Maserati Bora
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The Maserati Bora (Tipo 117) is a mid-engined Maserati two-seat coupe powered by a V8 engine. Produced from 1971 to 1978, it had a top speed of 174–177 miles per hour (280–285 km/h).[1][2] It is classified as a supercar. [3]
History
Shortly after Citroën took a controlling interest in Maserati in 1968, the concept of a mid-engined two-seat sports car was proposed. Lamborghini and De Tomaso already had the Miura and Mangusta whilst Ferrari were known to be developing their own mid-engined contender. Initially known as Tipo 117 and later the Bora, the Maserati project got underway in October 1968 and a prototype was on the road by the summer of 1969. Shown in its final form at the Geneva Salon in March 1971,[4] deliveries began before the end of the year. Maserati struggled after being bought by De Tomaso in 1975, and the Bora was discontinued after the 1978 model year.
Design
Maserati had developed a reputation for producing cars that were out of date with technology, but that changed with the Bora. A number of innovative designs were introduced that distinguished the car from their previous offerings. Compared to other supercars, it was civilized and more practical. It featured a hydraulically powered pedal cluster than could be moved forward and backwards with the touch of a button, as well as a steering wheel that could be tilted and telescoped, addressing the common problem of entering and exiting the vehicle common to all supercars.[5]
Most supercars offer little foot room and little to no provision for luggage, but the Bora offered a full size trunk in the front of the vehicle. Unlike similar class vehicles, the Bora used dual-pane glass separating its cabin from the engine compartment as well as a carpeted aluminum engine cap, greatly decreasing the engine noise in the cabin and increasing the comfort level for the driver.[5]
There were two engines offered initially including a high-revving 4.7-liter V-8 and a higher torque but lower horsepower 4.9-liter V-8; only the smog restricted 4.9 was available in the United States. Eventually, production switched to using only a more powerful version of the 4.9L engine that produced 310 hp at 6000 RPM. The Bora was an extraordinarily powerful car in its time.[6]
A combined steel monocoque chassis and body featured a tubular steel subframe at the back for the engine and transmission. Suspension was independent all round (a first for a Maserati road car) with coil springs, telescopic shocks and anti-roll bars. The development prototype and the broadly similar show car first seen at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show featured MacPherson Strut based front suspension, but this was abandoned for production because, installed in combination with very wide front tires and rack-and-pinion steering, the strut-based solution produced severe kickback.[7] For the production cars Maserati reverted to a more conservative wishbone front-suspension arrangement.[7]
Citroën's advanced high-pressure hydraulics were adopted to operate the ventilated disc brakes, the brake, clutch and throttle pedal box, the driver's seat and the retractable headlights. Wheels were 7.5 x 15-inch (380 mm) Campagnolo light alloy rims with distinctive removable polished stainless steel hubcaps in the earlier automobiles and Michelin XWX tyres.
Maserati decided to install a subtly uprated version of their familiar DOHC 90° V8, displacement having been 4,719 cc thanks to a bore and stroke of 93.9 x 85 mm. Mounted longitudinally, compression was set at 8.5:1 and with four Weber 42 DCNF downdraught carbs and electronic Bosch ignition, the Bora could boast 310 bhp (230 kW) at 6,000 rpm. Great attention was paid to reducing noise and vibration, the engine and five-speed ZF transaxle being mounted on a subframe attached to the monocoque via four flexible mounts. The body was created by Giorgetto Giugiaro for Ital Design, fabrication of the all-steel panels being contracted to Officine Padane of Modena.[4]
Standing 1138 mm high, perhaps the most distinctive details were the brushed stainless steel roof and windscreen pillars. Inside, the bucket seats, dash, door trim, centre console and rear bulkhead were trimmed in leather, electric windows having been standard, most cars also getting air conditioners. The steering column was tailored for rake and reach, the driver's seat being height adjustable only. Instead, high pressure hydraulics moved the pedal box, consisting of the brake, clutch and throttle pedals, forwards and backwards by around three inches (76 mm), a first such application in the world for a production car.
Weighing in at 1520 kg (around 180 kg heavier than the Ghibli), top speed was 165 mph (266 km/h) whilst 0–60 and 0–100 took 6.5 and 14.6 seconds respectively. The first Boras were delivered to customers in late 1971, and only minor production changes were gradually phased in thereafter. They included front lids hinged at the front, pop-up headlights with rounded inside corners, a rectangular front lid-mounted grille and finally, matte black louvres on the sail panels. From 1973, as the 4.7-litre engine hadn't been homologated in North America, Boras destined for the United States were fitted with emissions-equipped 4.9s similar to those found in US-bound Ghiblis. Output was 280 bhp (210 kW) at 6,000 rpm, only 30 bhp (22 kW) less than the Euro-spec derivative, changing the zero to sixty time to 7.2 seconds and the quarter mile to 15.2 seconds.
However, of more concern were the unpopular bumpers that normally had to be added in order to meet US DOT safety legislation. Three years later, a 4.9-litre engine became standard on all Boras, displacement having been stroked from 85 to 89 mm, this resulting in a 4,930 cc. With compression set at 8.75:1, output was 10 bhp (7.5 kW) up on the 4.7 with 320 (330 in Europe) bhp at 5,500 rpm.
Production ran from 1971 to 1978, 524 Boras eventually being built, 289 of which were 4.7s and the remaining 235, 4.9s.
The Bora had a twin, the Merak, which used the same bodyshell and a smaller Maserati V6 engine, also used in the Citroën SM.
References
Citations
- ^ a b "Maserati Bora 4.7". maserati.com. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ a b "Maserati Bora 4.9". www.maserati.com. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ "1971→1978 Maserati Bora". Supercars.net. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ a b "Maserati's History". Maserati web site. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
- ^ a b
Cammisa, Jason (May 2012). "Maserati Bora - Collectible Classic". Automobile Magazine.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Lieberman, Jonny (January 22, 2013). "1973 Maserati Bora and Merak Classic Drive". Motor Trend magazine. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ a b
"Continental Diary". Motor: pages 30–31. date 10 July 1971.
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External links
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