Frequently Asked Questions about Classic Maserati

Who founded Maserati and when?

Maserati was founded on December 1, 1914, in Bologna, Italy, by Alfieri Maserati with his brothers Ettore and Ernesto. The business began as a car repair workshop and garage on Via de' Pepoli and carries the family surname. Another brother, Bindo, joined in 1932 after Alfieri's death. The first Maserati car, the Tipo 26 racing car, appeared in 1926.

What does the Maserati trident logo mean?

The Maserati trident is modeled on the trident held by the statue of Neptune in the Fountain of Neptune in Bologna, the city where the company began. It was drawn by Mario Maserati, the brother who followed art and not cars. The badge was first worn by the Tipo 26, which Alfieri Maserati drove to a class win at the Targa Florio on April 25, 1926. Maserati dates Mario's first drawing of the emblem to 1925.

Who has owned Maserati over the years?

Maserati has had several owners. The Maserati brothers sold the company to Modena industrialist Adolfo Orsi in 1937. Citroën took control in the late 1960s and gave it up in 1975, when the Italian state holding company GEPI and Alejandro de Tomaso took over. Fiat bought Maserati in 1993, placed it under Ferrari in 1997, and took it back in 2005. Since 2021 Maserati has been part of Stellantis.

Where were classic Maserati cars built?

Maserati cars were first built in Bologna, where the company stayed until 1939. After Adolfo Orsi bought the firm, he moved it to his home city of Modena, and the plant on Viale Ciro Menotti opened in 1940. Maserati's headquarters are still in Modena and that plant is still in use. Sources give either 1939 or 1940 for the move because the transfer from Bologna began in late 1939.

Did Maserati ever win the Indianapolis 500?

Yes, Maserati won the Indianapolis 500 twice, in 1939 and 1940. American driver Wilbur Shaw drove the same Maserati 8CTF, entered as the Boyle Special, to both victories and became the first driver to win the race in consecutive years. The winning car is kept at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

What was the first Maserati road car?

The first Maserati road car was the A6 1500, launched in 1947 with a six-cylinder engine and bodywork by Pinin Farina. Before that the company had built racing cars. The 3500 GT of 1957 was the first series-produced Maserati, the first four-door Quattroporte followed in 1963, and the Bora of 1971 was the first mid-engine Maserati production model.

Did Maserati win the Formula One world championship?

Yes, Juan Manuel Fangio won the 1957 Formula One world championship driving a Maserati 250F. It was the Argentine driver's fifth title, and he clinched it by winning the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring on August 4, 1957. Maserati withdrew its factory team from racing at the end of that season and concentrated on road cars such as the 3500 GT.

What is the Maserati 425?

The Maserati 425 was the first four-door version of the Biturbo, the twin-turbocharged V6 model line that Maserati introduced in 1981 during the De Tomaso years. The 425 arrived in 1983 on a longer platform with a 2,600 mm wheelbase and used a 2,491 cc, 2.5-liter development of the Biturbo V6. Maserati lists its production years as 1983-1989.