1975 Maserati Bora

Maserati's racing efforts and the many lessons learned on the racetrack were often transferred to the design and production of some of the fastest, finest, most luxurious, and visually striking Grand Touring cars of their era. Maserati engineers incorporated the cutting-edge mid-engine layout to its Tipo 63 sports-racer of 1961, and the Tipo 64 and 65 that followed. Lamborghini was the first to market a mid-engine road car, dubbed the Miura, which ushered in the modern 'supercar' era. Maserati followed with its mid-engine Bora, but unlike the Lamborghini, it was more luxurious, comfortable, and sophisticated.

The idea for a Maserati built mid-engine supercar was from then administrator Guy Malleret who, soon after Citroen had taken control of Maserati in 1968, had suggested the idea to

Ing. Giulio Alferi. Work began that October, the first prototype was running the following summer, and the production-ready Bora was the hit of the Geneva Auto Show in March 1971.

It was given the name Bora after the fierce wind currents blowing across the Northern Adriatic Sea, a suitable name for the sleek and sophisticated vehicle. Having been impressed by the designs created for the Maserati Ghibli, leading stylist Giorgetto Giugiaro was tasked with penning the design, and it was one of the first designs to emanate from his Ital Design studio, which was located in Moncalieri, near Turin. Giugiaro's resume included work for Fiat and then Bertone, where he created designs for BMW's 3200 CS, followed by a job at Ghia, where he worked on the Mangusta.

The stylistic cues of the Bora were cohesive and well-proportioned, highlighted by a broad hood, a gently sloped fastback roofline with flying buttresses at each side, an aero-efficient Kamm tail, and a stainless-steel roof with matching A-pillars. The aggressive stance was complimented by lightweight Campagnolo wheels with polished stainless-steel centers. Luggage space was limited but adequate, with the front boot area accomodating 10 cubic feet of cargo space.

The engineering was handled by Giulio Alfieri, who gave the Bora a monocoque design, the first for a Maserati road-going vehicle. The suspension was fully independent and precise rack-and-pinion steering provided directional control. The high-pressure hydropneumatic system powering the Bora's ventilated disc brakes, adjustable pedal box, pop-up headlamps, and windows were sourced from Citroen. The 4.7-liter V-8 engine from Maserati's Indy was backed by a ZF five-speed rear transaxle. After the first 289 cars, the engine was given a displacement increase to 4.9 liters.

The Maserati Bora was capable of sprinting from rest to 60 mph in approximately six seconds en route to more than 160 mph at the top end. Its impressive performance and sleek bodywork were matched by equally impressive levels of comfort on the interior, with standard amenities that included air conditioning.

Among the list of Maserati Bora clients were Karim Aga Khan and famed movie producer Carlo Ponti. Between 1971 and 1978, Maserati built 564 examples of the Bora, eventually falling victim to the combined effects of the punitive taxation in its Italian home market and the oil crisis of the 1970s. 275 examples of the top specification 4.9-liter model were built.

During the production lifespan, apart from the engine upgrade, minor changes were gradually implemented including the front lids being hinged at the front instead of the rear, around early 1974. A rectangular black air-exit grille was added across the hood, and the pop-up headlights showed rounded inside corners. On US-delivered cars, US safety-compliant front bumpers had to be added to meet US DOT safety legislation.

The Bora was joined by the Maserati Merak with 2+2 seating in 1972 and would remain in production through 1983. It shared its structure and body panels with the Merak but was powered by a 3.0-liter V6 instead of the 4.7-liter V8.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

Not long after France's Citroen took control of Italian race- and exotic-car maker Maserati in 1968, then administrator Guy Malleret suggested to Ing. Giulio Alferi the idea of producing a two-seat mid-engined sports car. Given a growing trend toward mid-engined sports cars, Alfieri had already given this concept a lot of thought and was delighted when Malleret gave him the green light.

Alfieri worked on the mechanicals while Ital Design's Giorgetto Giugiaro penned the beautiful body. Work began that October, the first prototype was running the following summer, and the production-ready Bora was the hit of the Geneva Auto Show in March, 1971. The longitudinally-mounted European-market 310-hp 4.7-liter four-cam V8 was replaced for US sale with a 320-hp emissions-controlled 4.9-liter V8 driving through a five-speed ZF transaxle. A total of 571 Boras (some sources say 524 or 530) were produced between 1971 and 1979.

While this beauty was built in 1977 and purchased in 1978, the original owner bought a set of European bumpers and converted it to pre-US bumper-law appearance as soon as it hit these shores. The current owner bought it in near-pristine condition with a bit over 1,000 miles on its clock, drove it to Michigan in 2005 and has done only minor restoration work on it since.

Coupe
Chassis number: AM11749US918

The Bora made its debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March of 1971. This dramatic Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed, mid-engine GT was the name of a Middle Eastern wind, 'Bora.' It featured a sporty but comfortable cabin featuring air conditioning, Citroen-based high-pressure hydraulic windows, adjustable seats and pedal box, pop-up headlights, and ventilated disc brakes.

This example is finished in blue with a contrasting white interior. It has its original engine and includes power steering. In the mid-1990s, it was given a restoration. Since 2000, it has been driven approximately 200 miles each year. From 2003 to 2009, the Bora was displayed at the Lane Motor Museum and maintained under museum quality conditions.

In 2010, this Bora was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook event presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $50,000 - $60,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $22,000 including buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: AM117 US 920

There were 564 examples of the Bora produced from 1971 to 1980, with 275 of those powered by the 4.9 liter engine. This car has been in single ownership since the 1970s and features a highly desirable red-on-black color scheme. It has about 24,000 miles on the odometer and is a corrosion-free example. There is a ZF five-speed gearbox in the rear transaxle and hydraulic four-wheel disc brakes.

In 2011, the car was offered for sale in Monterey, Ca. presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $60,000-$80,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $60,500, including buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: AM117/US*916*
Engine number: AM107/11/49*916*

Maserati introduced its Tipo 117 Bora in 1971 at the Geneva Motor Show and was the company's first and only mid-engine V8 supercar. Giorgetto Giugiaro's nascent design firm, Italdesign, had been commissioned to develop this new genre of Maserati, and it was bestowed elegant styling that was strikingly similar to the BMW M1, Delorean DMC 12, and the DeTomaso Mangusta. Mounted mid-ship was a 4.7-liter alloy V8 backed by a ZF five-speed transaxle. The fully-independent double-wishbone suspension system was designed by Giulio Alfieri, the co-designer of the 250F Formula 1 car.

In 1973, Maserati installed a larger 4.9-liter engine in the bay, with ten additional horsepower than the outgoing 4.7-liter version.

The Maserati Bora was refined, sophisticated, and a Maserati GT car through-and-through, with a carpeted engine bay to reduce engine noise, dual pane glass, a full-sized trunk, a telescoping and movable steering wheel, and many other uncommon supercar features. It was one of the first new models to be released after Citroen gained a controlling interest in Maserati in 1968. Thus, the Bora was endowed with Citroen technology including the hydraulically operated headlights and seat/pedal box adjustments.

This particular Maserati Bora is equipped with a 4,930cc dual overhead camshaft V8 engine breathing through four Weber carburetors and backed by a five-speed ZF manual transmission. There is an Independent suspension system and four-wheel disc brakes. It is finished in Blu Ischia Metallizzato, over a Blu and black Connolly leather interior with black Wilton carpets. It rides on Campagnolo alloy wheels.

It is believed that this vehicle was sent to California when new, and by the early 1990s still remained in California. In 2017, it moved to Florida when it entered the care of new ownership. Prior to the acquisition, the Maserati had received a cosmetic restoration, with further work completed after the purchase in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, it found new ownership and was then treated to a thorough rebuild from the crank up, with the work totaling nearly $49,000. The total amount spent during those three years reached nearly $70,000.

by Dan Vaughan

The Bora was introduced in 1971 and produced until 1978 with over 570 examples produced. It was a 2-door coupe with the engine placed in the middle, powering the rear wheels. Ferrari had been in the process of creating a mid-engined sports car while Lamborghini and DeTomaso had their Countach, Miura, and Mangusta, and the mid-engined Ford GT40 had even made a few appearances at LeMans. After seeing this trend, Guy Malleret, the administrator of Maserati, gave Giulio Alfieri permission to begin the design and production of a mid-engined sports car. Alfieri began work on the technical aspects of the vehicle.

The body was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro for Ital Design. Officine Padane of Modena, Italy had been given the responsibility of the fabrication of the all-steel body panels. The engine cover was made of aluminum. The steel monocoque chassis featured a tubular steel subframe in the rear. The engine and the five-speed manual ZF transmission were mounted on the subframe. The result was a solid design that reduced vibration and road noise.

The Bora was internally known as the Tipo 117 and the creation of the prototype was started in October of 1968. By the middle of 1969, a roadworthy version could be found traversing the highways. At the 1971 Geneva Auto Show, it was debuted to the public in production form.

The suspension was independent, comprised of coil springs, anti-roll bars, and telescopic shocks. Large hydraulically operated ventilated brakes provided excellent stopping power. The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering was effective and responsive. While the headlights were not in use, they were stored, hidden away in the hood of the car adding to the sleek look of the car.

The 90-degree 4.7-liter V8 engine featured four Weber 42 DCNF downdraught carburetors and electronic Bosch ignition, resulting in an astonishing 310 horsepower to propel a very light 1520 KG vehicle to a top speed of around 170 mph. Between the engine and the driver was an extra carpeted aluminum panel to provide extra sound insulation for the occupants. The rear window was double-glazed. In 1973, an American version was produced which received an emissions-friendly 4.9 liter V8 that produced 300 horsepower. To comply with other safety regulations bumpers were added to the front and rear of the vehicle, degrading its appearance. In 1975 the 4.9-liter engine became standard on all Boras, now producing 320 horsepower. During its production run, 289 examples were created with the 4.7-liter engine and 235 with the 4.9-liter V8.

The interior was elegant, at least in terms of a sports car. The bucket seats were adorned in leather. The door trim, center console, dash, and rear bulkhead were given the same treatment, outfitted with rich leather. The steering column and the height of the driver's seat could be adjusted to accommodate most drivers. If that did not work, the pedal box could be moved backward or forwards. The windows were electric, another uncommon amenity in a sports car. The spare tire could be found in a cover above the gearbox and behind the engine. There were 10 cubic-feet of luggage space located in the front of the vehicle under the hood.

The Bora answered all the demands of the Maserati legacy. It was a quality automobile with style, reliability, and comfort. Even though the plush amenities added to the overall weight of the vehicle, it was still a sports car that handled well, and very responsive to the demands of the driver.

by Dan Vaughan