MASERATI BORA 4.9 Gran Turismo
Elegance in its purest form: The Maserati Bora – a masterpiece by Giorgetto Giugiaro
The pen of Italian design genius Giorgetto Giugiaro conjured up Maserati’s first mid-engine road sports car – a timeless sculpture that impresses to this day with its clarity and balanced proportions. Conceived as an answer to greats like the Ferrari 365 BB or the Lamborghini Miura, the Bora proved to be a lifeline for Maserati in the early 70s, keeping the company alive. The alliance with Citroën during the Bora’s development period left valuable traces, including a remarkably sensitive braking system that became a trademark for Bora drivers.
This 4.9-litre Bora was delivered by Maserati to its first owner Robert Kleinberg in Texas in 1973. The car found its way back to Europe in 1990. The new owner, a Frankfurt lawyer, commissioned the Maserati experts at Candini in Modena to give the Bora a European appearance in 1996. In 2001, Candini also carried out a complete overhaul of the engine and technology.
In 2014, the Bora was sold to a German collector and has been part of his Maserati collection ever since. Thanks to careful storage, constant maintenance and renewed technical care measures, the Bora is still in very good condition today, even after more than fifty years. The brakes and hydraulics were recently overhauled and new tyres fitted.
Experience the Maserati Bora, a symbiosis of timeless design and captivating performance, and an ode to the art of automotive craftsmanship.
Contact us for more details about this fascinating car:
- 1 of 235 with 4.9 liter engine (total 530)
- Maserati’s first mid-engined street sports car
- Design by Giugiaro, ItalDesign – designer of the Ghibli
- First delivery 02/1973 to Maserati dealer DeMaria in Miami, Florida
- On July 26th, delivery to customer Robert Kleinberg in Texas
- Maserati Certificates
- History mostly known
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Matching numbers
- Matching colors
- Exterior colour “Argento Indianapolis”
- Interior fittings Connolly leather “Rosso”
- V8 mid-engine with 4.9 liters and 320 hp
- 62,000 mls
- Engine and transmission overhauled
- Body restored
- Technology, brakes, hydraulics, overhauled
- Tires new
- Photo & invoices of the restoration
- New technical control
- Classic data expertise 2+
Happy Birthday BORA on its 50th birthday
It’s been over 50 years since Maserati introduced its first mid-engined road car. A new era began for Maserati with this car. The design, with the power unit behind the driver but still in front of the rear axle, is typical of motorsport. First used in 1961 on the Tipo 63, the Bora transferred the innovative concept to the road for the first time and became the forerunner of other Maserati models with a mid-engine. It was followed by the Merak, MC12 and, most recently, the MC20.
The Bora made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show on 11 March 1971. Maserati had commissioned the design from Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign. One of his specifications was to combine sporting performance with aspects such as design, comfort and safety.
The result was futuristic. The flat, slim and comparatively pointed front end was designed to plough through the air. The front grille consisted of two rectangular vents with a trident in the centre. The smooth side surfaces were separated centrally by a thin black rubber cover, while the rear ended in a ridge.
The proven V8 engine with a displacement of 4.7 litres and an output of 310 hp at 6,000 rpm was used as the power unit. Two years later it was replaced by a 4.9-litre unit. The engine was mounted longitudinally on a subframe installed in the monocoque. The technical concept of the car came from Giulio Alfieri.
Special features included folding headlights to reduce drag, a rear-flanged rear differential, independent suspensions on all wheels (a first for a Maserati), disc brakes all round, a dry-mounted single-disc clutch, a five-speed gearbox and telescopic shock absorbers. The Bora combined comfort and performance and offered a top speed of over 280 km/h, which made for great driving pleasure thanks to the engine’s exceptionally agile response and the quiet interior.
1973 the press stated:
“The underrated aristocrat among the supercars”
“Top speed of 260 km/h and from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds” a quote from racing driver Paul Frère, 1973
“The Bora is not only fast, safe and easy to drive, but also has a level of comfort that is practically in no way inferior to larger sedans.” Quote Automobil Revue 1972
“All things considered, the Bora is the best mid-engined car we’ve ever tried; the Miura was great in its time, but the Bora leaves it far behind in terms of comfort and smoothness and is on par in terms of performance. ” Road & Track magazine after an extensive driving test in 1973
And please don’t forget, being overtaken by a 1.10m high BORA at 280 km/h in 1973 was definitely more than a sensation. One or two drivers almost got out of their Volkswagen because they thought they were standing still….
