Maserati’s second-generation Quattroporte, plagued by the oil crisis and production halts, saw only 13 units made before being overshadowed by other priorities.
The Disastrous Quattroporte Mk2 That Even Maserati Didn’t Want
Maserati recently ended the 11-year production run of the sixth-generation Quattroporte, a model that was supposed to boost the brand’s annual sales to 50,000 units but fell short, only achieving that milestone once. Despite its sleek design, the Quattroporte was consistently outsold by competitors like the BMW 7 Series, due to high prices, outdated features, and a somewhat eccentric fit for the market.
However, things could have been far worse—something Maserati knows all too well from its experience with the second-generation Quattroporte, of which a mere 13 units were ever produced.
The original 1961 Quattroporte was a hit for Maserati, setting the standard for luxury sports sedans with its rear-wheel drive, powerful V8 engine, and blend of comfort and athleticism, selling nearly 800 units at a time when the luxury car market was much smaller.
Development of the Mk2 Quattroporte began after Maserati entered a joint venture with Citroën, which sought Maserati’s expertise for its first grand tourer, the stunning SM. As a result, the Quattroporte Mk2 shared its chassis, front-wheel-drive setup, 3.0-liter V6 engine, and innovative hydropneumatic suspension with the SM, and design duties were transferred from Pietro Frua to Marcello Gandini of Bertone.
When the Mk2 debuted at the Paris Motor Show in October 1974, it received lukewarm reactions, with some critics dismissing it due to its heavy reliance on Citroën’s components. Despite this, there was a consensus that it would be a luxurious and comfortable long-distance cruiser.
However, the Quattroporte Mk2’s fate was sealed by external factors. Citroën’s financial troubles led to a takeover by Peugeot in December 1974, and by June 1975, Maserati’s operations were suspended due to significant financial losses from the previous year, exacerbated by the 1973 oil crisis, which made selling fuel-inefficient cars difficult.
Maserati was on the brink of collapse, losing a potential Rolls-Royce-rivaling limousine powered by a 5.5-liter flat-12 engine in the process. Fortunately, the Italian government and De Tomaso, another Modena-based marque, stepped in to save the company. Production of the Quattroporte Mk2 resumed in 1976, though Alejandro de Tomaso, who now controlled Maserati, wasn’t enthusiastic about the model, criticizing its weight, underpowered engine, and troublesome suspension.
Plans for a new 4.0-liter V8 version of the Mk2 were scrapped, and Maserati shifted focus to more promising projects, including the Bora, Merak, and Khamsin super-coupés, and the De Tomaso-based Kyalami GT.
The Mk2 Quattroporte never received type approval for sale in the European Economic Community (the precursor to the EU), so Maserati only fulfilled orders from markets in the Middle East, South America, and Spain. With only 13 units produced, the Mk2 Quattroporte remains one of Maserati’s rarest and most elusive models, with only a handful of survivors known to exist in Europe.
