The Car that Saved Maserati?

davy83

davy83

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Some of the comments after the article bear out that fact that the writer was exaggerating for dramatic effect. Interesting read just the same, although clearly so US focused that its clearly a load on nonsense, what the title should have said is "the US would never have noticed Maserati if it hadn't been for the bi-turbo", which is again not true, since they bought the 4200 and the GT and QP sell over there, so all in all a pile of tosh. They must have been short of material and made up some none-sense to fill the pages.
 
allandwf

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I agree a bit exagerated, but as a second hand car they had a reputation for unreliability and rust. I think they held the whole marque back in second hand prices for years.
 
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To be fair they have been saved by so many things companies and cars over the years especially Citroen and De Tomaso but without the Ferrari input 3200 we wouldn't have the cars we have now.
 
zagatoes30

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mjheathcote said:
The 4200 coupe and spyder of course with sales to the US especially.
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The 3200 opened the door to a new age for Maserati, it was a modern looking coupe with some decent build quality although still based around the last of the Bi Turbo era engines. With the foot in the door the 4200 barged in with a proper V8 in both Coupe and Convertible followed finally by the QP V and subsequent models.

If Maserati can get the positioning of the brand right, and build cars that the market sector wants it should be in a strong position however it's market will always be limited by the people who are want and are prepared to live with a high performance GT with an Italian heart.
 
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I think if we are being pedantic we have to say the real saviour was the 3500GT as that was their first mass-produced car for the road and it really launched them from race car company to road car company whilst still maintaining track focus with the likes of birdcage etc...
 
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Contigo said:
I think if we are being pedantic we have to say the real saviour was the 3500GT as that was their first mass-produced car for the road and it really launched them from race car company to road car company whilst still maintaining track focus with the likes of birdcage etc...
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Weirdly - could be argued that it was the car that started the downfall and took them away from their core business. I have seen commentary from a number of people arguing both cases over the years.

For what its worth - I think it is the badge that saved it. Emotive, non-conformist and evocative enough to be worth saving: The brothers, Italian Government, Citroen, De Tomaso, Fiat/Ferrari ...
 
outrun

outrun

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Em, no comment.

Other than BiTurbos are the kings of stealth and reliability. Honest.

Mine is charming, quick and gets more comments than any of my other Maseratis. It is, however, currently having it's single Weber carb rebuilt for the 2nd time in 6 months. I think that's mainly because upon using her, the carb seals showed up as being perished and we've now sourced a rebuild kit which I expect to solve the issue. I hope it also stops it from smelling of fuel ! I'm considering driving it to Goodwood.....
 
Classico

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Own view it was their partnership with Ferrari and the models produced under that arrangement which put them back on the map.

Sharing tech, albeit de-tuned Ferrari engines for eg.

To this day in Oz, official Maserati dealerships and service centres share the same sales and service centre space with Ferrari.

Even if the reality now is they are currently aligned more with Alfa than Ferrari under the FIAT/Chrysler partnership.
 
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DamonWheaton said:
Weirdly - could be argued that it was the car that started the downfall and took them away from their core business. I have seen commentary from a number of people arguing both cases over the years.

For what its worth - I think it is the badge that saved it. Emotive, non-conformist and evocative enough to be worth saving: The brothers, Italian Government, Citroen, De Tomaso, Fiat/Ferrari ...
Click to expand...

I understand that viewpoint but Maserati made 140 cars in ten years prior to the launch of the 3500GT. Make of that what you will.
 
davy83

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I would need to check but my impression is that the 3500GT was the first car to harness the passion for power and speed to a car with amazing styling. I mean the 3500GT is still a gorgeous car to look at, and the concept of a car built by two brothers with a reputation for power and speed in a drop dead gorgeous form is the essence of what every car maker dreams of doing, surely? Its what makes all of our cars what they are, if they were ugly and fast and unreliable, we would not have them probably, we would have an EVO 99 (or whatever number they have got to) its ugly and fast, i think the 3500 didn't save Maserati it created a Genre? And every time Maserati remember the essence of that recipe they make a great car, the Afieri looks like just such a car, i think the 3200 was too, and the GT, it must invoke lust first and foremost? The Biturbo era missed the styling they just didn't look gorgeous, and the 3200 brought that back. So I would say Maserati has saved the whole motoring industry from passionless cars by creating the 3500 because it epitomised a concept that won't go away. Just a thought :)
 
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