From the 4CLT classic tubular racer to the MC12—the fastest road car Maserati has ever made—these are the 11 Maseratis every car aficionado should recognize.

MORE:

How to save on your car insurance costs

Make safe driving pay

Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.

Start earning now

What makes an old car great?

Not all old cars are great cars and as legendary as Maserati is and has always been, there are still some we wouldn’t mind forgetting (that’s to you, Biturbo). But with so many great models to choose from, how do you choose the 11 best Maseratis of all time?

The cars we’ve selected for our list hit some very particular high notes. Some mark a historically significant point in the marque’s history, like the Berlinetta—the first true production Maserati. Some, like the Shah of Persia 5000 GT are famous not only for who drove them (the literal Shah of Persia) but also for their price—it was the world’s most expensive car at the time. And finally, others are notable for their unique design characteristics, like the wedge-shaped Khamsin.

Just because you see a car on this list, it doesn’t mean it’ll make a good used car. When it comes to Maserati, if you’re looking at a classic, you’re likely not looking at a daily driver. For that, you should check out our list of

the best used Maseratis to buy

11. Maserati 4CLT (1948-1951)

Early Maseratis were focused exclusively on racing, and that was certainly the case with the 4CLT. The inaugural 4CLT featured a unique tubular chassis construction that counteracted the increased torque created by the twin-supercharger upgrades to the original 4CL’s 1.5L 4-cylinder, resulting in up to 260 horsepower. But even these upgrades could only keep it at the head of the pack for so long.

As Ferrari and Talbot cars began edging out Maserati in major races, engineers introduced an engine upgrade in 1950 that featured a multi-part crankshaft, lightened and balanced rods, and more powerful superchargers for an additional 20 horses. Unfortunately, it was a bit too far ahead of its time and engine failures led to near-constant losses.

Despite a lackluster performance in both Formula One and Formula Two races for the remainder of its manufacture, the 4CLT remains an iconic early racer and is often featured in historic motorsport events around the globe.

MORE: 5 fast luxury cars we love

"I’m earning

awesome rewards

every week, just for driving safe!”

10. Maserati 250F (1954-1960)

The 250F was a 2.5L Formula One racer and only 26 were ever made. The principal engine for the 250F was the SSG 220-hp 2.5L A6 straight-six and featured a similar tubular chassis to the 4CLT. The 250F made its racing debut in the 1954 Argentine Grand Prix with Juan Manuel Fangio at the wheel—he won, happily upsetting Maserati’s previous series of racing losses.

250Fs continued to squire Maserati’s drivers to victory with Stirling Moss piloting examples to both Monaco and Italian Grand Prix wins in 1956. Engine modifications in 1957 led to four Formula One World Championship victories for Fangio where he broke the Nurburgring lap record 10 times.

MORE:

How to check and decode a Maserati VIN

9. Maserati A6GCS/53 Berlinetta (1947-1953)

Prior to the 1950s, Maseratis were race cars, but with the A6GCS/53 Berlinetta, the marque arguably produced its first production car. But make no mistake—underneath the shiny, elegantly-styled sheet metal, the Berlinetta is all race car.

When Maserati sent Pininfarina the A6GCS complete chassis, ready for coachwork, the coachbuilder couldn’t help but take the rainy weather during the 1953 Mille Miglia into consideration as he designed Maserati’s first hardtop. Only four Berlinettas (hardtops) were ever built, making this a true collectors’ classic.

8. Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage (1959-1961)

A 2-seater built specifically for endurance races, the open-top Tipo 61 gets the name “Birdcage” from its special chassis consisting of over 200 chro-moly steel tubes welded together to give a simultaneously more rigid and lighter structure to the racer. Only 16 units were built, each powered by a 2.9L inline-four producing 250 horsepower for a top speed of up to 177 mph.

After Stirling Moss drove the Tipo 61 to a win in its first race in 1959, other teams began adopting the model in hopes of producing the same results. Unfortunately, reliability issues often stood in the way of some teams taking home the win, but that didn’t stop the Camoradi team from winning both the 1960 and 1961 Nurburgring with the Birdcage.

7. Maserati 3500 GT (1957-1964)

After decades of racing-only manufacturing, Maserati withdrew from motor racing in 1957 and entered the Gran Turismo realm with its first regular production car, the 3500 GT. Available in a coupe or drop-top form, the 3500 GT was powered by a modified DOHC, 12-valve straight-six from the 350S endurance racer. Capable of developing 220 horses at 5500 rpm, the 3500 GT’s top speed was an astonishing 155 mph.

In 1961, triple Weber carburetors were replaced with Lucas mechanical fuel injection, increasing power to 235 horsepower and creating the 3500 GTi, or Gran Turismo injection. Only 937 GTs and 441 GTis were built, making this an instant classic.

6. Maserati 5000 GT (1959-1965)

Meet 1959’s most expensive car in the world—the Maserati 5000 GT, aka the Shah of Persia. After test driving and being impressed by a 3500 GT, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Persia, demanded a more exclusive car from Maserati for himself, which is how the 5000 GT came about.

Unfortunately—or, perhaps, fortunately—meeting the Shah’s demands required a complete redesign of the chassis to accommodate the 325-hp V8 engine from the Maserati 450S resulting in an entirely new car for Maserati, of which only 34 were ever produced.

MORE:

The top 10 cheapest luxury cars to insure

Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds

Find Savings!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

5. Maserati Tipo 151 (1962-1963)

Maserati edged back into the world of racing for the 1962 LeMans season to compete in the experimental GT class with the Tipo 151. Only 3 units were built, so if rarity is your barometer for creating a classic, then the Tipo 151 fits the bill.

Designed by Giulio Alfieri and refined in a wind tunnel at Milan University, the Tipo 151 featured an elongated front end that would become a Maserati trademark for some time. A 360-hp 4.0L V8 derived from the World Sportscar Championship 450S powered the Tipo 151 to a top speed of 205.1 mph.

Despite countless revisions, engine modifications, and tweaks to the chassis, the Tipo 151 suffered from reliability issues that often led racers to retire it from competitions to avoid crashes like the one that tragically killed “Lucky” Casner when he lost control of the updated Tipo 151 rated at 450-hp. The car was never entered in another race again.

MORE:

The best-selling sports cars in the U.S.

4. Maserati Ghibli (1967-1973)

The Maserati Ghibli Gran Turismo is regarded as one of the most significant automobile designs of the postwar era. Despite its 15-foot length, it was originally conceived as a 2-seater, but production vehicles featured a 2+2 seat configuration. Detroit automakers derided it as a design felony while secretly taking notes on the design. Henry Ford II bought the first Ghibli to arrive in the US for $19,000—the equivalent of four new

Ford Thunderbirds

Under the low wedge-like hood a 330-hp 4.7L V8 powered the Ghibli to a top speed of 142 mph. Car and Driver tested a Ghibli in 1968 that sang its way to 60 in only 6.4 seconds and chipped away a quarter-mile in 14.9 seconds. While supercars of today might be able to wipe the track with the Ghibli, those stats were unheard of in those days.

3. Maserati Bora (1971-1978)

Similarly styled to the Ghibli, the Maserati Bora was introduced as a mid-engined supercar. Unlike most supercars, the Bora considered practical issues, like luggage storage and driver maneuverability, telescoping and tilting steering wheel, and a hydraulically-powered pedal cluster that could be moved forward and backward with the touch of a button.

The Bora initially featured a choice of two V8s, but eventually, all were powered by a single 4.9L V8 rated for 320-hp for a top speed of 177 mph. Unlike many earlier Maseratis that labored under outdated technology, the Bora borrowed a lot of Citroen technology, such as pneumatic brakes and hydraulically-adjusted seats.

2. Maserati Khamsin (1974-1982)

The Maserati Khamsin’s wedge-shaped body is unique among Maseratis, as is the fastback roofline and kammback rear end featuring a full-width glass panel with Alfa Romeo-sourced “floating” tail lights. The 320-hp 4.9L DOHC, 16-valve V8 carried over from the Ghibli SS for a top speed of 170 mph, on the other hand, is pure Maserati.

The Khamsin took advantage of being developed under Citroen ownership by making excellent use of its high-pressure hydraulic systems, especially in its power—not power-assisted—steering. At high speeds, the steering becomes exceedingly stiff for quick turns that still leave room for the “sneeze factor” for ease of control.

MORE:

The worst luxury cars you can buy

1. Maserati MC12 (2004-2005)

The Maserati Corse, 12-cylinder, or MC12, is an extreme performance model, even for Maserati. Designed for homologation for FIA GT racing, the MC12 is the fastest Maserati road car ever made with 0-60 acceleration in 3.3 seconds. This is accomplished via a Ferrari-derived F140 6.0L V12 engine rated for 630-hp at 7500 rpm.

Despite its racing purpose, the interior is nothing short of luxurious. The cabin features a mixture of gel-coated carbon fiber and blue leather trimmed with silver “Brightex,” a synthetic fabric found to be “too expensive for the fashion industry,” but just opulent enough for Maserati.

MORE:

Should I buy a sports car?

How to find affordable car insurance

Since 1914, Maserati has been producing some of the world’s most exquisite racers, luxury sedans, and supercars, all of which beg to flaunt their powerful engines. With all that temptation under the hood, you’ll need to make sure you’re covered no matter what. Whether you’re looking for

classic car insurance

for your first generation Ghibli, or full coverage for your brand new Levante, licensed broker

Jerry

has you covered.

It’s this easy: just download the free super app, answer a few questions, and sit tight for two minutes while Jerry compares your current coverage with quotes from over 50 top insurance providers. Once you choose your coverage, Jerry’s experts will help set up your new policy and cancel your old one.

And we haven’t even mentioned the best part—the average Jerry user saves over $800 a year!

“

Jerry

has amazing communication! And even better deals! Thanks to Jerry, I went from $327 to $182 on my payments. I’m so grateful!” —Kim T.