For Maserati´s 100th anniversary of using the Trident as their logo, Cult Scales and KK Scale have filled in the gaps in Maserati´s Quattroporte pedigree in 1:18. That´s why we assembled them around the Neptune Statue from the Maserati Brothers´ hometown of Bologna that inspired Mario Maserati´s creation of the logo.
Generation I
Quattroporte – Italian for Four-door – seems like the most uninspired christening of a sedan you could ever imagine. But from one of the world´s oldest manufacturers exclusively doing race and sports cars, this was wildly exotic in 1963. Designed by Vignale´s Pietro Frua, it really was the fastest saloon in its day. After Best of Show made one in resin quite some years ago, KK Scale have revived this second series of the Quattroporte´s first generation in this similar colour and three more (dark blue, grey and red), each bearing the period-correct Italian license plates from four different Italian cities/regions. What´s incorrect, though, is the trident on the boot lid. Yet, this fully sealed budget-friendly replica is a very welcome addition, filling an important gap.
Generation II
After Maserati fell on hard times, being sold to Citroën, who were more interested in a Maserati engine for their SM, a second generation never really got underway beyond a dozen cars. That´s why the 2nd gen QP is absent in scale and our family gathering picture. (But there will be the model of a “cousin” that saved the “family” soon.)
Generation III
Alejandro de Tomaso not only made the substitute for the Quattroporte II, but went on to buy Maserati, and Italdesign´s Giorgetto Giugiaro designed a luxury barge for the 1980s based on the DeTomaso Deauville platform that would become a huge success and Italy´s presidential limousine. Again, Cult Scale are not the first to make a model in 1:18 scale – Top Marques had one, including a very limited edition of the presidential limousine. But Cult Scale, too, contribute to the centennial in three colours: this presidential blue, a dark red and silver.
Generation IV
A pleasant surprise in scale is this late version of the Quattroporte´s 4th generation as a limited edition of 120 in each blue and green, exclusively made for Carmodel.com by Cult Scales. Once again, this Quattroporte was born when Maserati wasn´t doing too well, having been sold to Fiat. There was no money, so the smallest Quattroporte ever was built on Maserati´s Biturbo Coupe platform, this time designed by Marcello Gandini. It initially had a biturbo-charged V6, but when Maserati changed hands again to Ferrari, it was upgraded to the V8 evoluzione, which the influential Italian retailer has commissioned to Cult Scales. This may very well be the rarest Quattroporte in scale, which is why I am super happy to have it in the collection.
Generation V
This generation, by contrast, was the first ever Quattroporte to be done in 1:18, which is why the model by Hot Wheels shows its age. Only the windowless front doors and the dog-legged bonnet open. Originally, the model had no carpet, no seatbelts and no roof liner, so I repainted and upgraded the interior and underbody DIY. After more than 20 years, this first series of the 5th generation can still be found in this bluish Grigio Palladio or a metallic white. Still under Ferrari ownership, Pininfarina gave it a muscular design and included design cues of the Quattroporte´s first generation, in line with the retro-design-fashion around the turn of the millennium. The Duo-Select semi-automatic/semi-paddle-shift gearbox, meant to strike the balance between driver´s car and chauffeured ride, was ill-conceived, but the engine sound was glorious.
Generation VI
Sadly, the Quattroporte´s family history recently ended after this 6th generation that nailed the balance between owner-driven and chauffeured best. In its better days, in 2015 AutoArt (read our review here) contributed what is indisputably the best 1:18 scale model in our Quattroporte line-up, being the only all-open QP in scale. Other than in our blue, it was available in grey and white. Many more colours were available in sealed resin by BBR. But you´ll probably see why I’ve stuck with Maserati´s traditional blue for my little family of four doors.
All of them are now assembled with Automobili in a new display cabinet that filled rather quickly this year, completing a Quattroporte collection.
Karsten, thanks for this love letter to Maserati. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the early release, but some of the modern cars I do appreciate. Long history here!