I’ve had a bookmark in my 1961 Auto-Parade on this page for a while, with the notation “ugly Maserati”. That doesn’t apply to everything from the front wheels back, but that face really is one only a mother could love, or the Shah of Iran. Let’s just say that the transition from the classic Pininfarina-style front end to the new Corvair-inspired flat face and low-set headlights was handled better by some than others. That’s not to disparage an otherwise phenomenal car, and a brutally fast one. Let’s take a closer look, in color.
The 500 is one of the most legendary gran turismos of the post war era, less for its face but but for it’s immense power and 172 mph top speed. Folks were willing to give a car with that kind of performance a bit of grace.
The 500 GT is essentially a 3500 GT with the first road-going application of Maserati’s superb new DOHC V8 engine, designed by Giulio Alfieri to power the Trident’s racing cars, along with new bodywork. When the displacement limit was raised to 4.5 liters, the 3 liter six was struggling to keep up, despite its superb balance and reliability. The 450S was the result, and created a legend.
When the Shah of Iran wanted something more exclusive than the 3500 GT, Maserati enlarged the 4.5 V8 to five liters, detuned to 340 hp with a milder cam, and implanted it in a strengthened version the 3500’s tube chassis. Thirty-four 5000 GTs were ever built, with bodywork by various small coach builders. Only the first two, including the Shah’s, had this body by Touring.
Strictly speaking, it’s not really Corvair-inspired, because it appeared in 1959, the same year as the Corvair. But undoubtedly, the transition to flat grilles, and low set headlights that GM introduced in its 1959 large cars, as well as earlier concept cars, had an unmistakable influence here.
Kind of a mash-up between the ’59 Olds,
and Virgil Exener’s XNR. Except the XNR was also designed in 1959, and built by Ghia. Maybe Ghia was looking at Touring? Unraveling the endless design cribbing is impossible.
But let’s not leave before we look at the better side of the magnificent 5000 GT.
From the side it seems like the designers couldn’t decide which end was going to be the front..
That would look a lot cleaner if the greenhouse were extended back about a foot or so (wouldn’t make a bad looking “shooting brake” either).
Get rid of the protuberance at the front and its not a bad looking car in fact move it back into the hood for a cold air intake its a great looking car but for the front. Now days a Nissan Porcshe or even the top o the range Holden can rattle this things cage but without the Style those old Maseratis have
I totally agree, that would look a lot nicer with that back just a few inches, other than that, the tall wheels and tires give this automobile some real presence, actually a really nice looking piece.
I don’t think it’s bad looking all in all, but the placement of the trident kinda makes the car look like a “Bob Hope Edition.”
Hmmmm. A car with a nose ring.
early punk rock edition?
It takes some getting used to, but I kinda got used to the front end. Wish we could read about how it handles.
The Maserati Aardvark? I think I like it…
Add the ’61 DeSoto’s sinus condition to the mashup.
Solves the question of why DeSoto evapotrated good grief.
Final (half-) year for DeSoto. It’s obviously the designers weren’t trying. Just do something different on the nose of a ’60 Chrysler.
This is actually one of the better looking of the 5000 GTs. I think this one is colloquially known as the radiogram.
This 5000 gt “the shahs” was actually bought and sold her in toledo ohio. Infact it sat in Import automotives for years. Sold it in 1999. Very beautiful car. Wishing i didn’t sell it…..
What’s Italian for Thunderbird?
tonnerre oiseau – literal translation – Google claims that the French for “Thunderbird” is… Thunderbird.
That’s very strange because tonnerre and oiseau are the French words for thunder and bird.
In Italian it’s probably “uccello del tuono”, but Don A. must confirm that…
Here’s an Aprilia Tuono, a thunder bike.
Hey, that should be “oiseau tonerre”, And what about “donnervogel”? AGB
Google would be correct. Proper names remain the same.
It reminds me of the Edsel.
+ 1
Someone has said “No-one Copies the French” when it comes to auto design, but one could argue the French Citroen folk had their eye on Maserati before the SM era. This front end treatment does not look all that different from a Citroen Ami. Of course Citroen then upped the ante with their reverse raked rear window on the Ami along with more than a few other design quirks.
The Maserati trident on this thing reminds me of the crown on the Wagon Queen Family Truckster.
Or how about the Canadian-market 1961 Monarch Richelieu?
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/canada-day-classics-canadian-ford-branding-history/
Quite possibly the finest automobile ever named after a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.
It reminds me of a tapir
When a ’59 Olds is the good looking one…
The contellmporary Lamborghini GT 350 also had a probocis that was somewhat aesthetically challenged.
It’s very Packard Hawk but better looking
A simple google image search shows 8 different body styles – not all of which were better looking!
Slightly ironic considering the 3500GT was a beautifully executed example of restrained elegance. Or maybe it was more of a “and now for something completely different…” piece.
It’s actually a very good looking car other then the grill/center intake arrangement.