Maserati Bora. A legendary super sports car

When Maserati unveiled their Bora at the Geneva Motor Show 52 years ago, car enthusiasts worldwide immediately fell in love. Who doesn't remember that always special engine placement exactly behind the occupants? From that memorable day in March 1971, the Maserati Bora wrote history and even inspired other models such as the Merak. It's hard to believe that it's been more than half a century since Giugiaro created this wonder on wheels.

A distinctive touch

The Maserati Bora, technically the Tipo 117, not only had a unique engine position, but also set new standards for design and innovation. This mid-engine configuration wasn't new to Maserati – think of the 63 Tipo 1961 – but its evolution in the Bora was breathtaking. And of course the influence of Formula 1 and models such as the Lamborghini Miura contributed to this choice. Maserati's collaboration with Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign resulted in a car that stood out in terms of performance, design, comfort and safety.

A mix of old and futuristic

Giulio Alfieri's technical expertise and Giugiaro's visionary design merged in the Bora. Giugiaro's futuristic approach was clearly visible, from the tapered front end to the elegant grille with the iconic trident. And not to forget the V8 engine, which gave the Maserati Bora a top speed of 280 km/h.

Technological innovations and luxury

The Bora's technology was ahead of its time. Consider the independent suspension, a first for Maserati's road cars. But it was the collaboration with Citroën which really stood out, from the advanced hydraulic disc brakes to the adjustable pedals and the retractable headlights.

And of course, how can we ignore the luxury that the Bora offered? An adjustable steering column, power windows, luxurious leather and air conditioning were just some of the highlights.

The Maserati Bora. A timeless icon

Although the Maserati Bora was produced until 1978, it underwent few changes. The most important updates were in the areas of tires and engines, such as the introduction of the 4930 cc V8 engine.

For the Dutch car market, the Maserati Bora was one of the most expensive cars, more expensive than the Lamborghini Countach and even the Porsche Turbo. This emphasizes the exclusivity and prestige of the Maserati Bora and its contemporaries.

In conclusion, 52 years later, the Maserati Bora remains a timeless icon, a reminder of an era of innovation, design and pure speed. And for the true car enthusiast it remains one of the highlights in the history of the automotive industry.

Oh yes, we borrowed the photos from Maserati. Apparently there are no real petrolheads there, because a photo of the engine compartment could not be found. Do any of you still have that? Feel free to post it in the comments and we will add it later.