1974 Maserati Bora
Unveiled in 1971, Maserati’s Bora was a series of firsts – the trident brand’s inaugural mid-engine production model, also debuting their fully independent double wishbone suspension.
Clad in Giugiaro’s wedge-shaped bodywork, the Bora’s styling synced seamlessly with the contemporaneous Ghibli and Merak. The Bora’s design featured a sleek, aerodynamic body with a low drag coefficient of just 0.30.
Motivation came courtesy of a race-bred V8, originally 4.7 liters but later bored out to 4.9 – directly descended from the legendary Birdcage competition cars.
A total of 564 Boras were produced during its seven-year production run. This number includes 289 units equipped with a 4.7-liter V8 engine and 275 units with a larger 4.9-liter V8.
Performance was fittingly fierce, with 330 Italian stallions rocketing to 60 mph in under seven ticks, while top speed approached 170 mph per factory claims.
Rigidity, weight distribution and safety were paramount in the Bora’s design, hence the robust transaxle mounted straight to the steel monocoque chassis.
Arguably the most daily-drivable supercar of its time, the Bora pampered occupants with a carpeted front storage bay and exceptional noise isolation. The ingenious Citroën hydraulics not only powered the four-wheel discs, but also enabled adjustable pedals, seats, headlamps and windows at the touch of a button.
Despite the ambitious start, Maserati faced challenges after being acquired by De Tomaso in 1975, leading to the Bora’s discontinuation in 1978.
Credit: Bonhams|Cars
