With the month of December, Maserati officially enters the hundredth year of its history. The Italian auto manufacturer will celebrate its first 100 years in 2014 with a series of activities organized in all major Maserati markets in the world.
Maserati was founded in Bologna, Italy, on December 1, 1914 and officially started operation on December 14. The nucleus of the company was then represented by Alfieri Maserati and two of his brothers, Ettore and Ernesto. They all had an interest in mechanics and a love for speed. Though predominantly engaged in technical and commercial matters of their new enterprise, they all, at one point, sat behind the steering wheel of their racing cars in the golden days of motor racing. A fourth brother, Bindo, joined the company when Alfieri died in 1932 and a fifth brother, Mario, is credited with designing the famed Maserati Trident logo, taking inspiration from the Neptune fountain in the historic centre of Bologna.
Maserati produced its first car in 1926 – a race car named Tipo 26. It debuted with a victory in the 1926 Targa Florio, the first of an endless string of wins which include two editions of the Indianapolis 500, nine wins in Formula One and the 1957 F1 World Championship. In 1947 Maserati released its first passenger car, the A6 Grand Tourer and in 1963, with the first generation Quattroporte, Maserati gave the automotive market the world’s first sports luxury saloon.
The highlight of the year-long 100th Anniversary celebration will be the official Maserati gathering in Modena from September 19-21, 2014. An estimated 250 Maserati models will convene in Modena from all over the world. The three-day programme will include driving routes on scenic Italian roads tied to Maserati’s history and multiple sessions on racetrack. A full and detailed programme of the event will be released at a later date.
Also in the second half of 2014, Modena will play host to an exhibition of some of the most evocative models in Maserati’s history. The Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari will show a special display of the many iconic Maserati models, including both passenger and race cars, all brought together because they hold special significance in the history of Maserati.
The first tangible sign of the celebration for Maserati’s 100 years is the official Centennial book, released the first week of December. “Maserati – A Century of History” has been written by four authors and chronicles the Maserati century along three main themes: company history, model range and motor sports.
A dedicated Maserati Centennial website will keep Maserati enthusiasts informed of all the activities planned to celebrate the 100th anniversary. The website will be updated with new content, events and a section where users can upload content related to events taking place around the world to mark Maserati’s Centenary. The Maserati Centennial year will officially end with a dedicated event on Sunday, December 14, 2014.
[Source: Maserati]
