1968 Maserati Quattroporte

A pre-production Quattroporte prototype wearing styling by Frua was displayed at the October-November 1963 Turin Motor Show on the company's stand, resting beside a Mistral coupé. Regular production commenced the following year.

The V8-powered Quattroporte (Tipo AM107) was a landmark model for Maserati, as it was the Modena firm's first car of unitary construction and its first four-door saloon. It was powered by a downsized 4,136cc (252 cubic-inch) version of the 5000GT's four-cam V8 engine and featured independent front suspension and a De Dion rear axle, the latter being replaced in 1967 with a conventional elliptically sprung live axle. A 4.7-liter version was also introduced at this time.

The Quattroporte was fast and luxurious, capable of sprinting from zero to sixty mph in 8.7 seconds and had a Maserati claimed top speed of 143 mph.

Mechanical Specifications
Dimensions
The Maserati Quattroporte rested on a 108.3-inch wheelbase and had an overall length of 196.9 inches, a width of 67.7 inches, and a height of 53.5 inches.

Body styling was by Pietro Frua.

Engine
The 4.1-liter all-aluminum V8 engine had a pair of chain-driven overhead camshafts per bank, hemispherical combustion chambers, inserted cast iron wet cylinder liners, and four downdraft twin-choke Weber carburetors. It produced 260 horsepower at 5,000 RPM and 273 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 RPM. It was backed by either a three-speed Borg-Warner automatic or a five-speed ZF manual transmission.

The 4.7-liter (288 cubic-inch / 4719cc) DOHC V8 produced 286 horsepower at 5,200 RPM and 302 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 RPM.

Suspension and Brakes
The front suspension was independent with coil springs and hydraulic dampers. The rear received a coil-sprung De Dion tube with anti-roll bars. The Second Series Quattroporte had a Salisbury leaf-sprung solid axle with a single trailing link and anti-roll bars.

'First Series' Quattroporte's received inboard solid Girling disc brakes all around. The limited slip differential was offered as optional equipment.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2025