Quattro-Porte - Four Door Sport Saloons » 1960-1965

Maserati Quattroporte I Series 1

Roel Polllen — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 07:30:19 +0000

Maserati Quattroporte I Series 1
Photograph by Michael Ward – Auto Italia Magazine http://www.auto-italia.co.uk

At the beginning of the 60′s, Maserati started development of a new kind of car: a 4-door sportscar in line with the newly introduced Facel Vega Excellence and Lagonda Rapide. There was a new market for this type of automobiles because of the rise of motorways throughout Europe. The Quattroporte is acknowledged as the first car specifically designed for autobahn usage. The speed came from a new Maserati 4100 cc powerplant (a detuned race-engine) and Frua designed the handsome and sleek body. The Quattroporte I was launched at the 1963 Turin Motorshow and Maserati claimed a top speed of 230 kilometers per hour, a huge acchievement in that year for such a car.

Technical specification Maserati Quattroporte I Series 1:

Engine: Maserati 4,1 Liter V8

Transmission: 3-speed automatic or 5-speed ZF manual

Power: 256HP

Wheelbase: 275 cm (108 in)

Length: 500 cm (200 in)

Width: 169 cm (67 in)

Height: 152.5 cm (60 in)

Weight: 1,650 kg (3,600 lb)

Top speed: 230 KM/h (143 MPH)

0-100 KM/h: 8 seconds

(about 230 of 1st series)

Designer: Pietro Frua

Lagonda Rapide

Roel Polllen — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:30:54 +0000

Lagonda Rapide
The Lagonda Rapide was introduced in 1961, years before the first Maserati Quattroporte. If you dismiss the Facel Vega Excellence, you could acknowledge the Rapide as the first real Quattro-porte. It had a potent twin cam 4.0 Liter Six cylinder engine with a -for that time- massive 236HP. The same engine would later also been used in the Aston Martin DB5. The idea for a fast four door saloon came from David Brown of Aston Martin Motor Cars. He used the Lagonda name for this very expensive car, an older brand that he wanted to revive after he bought it in 1948. The body was designed by Touring of Milan which was fixed to a Superlaggera frame and steel chassis. Interior was luxurous with posh leather and walnut dashboard, of course with all conceivable luxury as rich buyer could expect. In a way the Italian-looking car resembles Maserati’s Quattroporte, but wasn’t nearly the same success as that sports saloon. After only 55 Rapides were build, production seized in 1964.

Technical specification Lagonda Rapide:

Engine: 4.0 L straight-6

Transmission: 3-speed automatic

Power: 236HP

Wheelbase: 290 cm (114 in)

Length: 497 cm (195.5 in)

Width: 177 cm (69.6 in)

Height: 142 cm (56 in)

Weight: 1,715 kg (3,781 lb)

Top speed: 210 KM/h (130 MPH)

0-100 KM/h: 8.9 seconds

Production number: 55

Designer: Touring Turin

Facel Vega Excellence Series 1

Roel Polllen — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 07:30:48 +0000

Facel Vega Excellence Series 1
Although the Quattroporte I is generally seen as the mother of all fast four door saloons, it was preceded by the Lagonda Rapide and even earlier this Facel Vega Excellence. Launched already at the 1956 Paris Motor Show, the looks were very European/French, but with a notable hint of Fifties and Sixties American styling such as the elegant tailfins. A distinctive and stylish feature of the car were the pilarless doors with suicide doors at the back; an unusual construction for a four door car. Apparently when opened all at once, the doors couldn’t be closed again without jacking the sagged Excellence in order to straighten out the car again. The performance was staggering starting in the first series (EX) with a Chrysler 6.4 Liter HEMI-engine with none less than 360HP. Tests at that time (1958!) report a massive 140MPH topspeed. Later the engine was replaced by the Chrysler ‘Wedge’ 5.9 Liter and an equal number of BHP. 95% of the total production were series 1 cars produced until 1961, after which the 2nd Series EX2 model was presented. Due to the gigantic price of the Excellence (same price as 4 Citroen DS or 12 Renault Dauphines), it got adopted by some very famous and rich owners such as Ava Gardner and several Arabic Royalties.

Technical specification Facel Vega Excellence Series 1:

Engine: Chrysler V8 6.4 and later 5.9 Liter

Transmission: 4 speed manual by Pont-à-Mousson or 3-speed automatic Chrysler Torqueflite

Power: 360HP

Wheelbase: 317 cm (125 in)

Length: 524 cm (206 in)

Width: 183 cm (72 in)

Height: 138 cm (54 in)

Weight: 1,920 kg (4,200 lb)

Top speed: 225 KM/h (140 MPH)

estimate

Production number: 156 (148 of which EX/EX1)

Designer: Jean Daninos

Facel Vega Excellence Series 2

Roel Polllen — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 09:50:00 +0000

Facel Vega Excellence Series 2
In 1961 the Excellence got it’s first and only considerable facelift in which the car was modernised according to the periods fashion. One can argue whether this was for the best. Again the engine was replaced with another Chrysler version: the 6.3 Liter V8 with a staggering 390HP. Besides some technical updates, there were significant cosmetical updates as the changed rear without the distinct tailfins and removal of the typical Facel Vega panoramic windshield. Although the EX2 was offered from 1961 to 1964, only eight cars have been sold until the demise of the Facel Vega Company.

Technical specification Facel Vega Excellence Series 2:

Engine: Chrysler V8 6.3 Liter

Transmission: 4 speed manual by Pont-à-Mousson or 3-speed automatic Chrysler Torqueflite

Power: 390HP

Wheelbase: 318 cm (125 in)