Tag: Classic Cars

Rare Rides: A 1971 Maserati Quattroporte Prototype, the King’s Sedan

<img data-attachment-id=”1774900″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan/1971-maserati-quattroporte-3/” data-orig-file=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1971-Maserati-Quattroporte-3.png” data-orig-size=”1920,1080″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”0″,”credit”:””,”camera”:””,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”0″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”0″,”iso”:”0″,”shutter_speed”:”0″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”0″}” data-image-title=”1971 Maserati Quattroporte 3″ data-image-description=”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zJqTZPCsgQ

” data-medium-file=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-6.png” data-large-file=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan.png” class=”aligncenter wp-image-1774900 size-large” src=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan.png” alt width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan.png 610w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-5.png 75w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-6.png 450w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-7.png 768w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-8.png 120w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-9.png 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>Today’s Rare Ride was one of just two finished examples of the ill-fated second generation Maserati Quattroporte. Maserati envisioned a promising future for their large luxury sedan, but the company’s corporate parentage at the time had other (worse) ideas.

And this very car was fit for a king.

Maserati produced its first-generation Quattroporte from 1963 to 1969, a very early example of a brand new class of car: the high-performance grand touring sedan. With a large engine at the front and lots of leather in the middle, it was one of three Sixties sedans from Europe able to meet a 200 kph (124 mph) top speed.

<img data-attachment-id=”1774898″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan/1971-maserati-quattroporte-4/” data-orig-file=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1971-Maserati-Quattroporte-4.png” data-orig-size=”1920,1080″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”0″,”credit”:””,”camera”:””,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”0″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”0″,”iso”:”0″,”shutter_speed”:”0″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”0″}” data-image-title=”1971 Maserati Quattroporte 4″ data-image-description=”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zJqTZPCsgQ

” data-medium-file=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-11.png” data-large-file=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-1.png” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1774898″ src=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-1.png” alt width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-1.png 610w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-10.png 75w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-11.png 450w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-12.png 768w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-13.png 120w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-14.png 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>By the end of the Sixties, the original Quattroporte styling was looking fairly dated. Karim Aga Khan wanted a fresher Quattroporte and ordered up a bespoke sedan. Maserati set to work and built a new four-door on the Indy’s platform. Exterior design was handed to Frua, as the first-gen model was penned by Pietro himself. The new Quattroporte used Maserati’s 4.9-liter V8, good for 296 horsepower. Said power traveled to the rear wheels via an unspecified automatic transmission.

<img data-attachment-id=”1774896″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan/1971-maserati-quattroporte-5/” data-orig-file=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1971-Maserati-Quattroporte-5.png” data-orig-size=”1920,1080″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”0″,”credit”:””,”camera”:””,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”0″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”0″,”iso”:”0″,”shutter_speed”:”0″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”0″}” data-image-title=”1971 Maserati Quattroporte 5″ data-image-description=”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zJqTZPCsgQ

” data-medium-file=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-16.png” data-large-file=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-2.png” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1774896″ src=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-2.png” alt width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-2.png 610w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-15.png 75w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-16.png 450w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-17.png 768w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-18.png 120w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-19.png 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>The car was production-ready by 1971 and was displayed that year at the Paris Motor Show. Maserati knew there was a market for the new Quattroporte, and sealed its production fate with a new chassis code: AM121. But Maserati’s product plans were no longer their own to dictate, as the company’s ownership had passed from the Orsi family to Citroën in 1968.

<img data-attachment-id=”1774904″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan/1971-maserati-quattroporte-2/” data-orig-file=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1971-Maserati-Quattroporte-2.png” data-orig-size=”1920,1080″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”0″,”credit”:””,”camera”:””,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”0″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”0″,”iso”:”0″,”shutter_speed”:”0″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”0″}” data-image-title=”1971 Maserati Quattroporte 2″ data-image-description=”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zJqTZPCsgQ

” data-medium-file=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-21.png” data-large-file=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-3.png” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1774904″ src=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-3.png” alt width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-3.png 610w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-20.png 75w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-21.png 450w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-22.png 768w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-23.png 120w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-24.png 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>Citroën took a look at the very Italian and ready-to-go AM121, and said “Mais non, you will not build this car.” The French brass pressed Maserati to move on in a different direction with Quattroporte – a front-drive direction. The basis for the newly-ordered Quattroporte II (AM123) would be Citroën’s own SM luxury coupe. That one was a big flop but we’ll discuss it in another Rare Rides.

<img data-attachment-id=”1774906″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan/1971-maserati-quattroporte/” data-orig-file=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1971-Maserati-Quattroporte.png” data-orig-size=”1645,1013″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”0″,”credit”:””,”camera”:””,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”0″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”0″,”iso”:”0″,”shutter_speed”:”0″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”0″}” data-image-title=”1971 Maserati Quattroporte” data-image-description=”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zJqTZPCsgQ

” data-medium-file=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-26.png” data-large-file=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-4.png” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1774906″ src=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-4.png” alt width=”610″ height=”376″ srcset=”http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-4.png 610w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-25.png 75w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-26.png 450w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-27.png 768w, http://greatoldtrucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/rare-rides-a-1971-maserati-quattroporte-prototype-the-kings-sedan-28.png 120w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>In the end, only two examples of the AM121 Quattroporte were finished. Aga Khan received his (chassis number 004) in 1974. The other finished example was chassis number 002, completed in 1971 and retained by Frua. Frua sold it fairly quickly to the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I. The king’s blue over tan AM121 goes to auction in November at Le Castellet, wherever that is.

Note: Images in this article are of the later 004 chassis, as they were the only ones publicly available for use.

[Images: YouTube]

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Rare Rides: The 1979 Renha Formigão, Rear-engine and Beetle Adjacent

Not long ago, Rare Rides featured the Gurgel XEF, a Brazilian microcar of luxurious intent that was styled like a contemporary Mercedes-Benz, and based on a Volkswagen. Today’s Rare Ride is a very different Brazilian take on the same basic bones.

Say hello to the Renha Formigão.

Renha was short for Renha Indústria e Comércio de Veículos, which in English meant Renha Industry and Commerce of Vehicles. Founded in Rio de Janeiro, the company was the creation of Paulo Sérgio Renha. Renha was a powerboat racing enthusiast and held a speed record in the Atlantic for a crossing from Santos to Rio de Janeiro.

Renha previously designed some buggies and cars for other Brazilian firms and decided to found his own car company in 1977. The firm’s original product was a trike with a Volkswagen engine. The initial iteration of the trike faced legislative hurdles, as it occupied a vehicle class not yet recognized by the Brazilian government. Renha revised the trike after its initial debut and added more power and different bodywork, and was able to get it past legalization. It was sold as a kit or a complete bike.

The next year Renha had more ambitious ideas and launched the Formigão. The very small pickup truck body was attached directly to a Volkswagen Beetle chassis. It used a 1.6-liter gas/ethanol engine. Renha created his own body but made no mechanical changes underneath.

Said body was designed in fiberglass, focused on utility, and was shaped mostly by a ruler. Renha got some headlamps from a Fiat 127 to complete the square look. The pickup bed could hold up to 1,433 pounds, and its size capacity was about 25 cubic feet.

The bed capacity was not as utilitarian as one would hope, however. Volkswagen would not supply the flat design 1.6 from its second-generation Bus to outside companies, so Renha had to make do with the Beetle’s engine in its truck. As a result, there was a pronounced rectangular elevation in the bed.

Inside, buyers found three-point seatbelts and rode along with the spare tire and battery that resided behind the seats. A luxury trim was also available which offered upgraded alloy wheels, leather seats that reclined, and a useful tachometer.

Formigão remained in production for a short while, as in 1980 Paulo Renha moved on to a newly founded company called Emis and produced his trike there. Formigão was reborn in 1986 as the Coyote, after the company obtained rights from Renha. By that time, Mr. Renha had moved back into his real passion – boats – and started a ship-building firm.

Today’s Rare Ride is a 1979 Formigão from near the conclusion of initial production. With alloy wheels, it’s most likely the upscale luxury model. From the photos, it seems the engine bump issue in the bed was fixed by a later owner, or by Renha later in production. This tiny truck is yours for $14,000.

[Images: Renha]

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