Mediterranean wind or sports vehicle? The iconic sports model Bora from the Italian Maserati could be called a hurricane on wheels. This central-engined supercar won over even the spoiled domestic powerful muscle cars of the American market and became a landmark for the Italian brand.
Source: Uncrate
In 2021, the iconic sports vehicle Bora celebrated its 50 anniversary, becoming one of the most valuable classic luxury sports cars in the world. While some brands offered the fastest automobiles and others, the most luxurious, Maserati combined these two qualities and offered its customers an automobile that was both powerful and luxurious. Since its inception, the Bora had always been the automobile for anyone who desired the finest sports vehicles. And the public appreciated the zeal of the brand: its clients had always been millionaires and celebrities. Traditionally named after stormy winds, with the famous trident-shaped logo, which demonstrated elegance, strength, and luxury, this model became an icon for the Italian automotive industry.
Source: H&H Classics
The Italian brand built mid-engined automobiles back in the early 60s, but they were intended for racing, not mass production. For turning these prototypes into mass-produced cars, the brand did not have enough finances. However, after the French Citroen bought out the brand’s controlling stake, the situation changed dramatically. In 1968, a project, with the internal designation Tipo 117, was launched aiming to create a central-engined supercar like the Lamborghini Miura and De Tomaso Mangusta. The main designer of the project was Giorgetto Giugiaro (by the way, in 1970 he opened the ItalDesign studio), and the chief engineer at Maserati Giulio Alfieri was responsible for the technical part. Following the company’s tradition, the 1971 debut of the Maserati Bora at the Geneva Motor Show unveiled a new model named after one of the Mediterranean winds. Built on a monocoque chassis with a wheelbase of 2600 mm, the Bora inherited the power unit from the Ghibli, specifically the 4719 cm3 engine. However, the engineers later fine-tuned it for smoother operation by removing the dry sump lubrication system and slightly reducing the power from 330 to 310 horsepower. From 1971 to 1978, Maserati sold a total of 524 cars, with 289 equipped with a 4.7-liter engine and 235 featuring a 4.9-liter engine.
Source: AutoEvolution
1973 Bora was distinguished by grace and beauty. This model was low (only 1.15 m in height), with a sharp front and a dramatically cut tail. The door received a deep bevel forward, repeating the contour of the seat. At the rear, the automobile received laconic lanterns, a modest chrome bumper strip, and four exhaust pipes. Retractable headlights were hidden in the engine compartment, paired with powerful fog lights. This straight-line style eventually became Maestro Giugiaro’s signature style and made the two-seater sports coupe a classic of the 70s. The performance was one of the main characteristics which turned this sports coupe into an icon. The standard vehicle was equipped with a powerful V8 engine. While the earlier models received a 4.7-liter engine, in 1973, a 4.9-liter Ghibli engine with emission control was introduced for being exported to the United States. However, engine power decreased to 300 hp at 6000 rpm, and the torque dropped to 420 Nm at 3500 rpm. The interior was made in the traditional Maserati style – two-tone leather upholstery on the instrument panel and seats. The cabin was quite spacious, delivering excellent visibility. The steering wheel was adjustable. However, the driver’s seat could not be moved: this was partly compensated by the adjustable pedal assembly. The instrument panel was equipped with a speedometer, tachometer, oil pressure gauge, oil temperature, coolant temperature, fuel gauge, and battery charge indicator from the Italian Veglia.
Source: Petrolicious
To reduce engine noise in the cabin, Bora1973 was equipped with a carpeted aluminum panel that hid the power unit underneath. Moreover, there was an additional glass partition between the passenger and the engine compartments.
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