When it comes to luxury cars Italy seems to be leading the race with brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati. Maserati is one of the longest-running car companies in the world. The company first opened its doors 106 years ago on 1st December 1914, in Bologna. Italy. The company was founded by Alfieri Maserati.
Since its debut, Maserati has gone on to produce some of the most iconic cars throughout history. This has, in turn, affirmed its position as a leading manufacturer of expensive, luxurious, and stylish cars. Its signature trident emblem is a representation of what the company stands for.
Like most companies, Maserati has had its fair share of up and downs. Through these tribulations, Maserati fell under the Ferrari umbrella before moving under the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and it has now found its way to Stellantis.
Despite changes of ownership Maserati has always maintained quality when it comes to its cars. This has also been reflected in their cars’ performance which still proliferates in its lineup. Some of their top performers today, are the Ghibli and the Levante.
This trend of exceptional performance is one that has been seen throughout their history. One of their best creations was the 1947 Maserati A6 1500.
On that note, let us take a detailed look back at the 1947 Maserati A6 1500.
History Of The 1947 Maserati A6 1500
One of the most popular Maserati lineups is the Gran Turismo. This lineup can trace its roots back to the 1947 Maserati A6 1500 and specific the GT Pininfarina. This classic ride was built to be a sophisticated racing car that incorporated luxury and style fit for a daily driver and a weekend track beast.
The 1947 Maserati A6 1500, went into production in 1941, it was hoped to be Maserati’s first road car. However, because of the first World War, Maserati stopped production. After the war, production of the A6 1500 resumed and in 1947 the car was officially unveiled.
Maserati sold this car as a sports car in the grand tourer class that featured a fastback coupe body style.
Engine And Drivetrain Of The '47 Maserati A6 1500
The 1947 A6 1500 packed a 1.5-liter inline-six Maserati Tipo A6 engine. This naturally aspirated spark-ignition four-stroke petrol engine featured a Weber 36 DCR 2-barrel SOHC and a four-speed annual gearbox transmission was mated to this engine.
The maximum power output from this engine was rated at 64 horsepower at 4700 RPM and 74 lb-ft of torque at 2500 RPM. The car power to weight ratio stood at 20 watts/lb net and 22 watts/lb gross. The car weight to power ratio stood at 37.4 lbs/hp net and 34.4 lbs/ hp gross.
All this power was channeled to the car’s rear-wheel-drive drivetrain. The top speed of this car was anywhere between 91 mph and 96 mph which was quite decent for a car in the 1940s. On a 0 to 60 mph run the 1947 Maserati A6 1500 cleared the run in 18.8 seconds.
1947 Maserati A6 1500 Design
In March of 1947, at the Salon International de I ‘Auto, the Maserati A6 1500 debuted painted gray. The first-ever chassis of this car featured a Pininfarina body. Maserati launched this ride as a prototype. Its design featured a two-door, two-seater arrangement, and a three-window Berlinetta body.
This car came with three square portholes on its front wings that were fully integrated. Futuristic hidden headlamps and a tapered cabin were also added to the 1947 Maserati A6 1500.
When it came to the production variant of this car, the overall design was toned down. But the Pininfarina bodywork and interior were still maintained, the hidden futuristic headlamps were switched for conventional ones, and a second slide window was added.
All other cars that came after the 1947 A6 1500 prototype featured a two-door, two-seater fastback body. The original 1947 Maserati A6 1500 was 160.6-inches long, 59.8-inches wide, and weighed 2094 pounds.
The chassis of this iconic car was built using a tubular and steel sheet. The front of the suspension was by double wishbone and a solid axle was fitted at the rear. The hydraulics were Houdaille dampers and were fitted to the rear and coil springs added to all the four corners.