Maserati 5000 GT
Encyclopedia
Maserati 5000 GT were thirty-four 2-door coupé
automobile
s, made by Maserati
of Italy
.
The first car in the Tipo 103 series, was the Shah of Persia, delivered to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
, who had been impressed by the Maserati 3500
. He commissioned Maserati's chief engineer Giulio Alfieri
to utilize a slightly modified 5-litre engine from the Maserati 450S
on the 3500GT's chassis. Carrozzeria Touring
developed the superleggera
tubing and aluminum body of the two-seater coupe.
The second car, also by Touring, was displayed at Salone dell'automobile di Torino 1959.
In 1960 the engine got some modifications and received a displacement of 4940cc with a bigger stroke and a smaller bore; in the new configuration engine developed 340 bhp.
After three bodies by Touring, the main body partner since 1960 became Carrozzeria Allemano
which did 22 of the cars. Other builders were Pietro Frua
(3),
Carrozzeria Monterosa (2), Pininfarina
(1), Ghia (1), Michelotti (1) and Bertone (1). At least one convertible Allemano was made.
), and in many respects individualized to the desires of its celebrity buyers, including Aga Khan
, Italian industrialist Gianni Agnelli
, sportsman Briggs Cunningham
, actor Stewart Granger
, Ferdinando Innocenti
, Basil Read, count Giuseppe Comola, and president Adolfo López Mateos
.
Over time, some of the cars were added to Alfredo Breners collection, that was auctioned in 2003.
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s, made by Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
The first car in the Tipo 103 series, was the Shah of Persia, delivered to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
, who had been impressed by the Maserati 3500
Maserati 3500
Maserati 3500 was a 2-door coupé and convertible made by Maserati of Italy. It was the company's first attempt at the Gran Turismo market and large-volume production.- History :...
. He commissioned Maserati's chief engineer Giulio Alfieri
Giulio Alfieri
Giulio Alfieri was an Italian automobile engineer, affiliated with Maserati in Modena, Italy since 1953, where he was central to the development of racing and production cars in the 1950s and 1960s.Alfieri was born in Parma...
to utilize a slightly modified 5-litre engine from the Maserati 450S
Maserati 450S
Maserati 450S were nine racing cars made by Maserati of Italy, and used in FIA's endurance World Sportscar Championship racing....
on the 3500GT's chassis. Carrozzeria Touring
Carrozzeria Touring
Carrozzeria Touring is an automobile coachbuilder established on March 25, 1926 in Milan, Italy by Felice Bianchi Anderloni and Gaetano Ponzoni...
developed the superleggera
Superleggera
Superleggera is an automobile chassis construction technology developed by Felice Bianchi Anderloni of Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring. The company was located just north of Milan, near Alfa Romeo, Italian Citroen, and the former Isotta-Fraschini plant...
tubing and aluminum body of the two-seater coupe.
The second car, also by Touring, was displayed at Salone dell'automobile di Torino 1959.
Specifications
Specifications for the 5000 GT were:- Maserati 450SMaserati 450SMaserati 450S were nine racing cars made by Maserati of Italy, and used in FIA's endurance World Sportscar Championship racing....
-derived V8 cylinder, four-OHC, 4937.8 cc, - Lucas mechanical injection or four 45 DCOE Weber carburetorWeber carburetorWeber is an Italian company producing carburetors, currently owned by Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A., in turn part of the Fiat Group.The company was established as...
(325 bhp at 5500 rpm), - mechanical Magneti-MarelliMagneti-MarelliMagneti Marelli S.p.A. is an Italian company which deals with development and manufacturing of systems, modules and high-technology components for the automotive industry...
ignition, dual spark plugs and dual fuel pump - 4-speed ZF (later 5-speed)
- Front discs, rear drums (later all-discs)
In 1960 the engine got some modifications and received a displacement of 4940cc with a bigger stroke and a smaller bore; in the new configuration engine developed 340 bhp.
After three bodies by Touring, the main body partner since 1960 became Carrozzeria Allemano
Carrozzeria Allemano
Carrozzeria Allemano was an automobile coachbuilder in Turin, Italy, owned by Serafino Allemano. Allemano made various cars based on their own designs, and in some cases, externally made designs, such as those by Michelotti...
which did 22 of the cars. Other builders were Pietro Frua
Pietro Frua
Pietro Frua was one of the leading Italian coachbuilders and car designers during the 1950s and 1960s.-Early years:...
(3),
Carrozzeria Monterosa (2), Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
(1), Ghia (1), Michelotti (1) and Bertone (1). At least one convertible Allemano was made.
Buyers
The 5000 GT was sold at prices around USD 17000 (twice the cost of a Maserati 3500Maserati 3500
Maserati 3500 was a 2-door coupé and convertible made by Maserati of Italy. It was the company's first attempt at the Gran Turismo market and large-volume production.- History :...
), and in many respects individualized to the desires of its celebrity buyers, including Aga Khan
Aga Khan
Aga Khan is the hereditary title of the Imam of the largest branch of the Ismā'īlī followers of the Shī‘a faith. They affirm the Imamat of the descendants of Ismail ibn Jafar, eldest son of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, while the larger Twelver branch of Shi`ism follows Ismail's younger brother Musa...
, Italian industrialist Gianni Agnelli
Gianni Agnelli
Giovanni Agnelli , better known as Gianni Agnelli , was an Italian industrialist and principal shareholder of Fiat. As the head of Fiat, he controlled 4.4% of Italy's GDP, 3.1% of its industrial workforce, and 16.5% of its industrial investment in research...
, sportsman Briggs Cunningham
Briggs Cunningham
Briggs Swift Cunningham II was an American entrepreneur and sportsman, who raced automobiles and yachts. Born into a wealthy family, he became a racing car constructor, driver, and team owner as well as a sports car manufacturer and automobile collector.He skippered the victorious yacht Columbia...
, actor Stewart Granger
Stewart Granger
Stewart Granger was an English-American film actor, mainly associated with heroic and romantic leading roles. He was a popular leading man from the 1940s to the early 1960s rising to fame through his appearances in the Gainsborough melodramas.-Early life:He was born James Lablache Stewart in Old...
, Ferdinando Innocenti
Ferdinando Innocenti
Ferdinando Innocenti , born in Pescia, Italy, was the founder of the Innocenti company and was the creator of the Lambretta motorscooter.Innocenti started working as an assistant to a blacksmith in 1907...
, Basil Read, count Giuseppe Comola, and president Adolfo López Mateos
Adolfo López Mateos
Adolfo López Mateos was a Mexican politician affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party who served as President of Mexico from 1958 to 1964...
.
Over time, some of the cars were added to Alfredo Breners collection, that was auctioned in 2003.
See also
- Maurice Khawam, Maserati 5000 GT - A Significant Automobile. ISBN 978-0971521551.
- Maurizio Tabucchi, Nel segno del Tridente. ISBN 978-8879112598.
External links
- maserati-alfieri.co.uk on the 5000