Maserati Quattroporte III : classic or not

[Sei cilindri]

Is the QP III a classic or not ? and if so why isn't it featured in the Maserati section of this site

Contra: it is still quite modern as the last model year was 1986

Pro: Last of the old style Maserati's before the Bi turbo era and using the 183 HP V8 which was derrived from the 450S and the floorpan was a tretches Kyalami (DeTomaso Longchamp) floorpan

Since it isn't featured on this site I placed two pictures:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y121/Seicilindri/IMG_0046.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y121/Seicilindri/IMG_0052.jpg

[johnnyperl]

whats so special about it... only 183HP from a V8?! and no real stand- out styling.
my vote is no

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Let me just say Quattroporte III pictures are notoriously hard to come by, so nice work getting two decent sized ones.

The Quattroporte III IMO is not a classic, it's more of an Oddity, it doesn't qualify as a classic on Age grounds, and it's pretty shoddy by all accounts.

The QuattroporteIII may not have been featured at any event that our webmasters go to and take photo's of.

[taz_rocks_miami]

I don't think it qualifies as a classic either, it didn't really break any new ground, performance or technically. But that's a good thing, I wouldn't mind owning one and since it's not a classic, the price shoudn't be too bad :)

[Sei cilindri]

oeps mistake. I should be 283 HP ofcourse, not 183 HP and it sounds truly great with that pedigree.
0-100 km in 7,9 secs and good roadholding, not too bad for a 2000 kg+ beast

Historic significance could be that it is the last of the "real Maserati's" before the Bi-turbo came along.
The square Gigiuaro styling was definitly goundbreaking back in 1976 when it was introduced

BTW Nice to see someone posting from Miami on this subject as I very much associate this car with the MIAMI VICE TV series
Villins always drove either a spoilered Mercedes S class or clean Quattroporte !
And what about the interior ?

http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/quattroporte/qp3-06a.jpg
http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/quattroporte/qp3-03a.jpg

[silverhawk]

i dont know much about classic cars. my only guess why this sint a classic could be because it didnt look or perform like a car of its time.

I have seen an older model of the quattroporte. late 80s or early 90s. it was really nice.
which edition of the Quattroporte is the current model? 4th,5th,6th?

[ZondaMan]

This is a very old Quattroporte: not sure what mk it is but pic was taken at Goodwood Festival of Speed by me 2005.

[LotusLocost]

This is a very old Quattroporte: not sure what mk it is but pic was taken at Goodwood Festival of Speed by me 2005.

^^Thats a bit more classic I think :) ^^
Great pic! Thanks ZM :D

[Revo]

Is the QP III a classic or not ?
By my standards any car that survives 25 years in this uncaring world is a classic. No matter how humble or insignificant role she had in automotive history.

So, YES, Quattroporte III is definitely a classic! :)


Contra: it is still quite modern as the last model year was 1986
Hmm, VW Beetle isn't classic then? :)
It was only few years ago when you still could buy a brand new one :D

Interesting topic, Sei cilindri, keep it up :)

Zondaman, your pic shows Quattroporte Mk I

Cheers!

[Sei cilindri]

Zondaman, your pic shows Quattroporte Mk I


That's right, to be more specific : its a type 1b
Several years ago I took a picture on Goodwood of a Quattroporte 1 towing a Maserati classic racer
How's that for commitment !

[IBrake4Rainbows]

He was showing that the 1b model was a classic.

It helps if you give the right details first up so as we can give an accurate opinion (hows that for an Oxymoron) on the issue.

I'll stick by my comments. IMO it's ugly, it's not particularly groundbreaking (there were squarer designs, there were better cars) but it holds appeal as an oditty.

[bmw525]

I like it!

[Piacki_117]

what is the differerce betwen this car and the Maserati 430 ?

[Sei cilindri]

sorry for my late reaction but I was on holliday (to france) in one of my classics.....


The 430 and the Quattroporte III are very different cars

The Quattroporte III is a very big car , aimed mainly at the american market and powered by the faithfull 4,9 V8 atmosferic engine originally derrived from the Maserati 450 F1 racing cars

The 430 is based on the bi turbo range, featuring the 2,9 Biturbo V6 engine.

Park a Quattroporte next to a 430 and it is virtually dwarfed by the sheer size of the Quattroporte III

Ofcourse the styling of the QP III was very much a sign how the future generation Maserati's would look but this was ofcourse not knowm when it was introduced in 1976

Hope this makes it a bit clearer

[Esperante]

Would you consider the Aston Martin Lagonda classic?

[DasModell]

it's a Maserati .. of course its a classic :)

[Sei cilindri]

good question,

I have always liked it and was stunned when it came out.
I know not everyone likes its styling and the odd instrumentariam but it was very advanced (but not reliable) when it came out and to me represents its era very good

[Classic Anycar]

If it was built at least 20 years ago, it's a classic.

http://www.genesiswave.net/images/Miscellaneous/1985DodgeAries-02.jpg

[henk4]

even the K-car will become a classic, as soon as somebody realises that 99% of them have disappeared :D

[D2LTA]

Has anyone seen "The Running Man"? The baddy had a bright red stretched Quattroporte with black glass.... awesome looking car..... classic? Of course.

[drakkie]

i would definetly consider it a classic. there are only quite few remaining of the mas and it alredy used to be a rare car.

The featured example certainly is :) it has the seem comfort as a current day Mercedes great looks and nice performance.ofcourse this was all tested properly ;)

[henk4]

I knew I had a pic somewhere, but here it is (Old Timer Grand Prix, Nuerburgring 2004)