There are plenty of venerable brand names in the world of automobiles, perhaps none so more than the Maserati. In December, Maserati celebrates 105 years of quality craftsmanship and excellence. You can see this commitment to excellence and quality when you walk into any maserati dealership. Maserati was founded in Bologna, Italy in 1914 by brothers Ernesto, Ettore, and Alfieri Maserati. The company has gone through many ownership changes over its history with Citroën, Chrysler, Ferrari, and most recently Fiat having controlling interest in Maserati.
The Maserati first made a name for itself on the racing circuit with the 8CTF driven by Wilber Shaw to victory in the Indianapolis 500 in back-to-back years in 1939 and 1940. In 1957, Argentinian F1 racer Juan Manuel Fangio raced to the F1 Grand Prix World Championship in a Maserati. Many models of the famed automaker were on display in the 1960s with the Tipo 60, The Ghilbli, and the first four-door (Quattroporte) model all making an appearance. As the 1960s ended, then-parent company Citroën starting using Maserati engines in its own cars.
The 1970s brought mid-engine models to the Maserati with the stunning Bora, released in 1971. The company was brought to its knees with the 1973 Oil Crisis which affected every sports car manufacturer as the market shifted towards smaller and more fuel-efficient automobiles. Maserati nearly went under during this dark period as Citroën looked to liquidate Maserati to divest itself from the troubled company. Alejandro de Tomaso purchased the nearly bankrupt company from Citroën in 1975 and looked to reenergize the company. In 1981, Maserati released the Biturbo to the public and it became one of the company’s most well-known models. The Biturbo was the first production car in the world with a twin-turbo V6 engine
With many ownership changes over the last 40 years, Maserati has survived in both good times and bad. With all the ownership uncertainty, Maserati owners knew that two things were certain: quality workmanship and racing excellence. These two factors in the Maserati Formula have never wavered in the entire 105-year existence of the company. Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the fabled trident logo of Maserati as the company looks to deliver another 100 years of quality driving essence. If you would like to test drive a piece of Italian motor history, go down to your local Maserati dealership today and talk to an agent.
Source
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Maserati
