Maserati Barchetta

The Maserati Barchetta is a mid-engine racing car,[2] like the 350 and 450S, that was designed by Carlo Gaino[3][4] of the Synthesis Design,[5] an Italian design house.

Maserati Barchetta
Overview
ManufacturerMaserati
Also calledBarchetta Corsa (racing)
Barchetta Stradale (road) one unit only
Production1991–1992
(17 units produced)
DesignerCarlo Gaino at Synthesis Design[1]
Body and chassis
ClassRacing car
Body style2-door speedster
RelatedDe Tomaso Guarà
Maserati Biturbo
Powertrain
Engine2.0 L (1,996 cc) 90°, 24-valve twin-turbocharged AM501 V6
Transmission6-speed ZF manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,600 mm (100 in)
Length4,050 mm (159 in)
Width1,965 mm (77.4 in)
Height930 mm (37 in)
Curb weight775 kg (1,709 lb)

The Barchetta was designed and developed for the one-make racing series Grantrofeo Barchetta[6] which was held 1992 and 1993 throughout Italy and Europe. It featured sixteen races in total, most of them in Italy. The Barchetta had a backbone chassis made of aluminium which was unusual for a Maserati automobile for a time considering that the cars offered by Maserati had a steel unibody construction. It had a Formula 1 suspension geometry and body panels made of carbon fibre which resulted in a total weight of 775 kg (1,709 lb). The Barchetta was one of the last Maserati models built under De Tomaso ownership.[7]

1991 Maserati Barchetta

16 examples of the racing model[8] were produced by hand at the De Tomaso factory in Modena, plus two prototypes (one racing-corsa, one street-stradale model). It featured a mid-mounted Maserati AM501 V6 engine displacing 1,996 cc and was shared with the local 2.0 L engine offered in the Italian market on the Biturbo and the Ghibli. The engine had a peak power output of 319 PS (235 kW; 315 hp) at 7,250 rpm. The engine was mated to a 6-speed manual transmission manufactured by ZF Friedrichshafen and having straight cut gears. These modifications allowed the car to attain a top speed of 290 km/h (180 mph). Having a true open top design, driver protection was only provided by a small air deflector.[9]

The central-frame concept was carried over in the De Tomaso Guarà, but the frame was around 130 mm (5.1 in) longer because it was fitted with a larger V8 engine.

This was thought as a way to inject much needed excitement and enthusiasm for Maserati that saw its reputation badly ruined by years of exciting but maintenance sensitive products,[10] eventually culminating in Maserati's withdrawal from the North American market at this time.

References
  1. "Carlo Gaino". automotivedesignconference.com. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  2. Maserati since 1926 by Maurizio Tabucchi ed. ETAI
  3. (in Italian) List of articles on Carlo Gaino involvement in projects at Synthesis Design Archived 2009-08-04 at the Wayback Machine
  4. (in Italian) Carlo Gaino website Archived 2008-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Synthesis design - Maserati Barchetta". Synthesisdesign.it. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
  6. "Maserati Barchetta and Grantrofeo Monomarca". Maserati-indy.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-30.
  7. "Barchetta". Maserati. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  8. "Panini Museum on". Maserati.com. Retrieved 2012-08-30.
  9. Banovsky, Michael (2016-02-11). "The Maserati Barchetta Is The '90s Track Car You Totally Forgot About". Petrolicious. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  10. cf. e.g. Car & Driver, Dec. 1998 issue (Vol. 44, No.6), page 88
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