Maserati is one of the biggest names in the history of the automobile. L’histoire de ces marques prestigieuses est fréquemment semée d’embuches que la passion crée, parce qu’elle exige toujours plus, mais cette meme passion donne aussi l’énergie pour surmonter ces memes embuches. The history of these brands is often fraught with pitfalls that creates passion, because it still requires more, but this same passion also gives energy to overcome those same pitfalls. Maserati confirme cette regle. Maserati confirms this rule.
The Epic Maserati automobiles can be divided into ten periods:
1914> 1926. The Maserati brothers started in the business.
On December 14, 1914, two brothers, Alfieri (born in 1887) and Ettore (born in 1894), based Bologna has a small company that specializes in improving the Isotta Fraschini. In 1915, a third brother enters society, Ernesto Maserati (born in 1898).
For many years, the most profitable Maserati was the manufacture of spark plugs.
Starting from 1922 began a collaboration with Diatto, another Italian manufacturer who Alfieri Maserati draw in a 1925 Grand Prix car equipped with an 8-cylinder in-line compressor of a 2-litre engine capacity.
1926> 1937. The brothers build Maserati Maserati.
The Tipo 26 is the 1st car to be named Maserati and fly the trident, a acronyms the most famous automobiles in the world.
The Fontana Nettuno is the fountain that symbolizes Bologna. This fountain is dominated by a magnificent sculpture created in 1563 by the Flemish sculptor Jean Boulogne said, "Giambologna (1529-1608)". It represents Neptune armed with a trident superb. He was coherent to display this unique logo trident as a mark led by three brothers from Bologna.
Extrapolée of Diatto of 1925, the Tipo 26 receives an 8-cylinder in-line compressor 1493 cm3, which gives an output of 125 hp a 5300 rpm. She is the eldest daughter of an exceptional line of cars competitors shine during forty years.
The Type 26 will be quickly followed by the Tipo 26 B 2 Litre, 8 C 1700, and again in 1929 appear to be one of the most outstanding coaches of his time, the Maserati V4, which as its name not indicated, is equipped ' V16 has a dual compressors 3961 cm3 that the power of a 305 hp 5200 rpm made a particularly delicate fly. It will be produced 2 1929 the lap record at the Grand Prix of Italy was Monza the average of 199.8 km / h! (This record will be beaten in 1954 !!!), and a Sport version carrossée by Zagato. The GP has undoubtedly served as a basis for an even more powerful version, the Tipo V5 destroyed by Luigi Fagioli.
On March 3, 1932, Alfieri Maserati décede the result of an accident on the circuit of Messina in 1927. Ernesto Maserati replaces talent with his brother and Bindo Maserati (born in 1883) enters society.
This period is exclusively devoted to the competition with some very beautiful victories in the Grand Prix, such as Tazio Nuvolari in 1933 Belgium GP at the wheel of a Maserati 8CM. But it is in the lower grades that Maserati, thanks to 4 4 CM and CS truste victories.
(4 = 4 cylinders, C = CORSA, M = S = Monoposto and Sports)
1937> 1947. The Orsi family in the history between Maserati.
It is a rule always known since mid-car racing: the succes athletes not reported unless they are coutent. The Maserati brothers sold their company and Adolfo Orsi Omer, the father and son of a family originating in Modena, while retaining the technical direction of the company.
Thanks to the CBC 8, Maserati is the only mark a disturbing power, from time to time, Mercedes and other Auto Union Grand Prix. The Maserati 8 CBC reach a few Grand Prix win, but the most important victories are those caught in Indianapolis 500 in 1939 and 1940 by Wilbur Shaw at the wheel of his Maserati 8 CBC Boyle Special fame.
1940, the plant is transferred Maserati has Modena.
Throughout the Second World War, Maserati built electric vehicles for the end of hostilities
.
In 1946, Maserati introduced a project which is the examination since 1941, the Maserati A6, 1st Maserati aims Route. It is a 6-cylinder berlinetta a line 1488 cm3, carrossée by Pinin Farina, quickly followed by versions of racing, the A and A 6 CM CS 6.
When the sale of the company Orsi family, the Maserati brothers had signed an agreement that obliged them to remain at the head of the technical direction for a minimum of 10 years. This period ending in 1947, the Maserati brothers decide to regain their independence and create the firm Osca (Officcine Specializzata di Automobili Costruzzione).
1947> 1957. The Apogee Maserati sports.
For a decade, the family Orsi urges Maserati on all fronts. Thanks to the wonderful Maserati 250 FT 2, Juan Manuel Fangio won his 4th World Championship F1 in 1957. These successes have unfortunately an exorbitant price, which leaves the company drained. The production of anecdotal superb A6 and A6 G / 54 is a drop in the costs of water comes from a stable of F1. The receivership was inevitable. Curators and the Orsi family decided to complete a reorganization.
1957> 1968. The profitability by the Grand Touring.
One forgets the F1 and its Pharaonic costs that can not be offset by the sale of a few tens of race cars per year. We must sell GT powerful and comfortable large cubic capacity for making substantial profits. The 3500 GT will be a commercial success (1,981 copies 1958 was 1964 of 240 Maserati A6 for A6G of 1946 and a 1957).
Throughout the'60s, Maserati Sebring, Mistral and Ghibli recur partly commercial success of the 3500 GT. The Maserati Mexico will be a failure and a half rare Maserati 5000 GT (28 copies), a successful media before it comes to this form of advertising.
In 1962, Maserati created a small revolution by launching on the market the first prestige saloon able to achieve and exceed 220 Km / h. Between 1964 and 1971, 758 Maserati Quattroporte is sold.
During those ten years, the demon of the race remained avenue Ciro Menotti. Every year is the emergence of new trays Sport for certain customers and importers. Unfortunately, successful enough nor sufficient to really worry sustained tenors of the specialty.
The most interesting has been the agreement between Cooper and Maserati to make this last book engine V12 3-litre engine capacity for the new F1 regulations. Unfortunately, in two years (1966 & 1967), Cooper - Maserati did win two Grands Prix.
1968> 1975. The technical agreement, the purchase and sale of Maserati by Citroen.
In 1968, the family Orsi sign a contract for technical partnership with Citroen, and then throw in the towel and sell Maserati whole society after 30 years of incessant fighting has spent trying to maintain a flow. The time is ideal to sell, the sales figures are highest: 719 Maserati sold in 1968.
Between 1969 and 1975, will show the Maserati Indy (1969> 1975), Bora (1971> 79), Merak (1972> 1976) and Khamsin (1973> 1982). The technical collaboration between the two engineering companies also the driving force behind the Citroen SM (1970), used in various versions in Merak. There is also the Quattroporte II, a 4-door extrapolation of the Citroen SM. Quattroporte II Thirteen pre-manufactured, when the crisis does everything stop.
Because at the end of 1973, things began to quickly succession. The first oil crisis caused a chain reaction. For the automotive industry, the first few months after the crisis were dramatic. In 1973, sales of Maserati are good, Maserati sold 738, but was down 580 units in 1974 to literally collapse has 201 units in 1975.
Michelin, owner of Citroën since the bankruptcy of Andre Citroen in 1935, took the right decision, at least for her, ie liquidate Maserati, and then sell Citroen to focus on tyres, his job reference .
1975> 1982. Alejandro De Tomaso saves Maserati.
This decision is catastrophic for Maserati, the market is completely depressed and its principal shareholder drop their arms, there is no more money to be able to launch new models that could revive production.
Fortunately, Don Alejandro arrive at full gallop, and such a Zorro, Maserati saves.
With the benefit did with the De Tomaso Pantera sold by Ford in the USA, Alejandro De Tomaso Acquires 30% of Maserati, the balance is covered by the GEPI, Italian state agency.
The Maserati Indy disappears from the'76 range. The little inspired Kyalamy is the first of the Maserati ere De Tomaso. It is a De Tomaso rebadgée Longchamp, equipped with the V8 Maserati. Introduced in March 1976, it will be produced until 1983 had 199 copies.
Followed very quickly Quattroporte III. Designed by Giugiaro, it is a success both as commercial.
The times are hard for small manufacturers of sports cars, 1982> 12/1989. The Maserati Biturbo.
Since the end of the second World War, the North American market has always been of paramount importance for the luxury automobile industry. He made the fortunes of manufacturers, unfortunately, the North American market follows patterns that are more or less, rather less ... predictable. This creates falling sales as important as sudden. What is the most important market, the more unstable and makes the management of these brands even more difficult.
Maserati introduced in December 1981 Coupe 4 places a V6 Biturbo 2 litres 180 hp. He made an immediate tobacco in the USA In 1982, Merak and Kyalamy withdrew from assembly lines to produce more Biturbo. The demand is such that sales rose from 528 in 1981 was 2,668 in 1982 ...
The range is limited 1983 Maserati has two models, and cut Biturbo Quattroporte sedan. The production has climbed 5,333 units!
The year 1984 saw the extended range. A 2.5 litre V6 has 200CV of 5500 rpm is proposed in the cut and in a four-door sedan, the 425, while the large Quattroporte has continued to sell.
De Tomaso Acquires 70% of shares Maserati that holds the Italian state. Sales reached the respectable figure of 6,365 in 1984 Maserati. The range Maserati'84 consists of 4 models.
The range is completed in 1985 by The Spyder 2Litres and cut 228. Variants power complicate the range passing has 8 models. Sales have slowed slightly'85 has 5,668.
The American market withers and the unreliability of Maserati Biturbo further complicates the situation. The multiplicity of models does not avoid the collapse of sales. Sales in 1989 are almost again the figures for 1982, 2,975 cars in a range consists of 12 models, or an average of 248 cars a'89 model for an average of more than 1,300 cars a'82 model! Hello profitability!
In December 1989, Alejandro De Tomaso sells 49% of Fiat shares Maserati.
12/1989> 11/1999. The Biturbo ere under the Fiat.
Between 1970 and 1973, duration of betrothal between Citroen and Fiat, Maserati has already been part of the Fiat Group. 20 years later, Maserati returns in the bosom of Fiat.
Some tough decisions are taken. To maintain employment, Fiat Panda are mounted on some assembly lines Maserati! Fiat engineers gradually improve the quality of the Biturbo, but the damage is done.
Car sales continue to fall: 1990 = 2750 Maserati sold. 1991 = 1757 Maserati sold. 1992 = 1246 Maserati sold.
In 1992, appears the Maserati Shamal, a Maserati Coupe V8 engine turbo and the Barchetta
In March 1993, Fiat Group Acquires 51% of Tomaso that still holds. The new Ghibli and Barchetta are presented. Production fell a historically low level: 440 Maserati sold in 1993. We have to go back to the darkest years of the oil crisis 1st to find such figures.
Fortunately, 1994, the figures reflected a certain height: 750 units.
Sales in 1995 (980 units) were boosted by the presentation of the Maserati Quattroporte for the 4th generation.
The following years saw sales stagnate. The only reasonable decision is taken. It is important that the locomotive pulls Ferrari Maserati so that it takes off.
The Maserati 3200 GT is shown at the end of 1998. It has been a success and achieves production figures forgotten. 1851 Maserati sold in 1999 with only two models, the Quattroporte and the 3200 GT.
In November 1999, Fiat formalizes marriage between Maserati and Ferrari.
11/1999>? -- The perfect combination.
Since then, sales continue, 1959 in 2000 and 1913 in 2001, while the Quattroporte catalog disappears.
In July 2001 are presented Maserati Coupe and Spider atmospheric V 8 engine from 4.2 litres, 1 engine air since the end of the production in 1990 of the Quattroporte called Royale changes since 1986.
Modena, March 2, 2004. Maserati extends its product range by introducing the Salon de Geneve the Maserati GranSport, a version which emphasizes the sports concept already present in all models of Trident Grand Touring.
The new car, in addition to the Coupe and Spyder models, will be marketed from next summer. Maserati GranSport already stressed by name the character Grand Touring may be very appreciated by the pilot when he wishes. This name is in the best tradition of the mark: for 50 years, it was used to describe an elegant cut 2 litres, designed by Carrozzeria Frua, from the famous Model A6 G.
The new GranSport represents an alternative to Coupé but with a certain affinity with a number of features that give it a strong temperament.
The Maserati GranSport Spyder, introduced in the first pre-World 61eme Frankfurt Fair 2005, and expands the range of complete GranSport models inspired by the cut.
The tremendous success achieved by the GranSport due to its exceptional performance prompted a Maserati offer its clientele has the most passionate sports and cabriolet versions that retain the character fully and aggressive look, also accompanied the pleasure of driving in the open air.
The 5th generation Quattroporte fill a hole in the Maserati range.
Seizing and interpreting traditional values Italian, this car is the symbol of the beauty and savoir-vivre elegance, sophisticated engineering, real sporting character, exclusivity attractive.
Several other factors contribute to making the new Maserati, a car exclusive: the engine advanced 8 cylinders Va. 90 ° 4.2 liters and 400 hp, compact, lightweight and challenging behaviour; suspensions has controlled amortization Skyhook; the system stability control MSP (Maserati Stability Program); Electronic Power Steering and the powerful braking system.
No frills or excessive complications, it is an irresistible product, by the purity of the technical solutions used, the sensuality of the lines created by the most famous designer in the world, the internal finishes very refined leather and wood, a customizable wish and "tailor-made" as models of haute couture.
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