri, Mario, Ettore and Ernesto, were all involved with automobiles from the beginning of the 20th century. Alfieri, Bindo and Ernesto built 2-litre Grand Prix cars for Diatto. In 1926, Diatto suspended the production of race cars, leading to the creation of the first Maserati and the founding of the Maserati marque by Alfieri. One of the first Maseratis, driven by Alfieri, won the 1926 Targa Florio.
Mario had designed the trident emblem of Maserati. The company began making race cars with 4, 6, 8 and 16 cylinders. In 1929 the V4 appeared, with a 16-cylinder engine, making its debut at the Italian Grand Prix and setting the world Class C speed record over 10 km at 246.069 km/h in Cremona, with Baconin Borzacchini. In 1931 came the 4CTR and the front-wheel-drive 8C 2500, the last car to be designed by Alfieri. Alfieri Maserati died in 1932 but Bindo, Ernesto and Ettore kept the firm going, building cars that won races.
In 1936, Maserati found a patron in Gino Rovere who invested a great deal in the company and appointed Nino Farina as Chairman. In 1937 the Maserati brothers sold their shares in the company to the Orsi family from Modena.
The company dominated the racing scene, despite strong competition from Mercedes. On 30 May 1939, Maserati scored an important victory in the Indianapolis 500 with Wilbur Shaw at the wheel of the 8CTF, a feat it repeated the following year. The company relocated from Bologna to the now historic headquarters on Viale Ciro Menotti in Modena in 1940. The Maserati brothers stayed on in Modena as chief engineers until 1948 and Ernesto had designed the 4CL and 8CL engines, which powered the cars of the same name in the late 1930s.
During the World War-II, Maserati adapted its production accordingly, turning out machine tools, electrical components, spark plugs and electric vehicles, but returned to its original activities after the war, with a new GT car, the A6 1500.
The A6G CS successfully debuted on the Modena circuit with Alberto Ascari at the wheel. In 1953 Gioacchino Colombo was appointed Chief Engineer and modified the A6GCM . The team was also strengthened by the arrival of drivers of the calibre of Fangio, Gonzalez, Marimon, Bonetto and de Graffenried and brought home some important victories in the 1953 season. In fact, Fangio won that year's Italian Grand Prix ahead of Ascari’s and Farina’s Ferraris in race that was only decided after the final corner.
1954 saw the debut of the 250F , with which Fangio won the Argentine Grand Prix on its debut. In 1955 and 1956, Maserati won other important victories; in 1957 Fangio returned to Maserati and won the World Title for the fifth time, the first time for Maserati, with the 250F . Although the company announced its official retirement from racing that year, it never withdrew from the scene completely. It continued to build racing cars like the Birdcage and other prototypes for private teams and to supply engines for the Formula 1 cars of other constructors. Production cars and sales became the main goals and Maserati’s racing activities became of secondary importance. The Sebring was presented in 1962 and the Quattroporte in 1963, the first Maserati 4-door saloon with a 90° V8 engine and a displacement of 4,136 cc.
The big news came in 1968 when Citroen bought out the Orsi family's shares, although Adolfo Orsi remained the company’s Honorary Chairman. The Giugiaro-designed Bora, the first mass-produced mid-engined Maserati, was presented at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show.
With the launch of the Merak and Khamsin , Maserati’s production continued apace and in 1973, the Quattroporte II prototype and the Merak SS was produced. On 23 May 1975, Citroen announced that Maserati had gone into liquidation Maserati avoided closure by handing over control to GEPI. In an agreement signed on 8 August, 1975, most of the company's share capital was acquired by the Benelli company and Alejandro De Tomaso. De Tomaso managed to get the company off the ground and by 1976 he had launched a new model, the Kyalami designed by Giugiaro, soon after at the Turin Motor Show . The 1980s saw the production of a new type of car, with a relatively low price but impressive performance: the Biturbo , of which over 30 different versions appeared, in coupé, 4-door saloon and spyder forms.
The turning point for Maserati came in 1993, when the company's entire share capital was acquired by Fiat Auto. A year later the first new arrival under Fiat ownership appeared in the form of the Quattroporte which was designed by Marcello Gandini . On 1 July, 1997 Fiat sold Maserati to Ferrari and a new era began for the company.
In 2001, the new Spyder appeared and was unveiled for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show , during which Maserati announced its intention to return to the North American market. Besides returning to the most important market with high-class and sophisticated models, Maserati also made a successful comeback to the world of racing with the MC12 . In September 2003, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Maserati Quattroporte was launched. In 2005, Maserati sold 5,659 cars worldwide, a record for the company.
In early 2005, ownership of Maserati was transferred from Ferrari to Fiat. Close technical and commercial collaboration within the group has provided Maserati with the impetus to position itself as the leader in its sector.
Maserati continues to excel in the world of competition and recently claimed all four titles on offer in the GT1 Class of the 2007 FIA GT International championship, adding to the Manufacturers' Cup won in 2005 and continuing the winning trend following the Team and Drivers’ titles from 2006.
The big news came in 1968 when Citroen bought out the Orsi family's shares, although Adolfo Orsi remained the company’s Honorary Chairman. The Giugiaro-designed Bora, the first mass-produced mid-engined Maserati, was presented at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show.
With the launch of the Merak and Khamsin , Maserati’s production continued apace and in 1973, the Quattroporte II prototype and the Merak SS was produced. On 23 May 1975, Citroen announced that Maserati had gone into liquidation Maserati avoided closure by handing over control to GEPI. In an agreement signed on 8 August, 1975, most of the company's share capital was acquired by the Benelli company and Alejandro De Tomaso. De Tomaso managed to get the company off the ground and by 1976 he had launched a new model, the Kyalami designed by Giugiaro, soon after at the Turin Motor Show . The 1980s saw the production of a new type of car, with a relatively low price but impressive performance: the Biturbo , of which over 30 different versions appeared, in coupé, 4-door saloon and spyder forms.
The turning point for Maserati came in 1993, when the company's entire share capital was acquired by Fiat Auto. A year later the first new arrival under Fiat ownership appeared in the form of the Quattroporte which was designed by Marcello Gandini . On 1 July, 1997 Fiat sold Maserati to Ferrari and a new era began for the company.
In 2001, the new Spyder appeared and was unveiled for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show , during which Maserati announced its intention to return to the North American market. Besides returning to the most important market with high-class and sophisticated models, Maserati also made a successful comeback to the world of racing with the MC12 . In September 2003, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Maserati Quattroporte was launched. In 2005, Maserati sold 5,659 cars worldwide, a record for the company.
In early 2005, ownership of Maserati was transferred from Ferrari to Fiat. Close technical and commercial collaboration within the group has provided Maserati with the impetus to position itself as the leader in its sector.
Maserati continues to excel in the world of competition and recently claimed all four titles on offer in the GT1 Class of the 2007 FIA GT International championship, adding to the Manufacturers' Cup won in 2005 and continuing the winning trend following the Team and Drivers’ titles from 2006.
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