Maserati celebrates 50 years of Bora

KUALA LUMPUR: The Maserati Bora has completed 50 years in the auto industry. It was on 11th March 1971 when the brand’s first mid-mounted rear engine made its debut at the Geneva International Motor Show. It was manufactured until 1978 and the automaker sold some 564 units. Meanwhile, Maserati also created a coupe prototype called Boomerang which showcased wedge-shaped body-work and futuristic engineering.

The Bora lived through 50 long years and the brand has now reached the dawn of a new era, wherein all models share the uniqueness, sportiness, and exclusiveness for which the automaker has always been known for. Bora handed down its engine placement over the years, first in 1961 with the Tipo 63, and now the MC20 gets the same mid-mounted rear mill.

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Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italian design was asked by Maserati to create a mid-mounted rear-engine sports car with enhanced design, comfort, performance, and safety. While the styling was done by Giugiaro, the sports car engineering design was manufactured by Giulio Alfieri.

The mill was the tried and tested 4.7-litre V8 unit pumping out a maximum power of 310 ho at 6,000 rpm. It was mounted lengthways on a subframe on the monocoque. Two years later, the automaker introduced the more powerful 4.9-litre unit. The sports car can attain a top speed of over 280 kmph and ensures great driving pleasure to the engine's agile response.

Apart from offering a quiet interior, the car offers several distinctive features like retractable headlamps to prevent aerodynamic drag, independent suspension on all wheels, projecting differential on the rear axle, telescopic suspension dampers, disc brakes, 5-speed gearbox, and dry-mounted single disc clutch.

Overall, the Maserati Bora perfectly represented the rock-on-roll spirit of the ’70s and this trend-setting car is still a delight to look at.

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