The Rich History of Maserati
Maserati is recognized for providing quality high-performance vehicles today, but the rich history behind the brand may be as well-known. Dive into the story of Maserati with our experts at Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo to discover all the highlights of the brand from its humble beginnings to its legendary reputation today!
1910-1920
It all started with a pair of close brothers known as the Maserati brothers. They worked together to form the beginnings of Maserati on December 1st, 1914. One of the Maserati brothers, Mario, is the creator of the legendary Trident logo that is so recognizable today.
But, where did he draw his inspiration from? The Maserati Trident pays tribute to where one of the brother’s businesses was first established in Bologna. There, you can find a fountain with a statue of Neptune holding a trident which was obviously an inspiration for the Maserati Trident logo today.
1920-1930
Through the beginnings of the company, the Maserati brothers worked endlessly to prepare for their entrance into the motorsports world and showcase to everyone that they meant business when it came to performance. In 1926, three of the Maserati brothers launched the Tipo 26 which was their first racing car that was entered into the Targa Florio competition in Sicily.
While Maserati was still relatively new at the time, Mario Umberto Borzacchini was a racing driver that set the new Class C world record behind the wheel of a V16 Maserati. This record was set in 1929 and remained the world record for almost a decade.
1930-1940
In 1932, one of the Maserati brothers unfortunately passed away. However, many of the most distinguished race car drivers paid their tributes to Maserati and recognized the brand as an important car manufacturer in the racing world. This was a true testament to the level of engineering and performance Maserati provided so early on.
In 1933, Maserati teamed up with Italian race car driver Tazio Nuvolari and won the Belgian GP, the Nice GP, and the Tourist Trophy. Tazio Nuvolari was piloting the 8CM and his victories brought more attention and want for the Ferrari 8CM. Queues started forming at the Maserati workshop in Emilia Levante for the 8CM where everyone wanted to experience a race-winning Maserati for themselves.
1940-1950
In 1940, Maserati won the legendary Indianapolis 500 race with the 8CT and was the only carmaker to win the trophy with a fully built race car. In 1947, Maserati started a new segment known as the Gran Tourer with the legendary A6 1500 GranTurismo. The A6 GranTurismo was designed by none other than Battista “Pinin” Farina, a well-known automotive designer today, that left a mark in both Maserati history and the automotive industry.
The A6 GranTurismo provided innovative features that were rare to find at the time with recessed headlights, a plexiglass sunroof, and more. This was the beginning of Maserati entering into the luxury sports car world.
1950-1960
Maserati won two F1 championships during this decade and also started producing grand touring and two-seater vehicles that were designed for both luxury and seamless performance on regular roads. This decade was also when the 3500 GT was designed and became one of the best-looking vehicles available at the time.
But, Maserati wasn’t only ground-breaking because of design and innovation but also broke records by allowing Maria Teresa De Filippis to be the first woman to race in two Formula 1 Grand Prix races in a Maserati.
1960-1980
While the Maserati Ghibli is well-known today, it was first introduced with an 8-cylinder engine at the Turin Auto Show in 1966. At the time, Maserati was managing to be a high-performing motorsports participant while also becoming a full-fledged road car manufacturer. That’s when Maserati had the innovative idea to produce a luxury sedan that came with a race car engine and thus the beginnings of the Maserati Quattroporte began.
The late 1960s and early 1970s for Maserati was a unique time as it was newly acquired by Citroen. Under Citroen, Maserati launched the Maserati Ghibli Spyder which proved to be a one-of-a-kind vehicle.
1980-1990
With a rich history behind itself, Maserati aimed to continue to innovate and certainly did so with the Maserati Biturbo, a luxury vehicle that delivered compelling performance. The Maserati Biturbo was so popular that it became the best-selling vehicle in the history of Maserati.
Meanwhile, the Maserati Quattroporte remained an iconic vehicle by starring in many popular movies like Rocky III. But, the Maserati Quattroporte wasn’t just appealing to the eye because it also delivered a level of elegance that made Italy’s president pick it as his official state car.
1990-2000
One of the most well-known rivalries is between Maserati and Ferrari but they became close family members when Maserati was acquired by the Fiat Group. In 1998, this collaboration brought forth the legendary Maserati 3200 GT which featured a beautiful exterior and a potent engine that was shared with Ferrari.
2000-2010
In 2004, Maserati went back to its roots on the racetrack with the Maserati MC12, a 12-cylinder race car that could easily reach over 210 mph. The Maserati Spyder proved to be a success in the market and played a major role for Maserati in the US market. Maserati also launched the Quattroporte V which became a global icon and received many awards.
The legendary Pininfarina helped Maserati launch the GranTurismo in 2007 which is a well-known vehicle today. From 2005 to 2010, Maserati won a total of 19 victories and was crowned with 13 titles, absolutely dominating the motorsports world.
2010-2020
In 2011, Maserati introduced the Maserati Kubang concept car which was an evolution of a 2003 prototype and was the beginning of Maserati entering the SUV market. A few years later, the Kubang concept came to life and was introduced as the Maserati Levante, an important vehicle for the Maserati lineup today.
2020-Present
Maserati has had an impressive history so far with plenty of ups and downs but what does that mean for Maserati today? Maserati is aiming to pay homage to its past and has recently done so with the introduction of the Maserati MC20. The Maserati MC20 features the Maserati Nettuno engine which utilizes technology from Formula 1 race car engines. The Maserati MC20 proves that Maserati is returning to its roots but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for innovation.
In fact, Maserati will be returning to the racing world and entering the Formula E World Championship which is the world’s first all-electric road-racing motorsport series. Maserati is the first Italian brand to compete in Formula E and shows that Maserati is looking to develop an impressive range of fully-electric luxury sports cars for you to enjoy on the public streets in the future.
Make Maserati History Today With Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo!
Here at Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo, we’re dedicated to including the rich history of Maserati in our everyday interactions. We strive to incorporate the historic Maserati brand into every relationship we have with our customers and dealership families. If you’re ready to make Maserati history with our Wilsonville dealership, get in touch with our experts today and find out how you can enjoy a legendary Maserati vehicle!