1978 Maserati Bora

For sale by auction on Saturday 01 June 2013 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
The Maserati Bora is a two-seater coupé powered by a 4. 7 or 4. 9
litre V8 engine mounted amidships and produced from 1971 to 1978
with a top speed of a massive 177mph.

Shortly after Citroën took a controlling interest in Maserati in
1968. the concept of a mid-engined two-seat sports car was
proposed. Lamborghini and De Tomaso already had the Miura and
Mangusta whilst Ferrari were known to be developing their own
mid-engined contender. Initially known as Tipo 117. and later
the Bora. the Maserati project got underway in October 1968 and a
prototype was on the road by the summer of 1969. Shown in its final
form at the Geneva Salon in March 1971 and sporting the timeless
Giorgetto Giugiaro design.

This Bora. a 1978 model. was an original export to the USA and
believed to be one of the last 25 built. The highest car
number found in the US was 1046 with this example numbering 1040.
235 of the 524 cars built were fitted. as this car. with the more
desirable 4. 9 litre engine. however. it seems that this option was
only introduced for the European Bora in late 1976.

The vendor of this Bora is a chartered engineer and the
ex-Chairman of the Maserati Club. He has owned Maserati's
since 1974 and in addition to the Bora. his dehumidified garages
house another three 'Tridents'. ULO 111R has been in his
ownership since 1989 when he imported it directly from the
USA. At that time. it had a recorded mileage of 17. 47 which
is almost certainly correct. Since then it has covered a
further 29. 00 miles giving a total mileage of c 47. 00 at the time
of sale.

On arrival in the UK. this car was converted back to European
specification with the exception of the silencer location and the
rubber bumpers. which were relocated. At this time. new
stainless steel manifolds and exhaust were also fitted. These
works. and indeed all major servicing work. were undertaken by Bill
McGrath Maserati of Kimpton. Hertfordshire. Andy Heywood of
Bill McGrath's knows this car well and a full service. fresh MoT
test certificate and condition report will be prepared by Andy's
team immediately prior to the auction.

In 1995/96 the chassis and body were fully restored in the
vendor's workshop. He employed a suitably skilled person to
do this work. under his supervision with a photographic record
documenting this work. Other modifications and improvements
carried out included a completely re-designed fuel system to
prevent fuel vaporization which had been a constant if intermittent
problem. Hatches were made in the firewall behind the seats
to provide access to the front of the engine. This Bora is a
well cared for and mechanically accomplished motor car. With
the 4. 9 litre engine. this car not only represents sound investment
potential. but is also hugely exhilarating to use.

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