Maserati 5000 GT

Maserati 5000 GT
The Shah of Persia, body by Carrozzeria Touring.
Overview
Manufacturer Maserati
Production 1959–1964[1]
33 units[1] (first generation)
2018 (Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera generation)
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door coupé
Layout FR layout

The Maserati 5000 GT also commonly known as The Shah of Persia (Italian: Scià di Persia) (1959–1964) is a 2-door coupé automobile, made by Maserati of Italy. A total of thirty three were produced.[1] In 2018, Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera announced that the latest generation of The Shah of Iran will be produecd for the amount of 10 vehicles. [2]

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 use 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 coupé. The second car, also a Shah of Persia by Touring, was displayed at Salone dell'automobile di Torino 1959.[3]

Specifications

Specifications for the first 5000 GT were:

  • Maserati 450S-derived four OHC 4,937 cc (301 cu in) V8, 325 hp (242 kW) at 5500 rpm
  • Lucas mechanical injection or four 45 DCOE Weber carburettordual fuel pump
  • mechanical Magneti-Marelli ignition, dual spark plug
  • 4-speed ZF (later 5-speed)
  • Front discs, rear drums (later all discs)

In 1960, the engine was modified: the displacement increased to 4,940 cc (301 cu in) with a longer stroke and a smaller bore, with fuel injection added. The new engine developed 340 hp (250 kW). The fuel injected 5000 GT was shown at the 1960 Salone di Torino.[4]

Coachbuilders

After the first body by Touring, the main body partner since 1960 became Carrozzeria Allemano which did 22 of the cars, designed by Giovanni Michelotti. Other builders were Pietro Frua (3), Carrozzeria Monterosa (2), Pininfarina (1), Ghia (Sergio Sartorelli) (1), Giovanni Michelotti (1), Bertone (Giorgetto Giugiaro) (1) and Carrozzeria Touring (2 more).

In 1961, Bertone built a one-off 5000 GT that featured a body designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The car had a Tipo 104 chassis and a different engine than the standard 5000 GT.

Buyers

The 5000 GT was sold at prices around US$17,000 (twice the cost of a Maserati 3500), and in many respects individualized to the desires of its celebrity buyers, including Karim Aga Khan,[5] Italian industrialist Gianni Agnelli, sportsman Briggs Cunningham, actor Stewart Granger, Ferdinando Innocenti (Ghia-bodied 5000 GT), Basil Read, Swiss entrepreneur Otto Nef, 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.

See also

  • Maurice Khawam, Maserati 5000 GT - A Significant Automobile. ISBN 978-0-9715215-5-1.
  • Maurizio Tabucchi, Nel segno del Tridente. ISBN 978-88-7911-259-8.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Michael Sedgwick & Mark Gillies, A-Z of Cars 1945-1970, Haymarket Publishing Ltd, 1986, page 122
  2. ↑ Burnett, Sam. "Give these Italians a Maserati GranTurismo and they'll turn it into this". Motor1. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  3. ↑ Nebiolo, Gino (1 November 1959). "Colori e linee gentili delle auto richiamano signore e profani". La Stampa (in Italian). p. 5. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Bernabò, Ferruccio (10 March 1960). "Il Salone di Ginevra quest'anno batte per ampiezza tutti i primati". Stampa Sera (in Italian). p. 9. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "L'Aga Khan compra auto a Modena". La Stampa (in Italian). 24 June 1960. p. 5. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
Maserati road car timeline, 1947–1970s — next »
Type 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s
789 0123456789 0123456789 0123456789
Ownership Orsi family Citroën De Tomaso
GEPI
Luxury saloon Quattroporte Quattroporte II QP III
GT 4-seat Coupé Mexico Kyalami
Indy
2+2 Coupé 5000 GT Ghibli Khamsin
A6 1500 A6G A6G/54 3500 GT Sebring
2-seat Coupé Mistral
Spyder Mistral Spyder
3500 GT Convertibile Ghibli Spyder
Mid-engine 2+2 Merak
2-seat Bora
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