Oct 27: Maserati rides again

Way back when, the four Maserati brothers opened a shop to fix that new and increasingly popular conveyance, the automobile. One thing led to another and as the old cliche goes, the rest is history. And if it wasn't for Fiat and Ferrari, the rest would have been history. After many years of producing some of the most beautiful cars, this struggling company, was turning out a relatively inexpensive droll of a car called the Biturbo. After making some of the most gorgeous cars ever, Maserati was resigned to making this.........

Not great looking and with quality to scratch your head over. Tell your new date that you drive a Maserati and show up in this thing? Well, let's just say that, you are going home to an empty house (unless you are lucky enough to have a pet).

A quick overview of some of Maserati's past hits, shows one just how far they had sunken with the Biturbo......

Powerful and oozing that power out of every pore. This A6 GCS/54 (rolls off the tongue?) race car from the '50's was the epitome of what Maserati stood for, refined and powerful elegance (well, maybe this one wasn't so refined). But, where they really shone was with their road cars......

In descending order, the Ghibli (my all time favorite) in coupe and convertible and the stunning Khamsin. Not a line wrong on any of them. Powerful? You need to ask? But, times became tough and these cars and others, like the more conservatively styled Mexico.......

..........couldn't keep this company alive, hence the awful Biturbo. But help was on the horizon, riding in like the cavalry in those old western movies.

Maserati was always a Ferrari competitor, so guess who would come to their rescue? Good guess. Ferrari and its parent Fiat. A company they once fought tooth and nail with for a chunk of the luxury sportscar market, was now going to help them survive. Not as a direct competitor, but as a maker of elegant Italian grand touring sports machines. Good move and one that has produced this line up for 2016........

All priced quite reasonably, keeping in mind that the are not Honda Accord competitors and that, they are motivated by Ferrari developed engines. But, now there is a new model on the horizon (another cavalry analology?) and it bears the name of one of the Maserati brothers, the Alfieri........

Said to be inspired by the intimidating looking A6, etc at the top of this blog, the Alfieri should be coming to market in 2017 or possibly 2018 as a coupe, to be followed by a cabrio a year later. Another grand tourer that, will yet again boost the stock of Maserati in the eyes of those who can afford such niceties.

What to do until then? Maybe this beautiful Maserati cabrio will help you bridge the gap......

It's always good to see these great old names survive and prosper ("live long and prosper"?). Oh, to be wealthy!

Until next time......