Maserati Bora

In these days of mass-production, 530 cars is a tiny number, almost not worth considering; even for a manufacturer such as Maserati, which assembles every car by hand, by craftsmen who take obvious pride in their work, 530 cars wouldn't satisfy demand in the US for six months. Yet that's the total number of Boras Maserati built, despite it being one of the most revolutionary and striking cars ever to roll out of the Modena factory.

It wasn't the engine that made it revolutionary, but rather its location - because the Bora was the very first mid-engined Maserati road car. The powerful V8 engine was installed behind the passenger cabin, forward of the rear axle; some people feel this is the ideal place for the engine of a sports car, as the weight over the rear axle helps provide traction, without the unpredictable handling that can come with a rear-mounted engine, its weight out behind the wheelbase.

As has often been the case, building a mid-engined car was inspired by the company's experience with racing cars. Tipos 63, 64 and 65 from the early sixties all had mid-mounted engines, and Ing. Giulio Alfieri was keen to devise a road car in the same mould. The design of the new car was commissioned from Ital Design, who produced a stunning car, reminiscent of the legendary Ghibli; hardly surprising, as Giorgetto Giugiaro had switched employers from Ghia to Ital Design, and was responsible for both. The Bora had Spartan but curvaceous lines, an exceptional elegance in an age of confused and excessive styling, and the unique design feature of stainless steel A-pillars and roof highlighting both the Bora's style and its technology.

In keeping with the racing-related nature of its location, the engine chosen for this ground-breaking car was also race-derived. It was, of course, the tried and trusted 4.7-liter 90-degree V8, which had first put in road duties in the legendary 5000GT, and which had already been used in the very first Quattroporte, along with the Mexico, Ghibli and Indy models.

Also in keeping with the racing heritage of the car, and also putting in a first appearance on a road-going Maserati, was independent rear suspension, which made a significant contribution to the excellent handling. With 310 horsepower, and a car weighing only 1.4 tons, performance was exceptional, with a top speed over 170 mph.

With such an obvious racing pedigree, it was an obvious choice to go racing; the French importer, Ets. Thépénier-Maserati, took two cars and prepared them for competition. Racing under Group 4 rules, for modified GT cars, they enjoyed remarkable success; unfortunately the factory was denied an entry for the Le Mans 24 Hours race as the car did not meet the requirement of 500 models built in a year.

So with such a ground-breaking car, with such breathtaking design, why were only 530 models built? Unfortunately, the car fell victim to world events, with the oil crisis of 1973 turning opinion against cars with such large engines, however attractive they might be. However, Maserati turned the situation to its own advantage. The all-conquering V8 - which had been stretched to 4.9 liters in 1975 - was replaced with a 3-liter V6, and the bodywork restyled by Giugiaro. The result was the Merak, another iconic Maserati; and soon an uprated engine was coupled to a lightened chassis to make the Merak SS, capable of 150 mph. The car was a great success, with over 1,800 examples made.

They say that history repeats itself, and it's clear that this is true; the Maserati MC12, the supercar recently built by Maserati, also has a racing heritage, and has also been startlingly successful in racing. Like the Bora, the MC12 has a mid-mounted engine and a two-seater cabin; it features all-round independent suspension, and bodywork which originated with Giugiaro.

Thirty years on, while many cars have faded into obscurity, the Bora remains a striking example of the style and innovation that has characterized Maserati road cars down the years - a tradition that continues to this day, and one that is proudly upheld by the MC12.