Maserati Bora

Maserati
Bora
Production period:	1972-1988
Class :	Sports car
Body versions :	Coupe
Engines:	; Gasoline engines : 4.7-4.9 liters ; (228-243 kW)
Length:	4330 mm
Width:	1770 mm
Height:	1138 mm
Wheelbase :	2590 mm
Empty weight :	1400-1520 kg
successor	Maserati MC12

US version with special bumpers and horns as well as US side lights

Rear of an early US version with special bumper horns and side lights; Taillights corresponding to contemporary Alfa Romeo models

The Maserati Bora was a two-seat sports car model of the Italian car manufacturer Maserati with in-house V 8 - mid-engine .

General

It was the manufacturer's first road sports car with a mid-engine after Maserati had already gained experience with this layout in racing. When the model was created, Maserati was part of Citroën . The coupé body was designed by Giorgio Giugiaro in his company Italdesign in 1969 ; the bodies were manufactured at Officine Padane in Modena .

Typical of the time are the angular exterior and the flat front with pop-up headlights , which enabled a top speed of up to 265 km / h with the in-house V8 engine. Other characteristic features are various chrome trim elements, the exhaust system with four tailpipes and the stainless steel roof . Internally known as the Type 117 , it was presented at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show . When production began in 1972, high fuel prices made sales difficult. With a sporty driving style, the average consumption was up to 25.6 liters per 100 kilometers. In this crisis, Citroën parted ways with Maserati. Since the distribution channels had to be reorganized as a result, the production figures fell from 56 in 1975 to only six in the following year. Under the new management of Alejandro de Tomaso , the model was technically revised before it expired in 1978 without a direct successor. A total of 571 vehicles were built. Sales suffered in particular from the fact that for a long time the Bora did not meet the American approval requirements with regard to exterior noise, exhaust gases and safety (bumpers) and had to compete with the similarly strong, but cheaper De Tomaso Pantera .

A street-legal series sports car with a mid-engine was only available from Maserati again in 2004 with the Maserati MC12 , albeit only in 50 copies as a homologation model for racing.

Contemporary assessment

The driving behavior, the amount of space and the enormous power of the engine were praised, as was the equipment: air conditioning, electric windows and seat and pedal adjustments were standard. The heating and ventilation system was criticized, in particular because the interior was very hot due to the flat windows, as well as the special hydraulic brakes that work with components from the Citroën SM with an unusually short pedal travel and the limited rear view typical of the mid-engine.

Naming

In the past, Maserati often used designations for winches in the model names, such as the Ghibli, the Mistral or here the Bora. The bora describes a cold, dry wind that blows from the northeast on the Adriatic .

Technology at a glance

Engines

In the first generation of models, a longitudinally installed, water-cooled V8 mid-engine with a cylinder block and cylinder head made of light metal and two overhead camshafts per cylinder bank was used. The relatively compact engine with a cylinder angle of 90 degrees initially drew 310 hp (228 kW) at 6000 rpm from a displacement of 4719 cm³ . The unit, which was mounted on a rubber- mounted and removable subframe and was also used in the Maserati Ghibli together with the gearbox, the differential and the rear suspension, accelerated the car from 0 to 100 km / h in 6.5 seconds and reached a top speed of 260 km / h. H. In 1976 the displacement was increased to 4.9 liters, the maximum torque was 461 Nm and at 6000 rpm 330 hp (243 kW) were available, the top speed increased to 265 km / h.

Further data:

Bore / stroke: 93.9 mm × 85 mm
Compression ratio: 8.5: 1
Valve control: two valves per cylinder, controlled by two overhead camshafts with chain drive for each cylinder block
Mixture formation: four Weber 42 DCNF carburettors
Ignition system: with distributor

Power transmission

The rear wheels were driven via a single-disc dry clutch and a ZF 5-speed manual gearbox, with the gearbox and differential with hypoid-toothed final drive flanged behind the engine.

Gear ratio: I) 2.580: 1; II) 1.520: 1; III) 1.040: 1; IV) 0.850: 1; V) 0.740: 1
Gear ratio in the final drive: 3.770: 1

landing gear

Thanks to independent suspension on double wishbones , coil springs with telescopic shock absorbers and stabilizers at the front and rear, the sporty suspension offered enough residual comfort on bad roads. The Bora had rack and pinion steering. As part of the collaboration with Citroën, the Bora received four internally ventilated disc brakes that were operated by a hydraulic system driven by the engine. Later there was a conventional hydraulic system with a brake booster. Light alloy wheels in the format 7.5 × 15 with 215/70 × 15 Michelin radial tires were fitted as standard.

body

The two-door, two-seater sports coupé body stood on a platform frame with square tubes as a subframe for the engine and power transmission .

Because of the relatively compact engine, there was an above-average amount of space for passengers and luggage despite its compact exterior dimensions. The interior was less cramped than the Lamborghini Countach or Ferrari 365 GT / 4 Berlinetta Boxer.

measures and weight

Length: 4330 mm
Width: 1770 mm
Wheelbase: 2590 mm
Track width front / rear: 1470 mm / 1440 mm
Weight: 1400 kg

power

Top speed: 265 km / h
Acceleration 0–100 km / h: 6.5 s
Fuel consumption (average): 25.6 l / 100 km

Parallel model

The Maserati Merak with almost the same body as the Bora was produced between 1972 and 1983 with a V6 engine. Initially with 190 hp from 3.0 liters of displacement and a top speed of 235 km / h, then in 1975 as the Merak SS with 220 hp and 240 km / h top speed, it was the most popular Maserati of its time with 1500 units built. Its body shape also came from Italdesign; Many design elements and individual body parts from the Bora were adopted for him. It can be distinguished externally by the free-standing C-pillars and the small, vertical rear window, while the Bora is provided with additional side windows and a large, flat rear window. Further differences are the missing plastic strip on the side of the Merak and a different front design. Because of the shorter V6 engine, the Merak still has space for two (albeit very small) emergency seats in the rear.

Web links

Commons : Maserati Bora - Collection of images, videos and audio files