Maserati Mexico
Encyclopedia
The Vignale Maserati Mexico (Tipo 112) body was first used on a 5000GT chassis which an important Mexican customer had shipped to Italy for repair after crashing it. Thereafter the model became known as the Mexico. By coincidence, the Cooper-Maserati win in the Mexican Grand Prix occurred the following year. It made an appearance at the Vignale
stand at the Salon di Torino in 1965 and was so well received that Maserati immediately made plans to put a version into limited production. A year later the production model debuted at the Paris Motor Show.
Originally powered by a 4.7 Litre V8 that produced 290 bhp, the car managed to turn out a top speed between 240–250 km/h (150-156 mph). In 1969, however, contrary to Maserati tradition, the Mexico was also made available with a 'smaller' engine. This time the 4.2-litre V8 engine that powered the original Quattroporte.
Apart from the smaller engine option the Mexico underwent few changes during its lifetime. Its luxurious interior included a rich leather seating for four adults, electric windows, wooden dashboard and air conditioniong as standard. Automatic transmission, power steering and a radio were available as optional extras. The 4.7-litre version was fitted with 650 x 15" Boranni chrome wire wheels and the 4.2-litre version with 'disc' wheels.
The Mexico was the first production Maserati to be fitted with servo assisted ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels.
In May 1965, under commission from the German concessionaire Auto Koenig for their client, Herr Rupertzhoven, Maserati built a 'Mexico' similar to Vignale's original prototype design but was the work of Frua
. Appearing like a 4-seat Mistral
and built on the same tubular chassis as the 3500GT (2600 mm wheelbase), this prototype 'Mexico' was fitted with the Mistral's six cylinder 3.7-litre Lucas fuel injected engine. It was finished in Oro Longchamps with a black leather interior. Its dashboard came from the Quattroporte.
Vignale
Vignale was an Italian automobile coachbuilder company. Carrozzeria Alfredo Vignale was established in 1948 at Via Cigliano, Turin by Alfredo Vignale in Grugliasco, near Turin ....
stand at the Salon di Torino in 1965 and was so well received that Maserati immediately made plans to put a version into limited production. A year later the production model debuted at the Paris Motor Show.
Originally powered by a 4.7 Litre V8 that produced 290 bhp, the car managed to turn out a top speed between 240–250 km/h (150-156 mph). In 1969, however, contrary to Maserati tradition, the Mexico was also made available with a 'smaller' engine. This time the 4.2-litre V8 engine that powered the original Quattroporte.
Apart from the smaller engine option the Mexico underwent few changes during its lifetime. Its luxurious interior included a rich leather seating for four adults, electric windows, wooden dashboard and air conditioniong as standard. Automatic transmission, power steering and a radio were available as optional extras. The 4.7-litre version was fitted with 650 x 15" Boranni chrome wire wheels and the 4.2-litre version with 'disc' wheels.
The Mexico was the first production Maserati to be fitted with servo assisted ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels.
In May 1965, under commission from the German concessionaire Auto Koenig for their client, Herr Rupertzhoven, Maserati built a 'Mexico' similar to Vignale's original prototype design but was the work of Frua
Pietro Frua
Pietro Frua was one of the leading Italian coachbuilders and car designers during the 1950s and 1960s.-Early years:...
. Appearing like a 4-seat Mistral
Maserati Mistral
The Maserati Mistral , named after a cold northerly wind of southern France, was the successor to the iconic 3500 GT, it was also the first in a series of classic Maseratis to be given the name of a wind. It was offered both in Coupe and Spyder form...
and built on the same tubular chassis as the 3500GT (2600 mm wheelbase), this prototype 'Mexico' was fitted with the Mistral's six cylinder 3.7-litre Lucas fuel injected engine. It was finished in Oro Longchamps with a black leather interior. Its dashboard came from the Quattroporte.