Quattroporte III 4.2 - 1979 to 1981
The bestseller among classic Maserati GT cars, with 2,141 made in 14 years. Dubbed >the Italian Rolls-Royce< for its opulent interior trim. Styled by Italdesign, built at Innocenti in Milan. Launched in November 1976 as the >4porte< with 4.2-litre-V8 of 255 (later 246 hp) and 5-speed manual gearbox. From 1981 exclusively with 4.9-litre-V8 of 270/282 hp and optional 3-speed automatic.
Royale version from late 1986 with high-compression engine of 300 hp. Top speed from 215 to 230 kph (134 to 144 mph) despite a net weight of 2,080 kg. Chassis design shared with the Kyalami, DeTomaso Longchamp and Deauville. Rear suspensions mounted in a subframe. Electrics by Bosch of Germany. First owners include Italian president Sandro Pertini and the Vatican, tenor Luciano Pavarotti and publisher Malcolm Forbes as well as the Royal households of Maroc, Jordania and the Brunei.
Technical data
| 0-60 mph | |
| Bodywork | four-door saloon seating five |
| Bore and stroke | 88x85 mm |
| Brakes | ventilated discs, independent, dual circuit, servo-assisted |
| Brakes front | |
| Brakes rear | |
| Chassis | steel platform chassis |
| Compression ratio | 8.5:1 |
| Cooling system | water-cooled |
| Displacements (unitary) | |
| Dry weight | 4,354 lbs (1,975 kg) |
| Engine | 90° V8 |
| Engine weight | |
| First race | |
| Front Tyres | |
| Front suspension | double wishbones, coil springs, telescopic damper |
| Front track | |
| Fuel & lubricant | |
| Fuel feed | naturally aspirated, four Weber 42 DCNF carburettors |
| Fuel tank | two tanks, total 21 Imp. gall. (100 litres) |
| Gear ratios | |
| Height | 54.53 in. (1,385 mm) |
| Ignition | single-plug, elettronica |
| Kerb weight | |
| Length | 193.31 in. (4,910 mm) |
| Length-Width-Height | |
| Lubrication | single oil pump |
| Maximum power | 260 bhp at 6,000 rpm |
| Maximum torque | 40 kgm (290 lbs/ft) at 3,800 rpm |
| Model | Quattroporte III 4.2 |
| One mile | |
| Production dates | 1979-1981 |
| Production start | 1979 |
| Quarter mile | |
| Rear Tyres | |
| Rear suspension | double wishbones, coil springs, telescopic dampers |
| Rear track | |
| Reduction | |
| Steering | worm and sector |
| Timing gear | two valves per cylinder, twin overhead camshafts per cylinder bank |
| Top speed | 124-155 mph (200-250 km/h) |
| Total displacement | 4,136 cc |
| Transmission | 5-speed + reverse (automatic to order) |
| Tyres | fr/rear 225/70 VR 15 |
| Weight distribution | |
| Wheelbase | 102.36 in. (2,600 mm) |
| Wheels | light alloy, 7.50 K x15 o 7J x 15 |
| Width | 74.41 in. (1,890 mm) |