Big but smaller
Why does the Maserati Mexico bear the name of a Central American country? One possible story is that an important Mexican customer had bought a 5000 GT with an Allemano body in 1961, whose previous owner was the Mexican President Adolfo López Mateos. The Mexican now brought the vehicle to Modena to have it repaired after an accident. During his visit to the historic factory in Viale Ciro Menotti, however, the customer saw a prototype that had been bodied by Vignale (based on designs by Giovanni Michelotti). He was so impressed by the design of the prototype that he absolutely insisted on buying it. And indeed, the body was built on the chassis of his 5000 GT. It is said that the series of coincidences led to the new model being named the ‘Mexico’ from then on. (Picture below: the first ‘Mexico’ from 1961.)
Another version goes like this: in 1965, Vignale had a 5000 GT with a new 2+2-seater body (designed by Virginio Vario) on display at its stand at the Turin Motor Show. The car appealed to Adolfo López Mateos, the President of Mexico at the time, so much that he bought it on the spot. And because John Surtees also won the Mexican Grand Prix in a Cooper-Maserati T81 shortly afterwards, this was seen as a good omen in Modena and the production model was given the name ‘Mexico’ from then on. So under the bonnet of the first ‘Mexico’ (which probably wasn’t even called that yet…) was the very evil 4.9-litre V8, very similar to the one used in the famous 450S racing car. But the series production cars then received the 4.7-litre engine that had been developed for the first Quattroporte I, 290 hp, four Weber dual carburettors. Later, a smaller 4.2-litre V8 was also added, with 260 hp. (pictures below: the Mexico, which was exhibited in Paris in 1966).
And at some point 1967, a one-off Frua with a 3.7-litre six-cylinder engine (pictures below).
The Maserati Mexico was convincing in terms of style and equipment. Leather seats, electric windows, a wooden dashboard, air conditioning and servo-assisted disc brakes at the front were all standard features. Automatic transmission, power steering and a radio were available as options. The interior design was described as a ‘lounge in Italian style’. Thus, it stood for Italian individuality combined with the engineering skills of Maserati – a wonderful mixture that is still appreciated today. 175 Maserati Mexico were delivered with the 4.7-litre engine, 305 with the 4.2-litre V8, the Frua with the six-cylinder – of four we don’t know for sure. (Pictures below: AM112/1 026, 2024 sold by RM Sotheby’s in Monterey for $86,800).
Of course, there are more to come – we have more Maseratis in our archives.
Be First to Comment