The Bora was Maserati’s first mid-engined road car and was introduced in March 1971 at the Geneva motor show. Powered by Maserati’s proven 4.7 liter 90° V8, mounted longitudinally, it was a true supercar which promised to fully maintain the company’s core ethos of class, comfort and refinement. Judging by the critical acclaim it received throughout this period, and still continues to generate today, it delivered.

After the success of the Ghibli, Maserati once again turned to Giorgetto Giugiaro and his newly founded Italdesign studio to style the new model named after a brisk breeze off of the Eastern Adriatic coast. Pietro Frua also submitted a full-size mock-up, but Giugiaro’s proposal proved to better encapsulate the modern era whilst concurrently fitting in harmoniously with other models in the range. The bodies were produced in Modena by Officine Padane. The 5-speed ZF gearbox was mounted in a sub-frame together with the rear suspension.

With Maserati now under Citroën ownership the Bora made use of the French manufacturer’s parts bin, including the hydraulics that operated the brakes, pop-up headlamps, driver seat and the adjustable pedal block. The 310 hp output (300 hp in America due to restrictions on emissions) permitted a top speed of 260 km/h (162 mph). At the end of 1971 Giugiaro presented a seminal concept car based on the Bora: the Boomerang.