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Maserati Boomerang Turns 50

by | Mar 10, 2022 | 0 comments

Maserati Boomerang Turns 50
Maser Boomerang concept

The 1972 Maserati Boomerang concept conveyed an image of penetration, power and speed. (Photos courtesy of Maserati)

The Maserati Boomerang concept defined Maserati as a brand of iconic and avant-garde cars that  pioneered technology and style

BY MARK MAYNARD

A half century has passed since the Maserati Boomerang debuted at the Geneva Motor Show on March 9, 1972. It was a one-off concept created by the renowned Giorgetto Giugiaro and produced by Italdesign. Only one car was ever produced.

The Maserati Boomerang concept made an appearance at the 1971 Turin Motor Show.  And it was presented at the Geneva motor show in 1972 as a registered vehicle that ran perfectly, Maserati said in a release.

Italdesign started with the Maserati Bora for the Boomerang’s chassis and mechanics. The powertrain was a rear-mounted, 90-degree 4.7-liter V-8 engine. Channeled through a five-speed ZF manual gearbox, the 310-hp Bora would have a top speed of almost 186 mph (300 km/h).

A red Maserati Bora

The Maserati Bora.

The two-seat Maserati Boomerang sports coupé never went into production. But its stylistic legacy continued Giugiaro’s later creations. And it was inspiration for other automakers in Europe and the United States.

The influence of the Boomerang’s wedge shape can be seen in the 1973 Audi Asso di Picche concept, 1973 VW Passat Mk1, 1974 VW Golf Mk1, 1976 Lotus Esprit and Medici II show car, 1979 Lancia Delta and Maserati Quattroporte III, and 1976 designed and 1981 launched DeLorean.

Maserati Boomerang side view

The Maserati Bora was used for the Boomerang’s foundation.

Design Elements

The originality of the Maserati Boomerang was in its wedge shape and bold lines. The stance conveyed an image of penetration, power, and speed.

Stylistically, a horizontal line divided the Boomerang in two with a sloping windscreen and a panoramic sunroof. The original windows of the doors were divided by a metal strip. And the retractable square headlamps stood out, with horizontal lights in the rear.

A head-on view of the Boomerage

The Boomerang’s dashboard instruments were built into the spokeless steering wheel and the wheel rotated around the stationary gauges.

The interior was extremely modern and introduced fresh ideas. For example, the dashboard instruments were built into the spokeless steering wheel, and the seats were positioned very low.

The one production version of the Boomerang made other appearances in international competitions. It would change hands between various owners, and ended up as the feature car in a number of auctions; it was even used in commercials.

Considered by many to be a work of art, the Maserati Boomerang was revolutionary and influenced the designs of successive cars. It continued to define Maserati as a brand capable of creating unique automotive concepts, iconic and avant-garde cars that acted as pioneers of technology and style.

The Maserati MC20 supercar.

The Maserati MC20 supercar.

The Future for Maserati

Now more than ever, Maserati is unique for its design and innovation. It is moving forward with the new Grecale SUV and the 621-hp, MC20 super sports car. The 2022 MC20 debuts Maserati’s in-house designed new 3.0-liter V-6 Nettuno engine  that applies F1 technology for a road car. MC20 pricing starts at $212,000.

The Maserati Grecale prototype in camouflage.

Details for the Maserati Grecale small SUV will be released March 22.

1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala Sport Coupe

by | Jan 4, 2022 | 0 comments

1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala Sport Coupe
1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala Sport Coupe.

The 1958 Impala was the top model for the Chevrolet Bel Air line of hardtops and convertibles. (Photos from GM Media Archive)

BY MARK MAYNARD

In the recession year of 1958, GM promoted its 50th year of production. In tribute, the company introduced anniversary models for each brand: Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Chevrolet.

According to the Impala’s Wikipedia page, the 1958 models shared a common appearance on the top models for each brand: the Cadillac Eldorado Seville, Buick Limited Riviera, Oldsmobile Starfire 98, Pontiac Bonneville Catalina, and the Chevrolet Bel Air Impala.

“The 1958 Impala was the top model for the Bel Air line of hardtops and convertibles.

“From the windshield pillars rearward, the 1958 Bel Air Impala differed structurally from the lower-priced Chevrolet models. Hardtops had a slightly shorter greenhouse and a longer rear deck.

“The wheelbase of the Impala was longer than the lower-priced models, although the overall length was identical. Interiors held a two-spoke steering wheel and color-keyed door panels with brushed aluminum trim. No other series included a convertible.

The 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala

The 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala helped Chevrolet regain the No. 1 production spot in this recession year.

“The 1958 Chevrolet models were longer, lower, and wider than their predecessors. And this was the first model year for dual headlamps.

“Deeply sculptured rear fenders replaced the tailfins of the 1957. In addition, impalas had three taillights on each side, while lesser models had two and wagons just one.

Impalas included crossed-flag insignias above the side moldings, bright rocker moldings, and dummy rear-fender scoops.

The 1959 Chevrolet Impala logo and nameplate

The Chevrolet Impala was identified by the image of a leaping African antelope in some form or another since its debut in 1958.

Chevrolet Impala Powertrains

A 283 cubic-inch V-8 was standard. Its power ratings ranged from 185 to 230 horsepower. When upgraded with Rochester Ramjet fuel injection, power output increased to 250 hp.

Two versions of Chevrolet’s first big-block 348-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) V-8 were optional:

  • A single four-barrel carburetor, producing 250;
  • Three two-barrel carburetors, 280 hp.

55,989 Impala convertibles and 125,480 coupes were built, representing 15 percent of Chevrolet production. In addition, the 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala helped Chevrolet regain the number-one production spot in this recession year.

1960 Chrysler Windsor

by | Dec 1, 2021 | 0 comments

1960 Chrysler Windsor

In 1959, Chrysler advertised the Windsor’s new wedge-head “B” engines as ‘Golden Lions’ and the cars as ‘Lion Hearted’

A print ad for the 1960 Chrysler sedan in a wintry landscape

 

BY MARK MAYNARD

The full-size Chrysler Windsor sedan was in production from 1939 through to 1961 in the U.S. and in Canada until 1966.

In 1959, Chrysler started to advertise the Windsor’s new wedge-head “B” engines as “Golden Lions” and the cars as “Lion Hearted,” according to Wikipedia.

“The RB 383-cubic-inch V8 produced 305 hp with a twin-barrel carburetor. Lions were used in the advertising, and the cars had lion emblems on the front doors and on the cylinder heads.

“In 1960, all Chrysler cars got a unibody frame. A new parking brake was also used, and the brakes on the Windsor were 11-inch drums. Air conditioning was a $510 option.

At nearly 18 feet long and 79.4 inches wide, the Windsor rode on a long wheelbase of 122 inches.

Windsor By the Numbers

In a report by ConceptCarz.com,  the “Golden Lions” was part of Chrysler’s advertising campaign for the new wedge-head “B” engines. Introduced the previous year, the cars were known as “Lion Hearted.”

“The RB 383 cubic-inch V8 had five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, a Carter two-barrel carburetor, a cast-iron block, and delivered just over 300 horsepower.

“The Canadian-built Windsors were powered by the ‘Low Block’ 361 cubic-inch engines from the U.S.-built DeSotos and Dodges. Instead of the ‘Golden Lion’ medallion, they received three golden crests on the front doors.

Dual headlamps were standard, and the Flitesweep deck lid, stone shields, and sill moldings were optional equipment.

1960 Windsor Pricing

“Windsor body styles included a hardtop coupe priced at $3,280, a hardtop sedan at $3,345, a sedan at $3,195, and a convertible at $3,625. A six-passenger station wagon was $3,735, and the nine-passenger version listed for $3,815.

“The most popular body style was the sedan with 25,152 examples built, followed by 6,496 of the hardtop coupe, and 5,897 of the hardtop sedan.

“The convertibles and station wagons were exclusive, with 1,467 of the convertible, 1,120 of the six-passenger wagon, and 1,026 of the nine-passenger wagon constructed.”

1967 Lamborghini Marzal Concept

by | Sep 30, 2021 | 0 comments

1967 Lamborghini Marzal Concept

The 1967 Lamborghini Marzal concept car is distinctive for its expansive glass roof, spanning 48.4 square feet

The 1967 Marzal with doors open

The four-seat Lamborghini Marzal was created as a concept for a true four-seat grand-tourer. (Photos courtesy of Lamborghini)

 

BY MARK MAYNARD

The 1967 Lamborghini Marzal was a one-off show car that became a worldwide icon of style and design. The ultramodern four-seat Marzal was designed by Marcello Gandini for Carrozzeria Bertone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gruppo_Bertone
Among its many special design elements were:

  • An interior upholstered in silver-colored leather;
  • A hexagonal central design theme. The geometric shape was repeated in the dashboard, the rear window, and in the console cut-out;
  • 6 narrow S.E.V. Marchal headlamps in the thin, wedge-shaped nose;
  • The extensive glass surface covers 4.5 square meters, reaching from the gullwing doors to the roof.

Lamborghini calls the Marzal “a fully operational show car with the largest glass surface in history.”

The hexagonal design theme.

The central design theme for the Marzal centered around the hexagon.

4 Seat Grand Tourer

Lamborghini president Ferruccio Lamborghini had the Marzal created as a concept for a true four-seat grand touring car. In his lineup already were the 400GT 2+2 and the Miura.

The Marzal remained a one-off, though the general shape and many of the ideas would later be used in the Lamborghini Espada.
According to the Marzal page in Wikipedia, Ferruccio Lamborghini initially viewed the creation of the Marzal as advertising rather than a production model.

“The Marzal was not developed as a production car. If you present a car like the Marzal at automobile shows such as Geneva, Turin, and Frankfurt, all the magazines report on the first page about it. You would rather spend 100 million lire for building such an automobile which is still less expensive than paying for all the advertising. That would cost almost a billion lire. So it compensates in any case to build such a throwaway car.”

The silver leather interior

The Marzal interior is entirely upholstered in silver-colored leather.

Lamborghini Marzal Specifications

The rear-engine and rear-wheel-drive Marzal was a relative lightweight at 2,960 pounds on a 103.1-inch wheelbase. It was 14.6 feet long (175.2 inches) and stood 43.3 inches tall by 66.9 inches wide. The concept car shared a chassis, suspension, steering, and brakes with the Miura.

The Marzal is powered by half of the Lamborghini 4.0-liter V-12 engine. The 175-horsepower, 2.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine produced peak torque of 132 foot-pounds at 4,600 rpm. Top speed was estimated at 118 miles per hour (190 kmh).

The Marzal from behind

Lamborghini President Ferruccio Lamborghini had the Marzal created as a concept for a true four-seat grand touring car.

Lamborghini Marzal History

The Lamborghini Marzal made its public debut at the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix. Prince Rainier III, accompanied by his wife, Princess Grace, drove the car on his traditional parade lap before the start of the race.

The car made a second public appearance at the 1996 Concorso Italiano in Monterey, Calif.,  in honor of Carrozzeria Bertone. The Bertone-designed Lamborghini Athon concept was also exhibited at the ’96 Concorso Italiano.

Later the Athon was driven by Prince Albert II during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Historic Grand Prix of Monaco.

The Marzal had been maintained in the Bertone Design Study Museum until it closed in 2014.  The Marzal was then sold at RM Sotheby’s Villa d’Este auction on May 21, 2011, for $1,750,449.96 (1,512,000 Euros) including buyer’s premium.

The Marzal on the track in 1967

The Lamborghini Marzal at the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix.

Lamborghini Marzal Lap of Honor

On May 7, 1967, shortly before the Monte Carlo Formula 1 Grand Prix, His Serene Highness Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, completed the lap of honor on the track in a legendary car: the Lamborghini Marzal. Its glazed gullwing doors provided an almost unimpeded view of the interior and the silver leather upholstery.

Princess Grace sat in the passenger seat, next to Prince Rainier. Photos of the couple in the Marzal traveled all around the world, turning this unique car into a legend.

Fifty-one years since its first track appearance, the Lamborghini Marzal was displayed at the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique. Lamborghini Polo Storico, celebrating its history with several laps on the same roads as in 1967.

On display at the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix historics.

The Lamborghini Marzal and Espada as displayed at the 2018 Grand Prix of Monaco.

1966 Dodge Charger — “Leader of the Dodge Rebellion”

by | Aug 9, 2021 | 0 comments

1966 Dodge Charger — “Leader of the Dodge Rebellion”

The Dodge Charger debuted in 1966 as a midsize sporty car that would compete with the Rambler Marlin, Ford Mustang, and Plymouth Barracuda

A Hemi V8 and transmission on a display stand 1966 Dodge Charger

The first generation 1966 Dodge Charger introduced a fastback roofline and pot-metal “electric shaver” grille. (Photography courtesy of Stellantis)

 

BY MARK MAYNARD

During the early-1950s, automakers were exploring new ideas in the personal luxury and specialty cars.A 1966 print ad for the Dodge Charger

The Hemi engine package included heavy-duty suspension, four-ply nylon Blue Streak tires, and “big” 11-inch brakes. According to Wikipedia, Chrysler had been slow to enter the specialty car market, but tapped its Dodge Division to enter the marketplace. Its first offering would be a midsize B-bodied Dodge Charger. It would fit between the “pony car” Ford Mustang and “personal luxury Ford Thunderbird.

The design focus was to create a fastback look while sharing as much existing company hardware as possible. The result was the Coronet-based Charger. The exterior styling was, in general, a departure from Dodge’s mainstream cars. Introduced in mid-1966, the Charger would compete with the Rambler Marlin, Ford Mustang, and Plymouth Barracuda.

The 1965 Charger concept

The 1965 Dodge Charger II Concept created the desired fastback look shared much existing company hardware.

The interior design of the Charger was different from all other cars, according to the Wiki page. It debuted a full-length center console and “all bucket seating” front and rear. Also an innovation, the rear pseudo-buckets could be folded to create more cargo space through the enormous rear hatch.

The Hemi Halo

The Charger wasn’t intended to compete head-to-head in performance with pony cars but was available with Chrysler’s famed 426 Hemi V8.
On Jan. 1, 1966, The 1966 Charger had its big public debut at the Rose Bowl as the new “Leader of the Dodge Rebellion.” The Charger’s debut was also followed midyear by a new street version of the 426 cubic-inch, 7.0-liter Chrysler Hemi engine.

The Charger wasn’t intended to compete head-to-head in performance with pony cars but was available with Chrysler’s famed 426 Hemi V8.

With the Charger, Dodge had a new model to build a performance image with this engine.

The Charger was designed by Carl “CAM” Cameron and introduced a fastback roofline and pot-metal “electric shaver” grille. Its fully rotating headlights were a feature not seen on a Chrysler product since the 1942 DeSoto. The fastback design ended over a full-width six-lamp taillight in the rear with chromed and wide-spaced “C H A R G E R” lettering.

Dodge Charger Powertrains

According to the Wiki report, Charger powertrains for 1966 consisted of V-8s with three choices of transmission.

Four engines were offered:

  • 318 cubic-inch 5.2-liter with a two-barrel carburetor for the base-model Charger;
  • 361-cubic-inch, 5.9-liter two-barrel;
  • 383 cubic-inch, 6.3-liter with a four-barrel carburetor;
  • And the new 426 Street Hemi. Only 468 Chargers were built with the 426.

A cutaway illustration of the Hemi V8

The transmissions for the 1966 Charger:

  • Three-speed steering-column mounted manual with the base engine,
  • Console-mounted four-speed manual;
  • Three-speed automatic.

Total 196 Dodge Charger production came to 37,344 units for the mid-model year introduction.

1959 Ford Country Squire with Push Button’ Station Wagon Living’ equipment

by | Jul 23, 2021 | 0 comments

1959 Ford Country Squire with Push Button’ Station Wagon Living’ equipment

The Country Squire wagon concept packaged the car-camping essentials, including the boat and kitchen sink

The Country Squire concept packaged such camping essentials as a car-top tent with a double bed, an electric refrigerator, and a shower. (Ford)

BY MARK MAYNARD

Ford Motor cast a line for 1959 to test the waters of consumer interest for a car-camping concept based on a 1959 Ford Country Squire. The rig would provide push-button station wagon living with all the gear, including the kitchen sink.

According to Wikipedia, the U.S. and the world were emerging from the “Recession of 1958.”  And Ford marketers might have felt that consumers were ready to get out and enjoy the freedom of car camping.

That might have been so, but not so much for this outrageously sophisticated concept. I came across these two photos at the Ford media site, but there were no other details.

In this era before the modern SUV, the big Ford Squire wagon was a good starting place. Built on a bigger platform for 1959, the Country Squire body was 5 inches longer and the new 118-inch wheelbase was 2 inches longer than the 1958 model. In addition, the second and third rows were re-engineered to fold flat.

The 1959 Ford Country Squire wagon concept with Push Button ‘Station Wagon Living’ equipment and rooftop boat

The rooftop boat neatly contained the concept’s camping essentials. (Ford)

Country Squire Concept

An online search for information on this concept car brought up Shorpy.com, an American historical photo archive.

Shorpy has a news item from the Washington Post of July 3, 1958, highlighting the details.

“Travelers and sportsmen who would like to park their cars after a day’s drive and set up camp by pushing a few magic buttons may be able one day to do just that.

“With the ‘pushbutton camper,’ a specially equipped experimental Ford station wagon, a traveling couple could pull into a parking area, lower a boat from the roof top, pitch their tent and set up a kitchen unit protected by an overhead awning — almost without getting out of the car.

“One push button lifts the boat and swings it over the side so it can be easily removed for launching. A car-top tent, containing a full-sized double bed, already made up and equipped with a reading lamp, is erected by another button.

“After the tailgate is opened, a third button slides out the compact kitchen unit complete with an electric refrigerator and two-burner stove, a work table and meat cutting block, and a sink with hot and cold running water.

“The roof compartment also houses a shower head, complete with curtain. Ford has no definite plans for mass producing such a vehicle.

“If consumer demand warranted it, a company official said, the automatic equipment could be produced by independent suppliers and installed by a Ford dealer.”

‘Louie Mattar’s Fabulous Car’

The Country Squire wagon concept was a feat of engineering finesse, but it was not the first such example.

I give that credit to Louie Mattar who upfitted a 1947 Cadillac with all the comforts of home. Then, in 1952, he and two other men established a cross-country endurance record. They drove the Cadillac from San Diego to New York and back without stopping. Their trip totaled 6,320 miles and required refueling from a moving gas truck three times.

“Louie Mattar’s Fabulous Car” is on view at the San Diego Automotive Museum.