1972 Maserati Boomerang
The Maserati Boomerang was first displayed as a non-functional model at the Turin Motor Show in 1971. By the Geneva Salon in March 1972, it had been transformed into a fully operational vehicle. The mechanics were borrowed from Maserati, the engine being the race-bred V8 of 4.7 litre, developing no less than 310 hp and good for an indicated top speed of 300 km/h. One journalist observed it looked as though it was doing a hundred miles an hour standing still! It was then, until 1974, successively shown at the Paris, London and Barcelona motor shows and was unanimously praised for its audacity.
Unlike now, it was not uncommon for manufacturers and coachbuilders to sell their concept cars when they had served their purpose. After the Barcelona show, the Boomerang remained in Spain and was eventually sold to a cabaret owner in Benidorm. The former owner a noted Maserati enthusiast discovered it there during a holiday trip in 1980 and could not resist the temptation of buying it as he had first seen the car eight years earlier and had only able to purchase a model of it. After a careful restoration, it re-appeared for the first time in the 1990 Bagatelle Concours in Paris, where Giorgetto Giugiaro was a judge and proudly hand-signed the rear panel.
Condition<
Upon acquisition by the present owner, the Boomerang was found to have required some refreshing of its older largely cosmetic restoration. It was therefore entrusted to marque specialist Paul Grist’s Traction Seabert company, with the remit of returning the car to road usable order.
Over a period of 18 months, the car was systematically worked through and perfected in terms of mechanical and importantly electronic function. Early in 2003 this work was completed, at a cost of some £20,000.
Since then the car has been road-registered by the current owner and used. On its return to Europe for sale, it has once again been checked over and readied for future ownership.
Though road use is not its primary vocation, it is comforting to know that the car drives well, its engine, transmission, suspension, brakes and steering all working as they should and the comprehensive recent work that has ensured that all the electronic aspects function, provides an entertaining insight into the how the future was seen, and comparison with its reality today.
It does show some traces of use, but presents well and where possible is still as originally shown in the early 1970s. It is often considered that this the fourth sports car concept introduced by the young Italdesign after its inception also proved to be the most influential. Its unforgettable wedge shaped body was the inspiration for some small series Maseratis, for the Lotus Esprit, which continued in production for nearly thirty years and, significantly, for the hugely popular Golf Mk1 that VW had asked Giugiaro to pen and was marketed in 1974.
Christies’ Sale @ Retromobile 2005
On Saturday 12 February 2005, Christies’ International Motor Cars Department sold the Boomerang for $1 000 000 within the confines of Retromobile.
Story by Christies Inc & Supercars.net
In Detail
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| type | Concept / Prototype Car |
| built at | Italy |
| coachbuilder | Italdesign-Giugiaro |
| production | 1 |
| engine | V8 |
| valvetrain | DOHC 2 Valves / Cyl |
| displacement | 4719 cc / 288.0 in³ |
| bore | 93.9 mm / 3.7 in |
| stroke | 85 mm / 3.35 in |
| compression | 8.5:1 |
| power | 231.2 kw / 310.0 bhp @ 6000 rpm |
| specific output | 65.69 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 221.43 bhp per tonne |
| driven wheels | Longitudinal Mid Engine / RWD |
| front tires | 215/70VR x 15 |
| rear tires | 215/70VR x 15 |
| front brakes | Ventilated Discs |
| rear brakes | Ventilated Discs |
| front wheels | F 38.1 x 19.0 cm / 15.0 x 7.5 in |
| rear wheels | R 38.1 x 19.0 cm / 15.0 x 7.5 in |
| f suspension | Independant w/Coil Springs, Telescopic Shocks |
| r suspension | Independant w/Coil Springs, Telescopic Shocks |
| curb weight | 1400 kg / 3086 lbs |
| wheelbase | 2600 mm / 102.4 in |
| front track | 1475 mm / 58.1 in |
| rear track | 1445 mm / 56.9 in |
| length | 4342 mm / 170.9 in |
| width | 1860 mm / 73.2 in |
| height | 1070 mm / 42.1 in |
| transmission | 5-Speed Manual |
| top speed | ~280 kph / 174.0 mph |
Auction Sales History
1972 Maserati Boomerang – sold for €3,335,000 One-off prototypes and concept cars in private hands are extremely rare, and fully functioning examples such as the Boomerang rarer still. They come to the market only infrequently and thus this unique and highly influential Maserati, penned by one of the greatest car stylists of all time, represents a possibly once in a lifetime opportunity for the discerning collector or automobile museum. There is no question that it would enhance any of the world’s great collections.
Auction Source: The Chantilly Sale 2015
