Introduced in 1971, the Bora was Maserati’s first rear-engined production car, a technological marvel wrapped in sleek coachwork by Italdesign’s Giorgetto Giugiaro. Its mighty V-8 engine—first displacing 4.7 liters and later enlarged to 4.9 liters—derived from Maserati’s Birdcage Tipo 63–65 race cars. It was paired with a ZF five-speed, manual transmission and fitted to a monocoque chassis employing four-wheel, independent suspension. A Citroën-supplied hydro-pneumatic control system powered the ventilated disc brakes, pop-up headlights, windows, and ingenious adjustment of the pedal box and driver’s seat.

Performance was formidable, particularly for the 4.9-liter models, which gained 20 horsepower over the previous version. With 330 horsepower on tap, the Bora 4.9 could sprint to 60 mph in less than seven seconds, and Maserati claimed a top speed of 170 mph. The Bora was also perhaps the most practical supercar of its era, with a generous, front storage compartment and notable levels of sound and heat insulation. Maserati produced just 564 examples of the Bora from 1971 through 1980.

Reportedly under current ownership since 2011, the U.S.-spec example offered here is one of only 250 with the more powerful 4.9-liter V-8. It was manufactured 27 July 1978 and left the factory finished in Rosso Fuoco over a black interior. While actual mileage is unknown, its odometer currently displays just 801 miles at time of cataloguing—a figure commensurate with its remarkably well-preserved condition. In fact, both its driver and passenger door cards are covered with protective plastic!

In September 2021, the car a received lengthy list of maintenance and repairs including, but not limited to, engine belt replacement, oil and filter change, new fuel hoses and filter, and brake system service. Invoice copies for this work, carried out by Autosprint Limited of Chicago, Illinois at a cost of over $10,500, are on file.

This Bora represents a rare opportunity for the discerning enthusiast to own a quintessential Italian exotic, one that remains a truly covetable alternative to a Ferrari or Lamborghini, replete with coachwork by a renowned designer and brimming with technological advancements.