Maserati Quattroporte 4.2 V8
The original Maserati Quattroporte — Italian for 'four doors' — was a groundbreaking automobile that created an entirely new category: the luxury sports sedan. When Maserati unveiled it at the 1963 Turin Motor Show, no other manufacturer offered a full-size four-door car with genuine sports car performance. The body, designed by Pietro Frua, was a masterwork of elegant proportion — long, low, and sleek despite accommodating four doors and generous rear-seat space. Under the long hood sat a race-derived 4.2-liter DOHC V8 engine fed by four Weber carburetors, producing 260 horsepower and capable of propelling the stately sedan to 230 km/h. This was the same engine family that powered Maserati's racing cars, and it endowed the Quattroporte with a magnificent exhaust note and thrilling performance. The interior was appointed with the finest leather, wood, and chrome, befitting its role as transport for Italian industrialists and European royalty. With only 759 examples produced, the first Quattroporte is significantly rarer than contemporary Ferraris and increasingly valued by collectors who appreciate its unique combination of performance, elegance, and historical significance as the car that started the sports sedan revolution.
Corrosion is the primary concern — check sills, floorpans, and around the windshield. The quad-cam V8 requires specialist knowledge and parts are expensive. Four Weber carburetors need expert synchronization. Check for evidence of engine overheating. Interior woodwork and leather are bespoke and very costly to restore. Early Frua-bodied cars are more valuable than later Bertone versions.
759 examples of the Tipo AM107 were produced. Early cars had the Frua-designed body; later cars featured revised Bertone bodywork. The car was initially available only with manual transmission; automatic was added later.