MASERATI 12 images Created 17 Jun 2020
The brand Maserati was founded in 1914 in Bologna by the six Maserati brothers: Carlo, Bindo, Alfieri, Mario, Ettore and Ernesto. It initially made spark plugs and ignition coils. In 1926 the first self-built racing car (Tipo 26) was presented in the Targa Florio, driven by Alfieri Maserati, who promptly won. He continued to win numerous races after that. From that moment until the fifties, people have been building racing cars in which the 250 F and the "Birdcage" were the most famous types that were extremely successful.
At the end of the fifties it was realised that the factory could not live from racing and it was decided to build street cars as well. The first type to be produced in quite a large series (almost 2000 units) was the 3500 GTS from 1957. During the sixties and seventies the brand built up a reputation as a producer of exclusive GT's with resounding names like the Mexico, Ghibli, Indy, Bora, Merak, Khamsin, Kyalami and Quattroporte, all fast travel cars that were manufactured in small numbers. In 1968 Citroën took over Maserati, which led to the cars in which Citroën's hydraulic technology could be found.
In the mid-1970s the factory was on the brink of collapse when Citroën wanted to pull the plug on the loss-making business. De Tomaso took over the business in 1975 for a symbolic sum. He decided that the only way to survive was to develop a car that was accessible to a wider public. Thus, in 1982, the Biturbo was presented, which struck like a bomb.
At the end of the fifties it was realised that the factory could not live from racing and it was decided to build street cars as well. The first type to be produced in quite a large series (almost 2000 units) was the 3500 GTS from 1957. During the sixties and seventies the brand built up a reputation as a producer of exclusive GT's with resounding names like the Mexico, Ghibli, Indy, Bora, Merak, Khamsin, Kyalami and Quattroporte, all fast travel cars that were manufactured in small numbers. In 1968 Citroën took over Maserati, which led to the cars in which Citroën's hydraulic technology could be found.
In the mid-1970s the factory was on the brink of collapse when Citroën wanted to pull the plug on the loss-making business. De Tomaso took over the business in 1975 for a symbolic sum. He decided that the only way to survive was to develop a car that was accessible to a wider public. Thus, in 1982, the Biturbo was presented, which struck like a bomb.
