Maserati Barchetta

250px
Maserati Barchetta
Manufacturer	Maserati
Production	1991-1992
Class
Body style	no-door 2-seater mid-engined supercar
Chassis
Engine	90º 1996cc mid-engined V6, 4-ohc, 24-valve, electronic fuel injection, twin water-cooled IHI turbochargers
Power	316 bhp at 7200 rpm and 275-lb ft at 4250 rpm
Transmission	ZF 6-speed transaxle, Rear wheel drive
Length	4050mm
Width	1965mm
Height	930mm
Weight	905kg (curb)
Wheelbase	2600mm
Predecessor
Aka	Barchetta Corsa (racing) Barchetta Stradale (road)
Designer
Related	Maserati 350S Maserati 450S Maserati 250F
Similar

The Maserati Barchetta is a mid-engined, two-door, two-seat Le Mans-style sports car, in the spirit of the 350 and 450S, that was designed by "Synthesis Design", an Italian design house.

Fifteen units of the racing model were produced at de Tomaso factory in Modena, plus two prototypes (one racing-corsa, one street-stradale). It featured a mid-engine V6 AM501 Maserati biturbo engine 1996cc (red intake manifold for the Corsa) an evolution of the AM490 (black intake manifold used for the Stradale), a central frame holding an integral fuel tank and a very light glass fiber/carbon fiber spyder body, accelerating the car to about 180mph. The development of a road version was stopped at a late stage. Today some racing cars hold a road title in Europe, after minor modifications to allow road compatibility.

The racing series Grantrofeo Barchetta was held 1992 and 1993. It has featured sixteen races total, most of them in Italy.

The central-frame concept was survived on the De Tomaso Guarà, but the frame was around 13 in longer because it was engined by a longer V8.

This was thought as a way to inject much needed excitement and enthusiasm for the carmake whose reputation had been badly ruined by years of producing unreliable products, eventually culminating in Maserati's withdrawal from the North American market.

It is also true that the amount of delicate maintenance necessary to take care of these high output small engine was not compatible with the auto repair industry in several territories.

This model has become a collector item valued at several time its introduction price.

External links

• Official Maserati Barchetta page
• Synthesis Design page

Maserati S.p.A., a subsidiary of the Fiat S.p.A. since 1993, road car timeline, 1950s–present
Type	1950s										1960s										1970s										1980s										1990s										2000s										2010s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Ownership	Orsi family																		Citroën							De Tomaso																		Fiat S.p.A.
Executive																																	Biturbo
Luxury														Quattroporte											QP II					QP III															QP IV										QP V
GT	A6							3500 GT							Sebring																						228						Ghibli II
														Mistral																									Karif
										5000 GT							Ghibli								Khamsin															Shamal								3200 GT					Coupé					GT
2+2																	Mexico
																			Indy										Kyalami
Mid-engine																							Merak
																						Bora																																		MC12