Istorie
The task of styling the Quattroporte was given to Turinese coachbuilder Pietro Frua, who drew inspiration from a special Maseratti 5000 GT (chassis number 103.060) he had designed in 1962 for Prince Karim Aga Khan. While the design was by Frua, body construction was carried out by Vignale.
Full description
It seems that the Italians in the 1960s were simply not capable of producing an unattractive car. The 1968 Maserati Quattroporte is another example of that brilliant design vibe that ultimately died out in the 1980s. The task of styling the Quattroporte was given to Turinese coachbuilder Pietro Frua, who drew inspiration from a special Maseratti 5000 GT (chassis number 103.060) he had designed in 1962 for Prince Karim Aga Khan. While the design was by Frua, body construction was carried out by Vignale.
In 1966, Maserati revised the Tipo 107, adding the twin headlights already used on the U.S. model. A leaf-sprung solid axle took place of the previous De Dion tube. The interior was completely redesigned, including the dashboard which now had a full with wood-trimmed fascia. In 1968 alongside the 4.1-litre a 4.7-litre version became also available (AM107/4700), developing 286hp. Top speed increased to a claimed 255 km/h (158 mph), making the Quattroporte 4700 the fastest four-door saloon in the world at the time.
Around 500 of the second series were made, for a total of 776 Tipo 107 Quattroportes. Production ended in 1969.
In 1971 Karim Aga Khan ordered another special on the Maserati Indy platform. Rory Brown was the chief engineer. It received the 4.9-litre V8 engine (Tipo 107/49), producing 300 PS (221 kW). Carrozzeria Frua designed the car, the prototype of which was displayed in Paris 1971 and Geneva 1972. The car was production ready, even receiving its own chassis code (AM 121), but Citroen used their influence to have Maserati develop the SM-based Quattroporte II instead. Only two vehicles were finished, chassis #004 was sold by Maserati to the Aga Khan in 1974, and the prototype 002 went to the King of Spain, who bought his directly from Frua.
This car has 36,216 km.
