The original Maserati Quattroporte, which was announced in 1963 was the manufacturer’s first ever large sedan and one of their first versions powered by a V-8 engine. Expertly designed and styled by Pietro Frua as well as based after a custom Maserati 5000 GT coupe that Frua designed for Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, Aga Khan IV. Custom features from the 5000 GT includes a 45 rpm eight track record player constructed directly into the dashboard.
Before the first-generation Quattroporte model went out of production in 1969 Maserati created no more than 800 models. The manufacturing process of the second-gen Quattroporte did not start until 1974, but in 1971 Frua created a one-off model on the frame of the Maserati Indy, (a four seat GT fastback). The inside of the vehicle featured a lofty roof encircled by a large stretch of glass. Later in 1974 a second version was built and sold to the Aga Khan.
The 1971 prototype was owned by King Juan Carlos of Spain at some point in time. Until just recently, the car was included with the large collection of Maserati’s at the Riverside International Automotive Museum, in Riverside, California, that closed in June of this year. In August the Quattroporte was on its way back to the block at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction with a presale estimate price of $175,000 to $200,000.
