Maserati Quattroporte (1979)

The third series of the Maserati Quattroporte was built from 1979 to 1990, when Maserati belonged to the Benelli group and was run by Alejandro de Tomaso, and it is one of the longest-lived Maserati models. Work began at the end of 1975 on a new rear-wheel-drive chassis, project AM 330, and Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign drew an angular, short-tailed body with a large chromed grille. Power came from 90 degree petrol V8 engines, the 4.1 litre with 255 horsepower and the 4.9 litre with 280 horsepower and a top speed of 238 km/h, with a five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic gearbox. A long-wheelbase Limousine appeared in 1986, and in December of that year a more luxurious update called the Quattroporte Royale, with a 300 horsepower engine, was built in 53 examples, among them an official car of the Italian President Sandro Pertini. In all 2,141 cars were made.