Maserati Boomerang
Encyclopedia
The Maserati Boomerang was a concept car
designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro
. It was first revealed at the Turin
Auto Show in 1971 as a non-functional model, but by the time the 1972 Geneva Auto Show came around the company had worked it into a fully functional vehicle.
The design of the Boomerang would resonate through Giugiaro's future designs for many years. Its sharp angles and wedge shape could be easily seen in the Maserati Merak
, the Lotus Esprit, and the De Lorean DMC-12
. Powered by a 310 bhp 4.7L V8 engine
driving the rear wheels, 5 speed manual transmission
, and having a fully decked out interior. With a unique dashboard
layout where the steering wheel
and gauge cluster are part of a single console that emerges from the dash, and the steering wheel rotates around the stationary gauges.
The Boomerang was fully registered as a road car, but it was always intended as a one-off show car. It was shown in dozens of places, and after the 1974 auto show in Barcelona
it was sold to a private individual. In 1990, it was shown at the Bagatelle Concours in Paris
, with a new owner and some restoration work had also been done. It made an appearance again in 2000 at the Monterey Historic Automobile Races
.
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro is an Italian automobile designer responsible equally for a stable of supercars and several of the most popular everyday vehicles driven today...
. It was first revealed at the Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
Auto Show in 1971 as a non-functional model, but by the time the 1972 Geneva Auto Show came around the company had worked it into a fully functional vehicle.
The design of the Boomerang would resonate through Giugiaro's future designs for many years. Its sharp angles and wedge shape could be easily seen in the Maserati Merak
Maserati Merak
The Maserati Merak was an Italian sports car introduced in 1972, essentially a junior version of the Maserati Bora. It substituted an all new Maserati designed quad-cam V-6 motor for the Bora's larger V-8, resulting not only in a lower cost, but room for a small backseat and better handling due to...
, the Lotus Esprit, and the De Lorean DMC-12
De Lorean DMC-12
The DeLorean DMC-12 is a sports car originally manufactured in Dunmurry, a suburb west of Belfast, Northern Ireland by John DeLorean's DeLorean Motor Company for the American market in 1981-82. Most commonly known as the DeLorean, it was the only model produced by the company which would go into...
. Powered by a 310 bhp 4.7L V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
driving the rear wheels, 5 speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
, and having a fully decked out interior. With a unique dashboard
Dashboard
A dashboard is a control panel placed in front of the driver of an automobile, housing instrumentation and controls for operation of the vehicle....
layout where the steering wheel
Steering wheel
A steering wheel is a type of steering control in vehicles and vessels ....
and gauge cluster are part of a single console that emerges from the dash, and the steering wheel rotates around the stationary gauges.
The Boomerang was fully registered as a road car, but it was always intended as a one-off show car. It was shown in dozens of places, and after the 1974 auto show in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
it was sold to a private individual. In 1990, it was shown at the Bagatelle Concours in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, with a new owner and some restoration work had also been done. It made an appearance again in 2000 at the Monterey Historic Automobile Races
Monterey Historic Automobile Races
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is an annual event held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Its purpose is to provide an event for historic race cars to compete in. It takes place over the course of one weekend every mid-August. It was first established by Steve Earle in...
.