Lot 266

Monterey 2017

1974 Maserati Bora 4.9

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$187,000 USD | Sold

United States | Monterey, California

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Chassis No.
AM117/49-US 766
Engine No.
AM107/11/49 766
  • One of only 275 4.9-liter Boras created
  • Believed to be the car featured in the 1974 Bora and Merak brochure
  • Outstanding original color combination, matching numbers
  • Well maintained and largely original; 15,129 actual miles

Finished in the alluring “rock star” color combination of Rame Metallizzato (Copper) over Bone interior, this remarkably original Maserati Bora 4.9 is believed to have been the car used on the famous “The Wind and the Star” brochure. Sold new in Los Angeles in June of 1974, it first passed in 1980 to a gentleman in the Lake Tahoe area, then in 1986 returned to California, where it remained until 2003. That was in the care of Andy Leonard, a former record label manager for the Grateful Dead, who later became a well-known trader in Maserati sports-racers of the 1950s.

The car is without a doubt one of the most appealing Boras extant. With 15,129 documented miles at the time of cataloguing, it still wears most of its original paint, and fully original interior, including the carpeting and headliner. The body is solid and rust-free, with no evidence of prior damage; panels fit well throughout, and even the hallmark contrasting brushed stainless steel roof panel is in great condition. Mechanically, the four-cam V-8 runs and idles well, with plenty of power, and no engine leaks or smoke noted during a recent test drive. The current owner notes that all gauges, including the clock, are in working order, and the factory air conditioning works well. He chose to fit the car with the desirable European bumpers, ordered from Italy, which considerably improve its appearance over the original U.S.-specification “safety” bumpers. Accompanying the car is a copy of its brochure, owner’s manual, tools, and historical documentation.

A very original Bora that combines a lifetime of care and low mileage with well-sorted usability, this is an excellent, honest example for the Maserati enthusiast who appreciates originality and demands quality.