A rare right-hand-drive 1973 Maserati Bora 4.7 will head to auction later this month.
The supercar is listed as part of the forthcoming H&H Classics sale, set to be held at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford.
Making this particular Bora even more special, it was previously part of Maserati UK’s heritage fleet.
Maserati’s original mid-engined wedge
Launched in 1971, the Bora was Maserati’s first mid-engined supercar. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the rakish styling pitched it against the Lamborghini Miura and De Tomaso Pantera.
Original cars used a mid-mounted 4.7-litre V8 engine that produced 310hp and 339lb ft of torque. This was sufficient to allow a 0-60mph time of 6.2 seconds, plus a top speed of 168mph.
Maserati later introduced a more powerful 4.9-litre V8, which sold in slightly larger numbers. Only 289 examples of the 4.7-litre car are said to have been produced, with just 27 in right-hand drive.
Italian performance and refinement
Compared with contemporary supercars, Maserati wanted the Bora to offer an increased sense of luxury.
Maserati’s then-owner Citroen supplied its hydraulics expertise for the power steering and four-wheel disc brakes. A hydraulic system was also used to operate the pop-up headlights, and even allowed the pedal box to be adjusted by pressing a button.
The engine bay was lined to reduce interior noise, with a double-pane window separating the cabin from the V8 engine.
Even the front luggage compartment was genuinely usable compared to contemporary supercars.
Working hard for a living
This particular Rosso Fuoco Bora has a black Connolly leather interior. It was delivered to Citroen Cars Ltd in Slough in August 1973.
It later spent five years as part of Maserati UK’s heritage fleet, being used for publicity work and retro road tests by journalists. This included an appearance on Top Gear in 2001, taking part in a ‘history of Maserati’ feature.
Numerous classic car magazine appearances have made it well known to Maserati enthusiasts, too.
Despite all this PR work, the car has just 29,000 miles recorded on its odometer. It comes with an extensive history file, detailing maintenance and repairs throughout its life.
A truly rare Maserati
As one of only 27 right-hand-drive Boras made with the 4.7-litre engine, this car already has considerable appeal to Maserati fans.
Having featured so prominently in the automotive press, thanks to its heritage fleet career, will only boost its desirability.
The H&H Classics sale takes place on Wednesday 22 June 2022, with bidding available in person or online.
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