The Maserati Mexico

The Mexico "Mexico.....named to celebrate a Cooper-Maserati win in the Mexican GP? Not quite!"

Colour photos courtesy of Dr. George Lipperts

Official black and white photographs courtesy of Sig. Ermanno Cozza
The 1965 prototype Mexico by Vignale	The 1966 production Mexico by Vignale

On the Vignale stand at the Salone di Torino in 1965 there appeared an original 2-door 4-seater prototype designed by Giovanni Michelotti mounted on a Maserati tubular chassis with a 4.9-litre V8 engine. This car had been commissioned by an important person. It is thought that as the 5000 GT was now out of production, this important client desiring such a car, commissioned Vignale to build one.			Dr. George Lippert's Mexico: note the 'disc' wheels

The clean rear, note the rubber inset over-riders		Its appearance at the Salone di Torino, was very well received, so much so that Maserati immediately made plans to put a version into limited production. The production Mexico, designated Tipo AM112 by the factory, was a derivation of that original prototype (see the above photographs), was first displayed at the Paris Motor Show a year later.

The Mexico was powered by a 4.7-litre V8 engine (slightly lower in capacity than that of the prototype) producing 290 bhp at 5000 rpm, this gave the car a top speed of between 240 and 250 kph (150-156 mph). In 1969, contrary to Maserati tradition, the Mexico was also made available with a 'smaller' engine. This time the 4.2-litre V8 engine that powered the original Quattroporte 1a serie.			Ample legroom for even the tallest drivers!

The wooden dashboard of the Mexico		At the time of its launch the Mexico was priced at IT L.6,900,000 for the 4.2-litre version and IT L.7,500,000 for the 4.7-litre version. A magazine article at the time described the 2-door 4-seater Mexico thus: "Maserati have added an elegant and prestigious creation to their range that is luxurious yet functional at the same time. It is fast, spacious, easy to handle and equipped with the same air conditioning system as the Quattroporte."

Apart from the smaller engine option the Mexico underwent few changes during its lifetime. Its luxurious interior included a rich leather seating for four adults, electric windows, wooden dashboard and air conditioniong as standard. Automatic transmission, power steering and a radio were available as optional extras. The 4.7-litre version was fitted with 650 x 15" Boranni chrome wire wheels and the 4.2-litre version with 'disc' wheels. The Mexico was the first production Maserati to be fitted with servo assisted ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels.			The spacious interior of the four-seater Mexico

Production of the Mexico between 1966 and 1973 totalled 482 not 250, one with the 4.9-litre engine, 305 4.2-litre versions and 175 4.7-litre versions.

Now we know, all Mexicos were powered by either a 4.2-titre or 4.7-litre V8 engine and the prototype with a 4.9-litre V8, OK! Not quite! In 1965, Maserati built a 'Mexico' that was similar to Vignale's design but was in fact the work of Frua. #AM 101/S10.004, was commissioned by the German concessionaire Auto Koning for one of their clients, one Herr Rupertzhoven. Built in May 1965 on the same tubular chassis as the 3500GT (2600 mm wheelbase), this prototype 'Mexico' was fitted with the SIX cylinder 3.7-litre Lucas fuel injected engine as fitted to the Mistral. It was finished in Oro Longchamps with a black leather interior: the dashboard was the same as that fitted to a Quattroporte.			Judging by the Frua design, it appears that Herr Rupertzhoven really wanted a four-seater Mistral.

The following photographs are provided courtesy of CABO.

TECHNICAL DATA - TIPO 112

Body type	2-door 4-seater Coupé

Production years	From 1966 to 1973

Engine	Front engined V8 @ 90º

Bore and stroke	93 mm X 85 mm (88 x 85 mm)

Engine capacity	4709 cc (4135.8 cc)

Compression ratio	8.5:1

Maximum power	290-bhp @ 5000 rpm (260 bhp @ 5000 rpm)
Distribution	Two overhead camshafts, two valves per cylinder

Induction system	Fou twin-choke 38 DCNL5 Weber carburettors

Ignition	Single with Marelli distributor

Lubrification	Forced with pressure pump

Transmission	Rear wheel drive

Differential	Salisbury 'live' axle

Clutch	Dry single plate

Gearbox	5 speed and reverse (automatic transmission an option)

Chassis	Welded tubular trellis

Front suspension:-	Independent wheels, coil-springs and telescopic shock-absorbers

Rear suspension:-	Rigid axle, semi-elliptical leaf-springs and telescopic shock-absorbers

Brakes	Servo assisted ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels

Wheelbase	2640 mm

Wheel tracks	Front 1390 mm Rear 1360 mm

Tyres	Front:- 205 x 15) Rear: 205 x 15

Dry weight	1450 kg

Overall length	4760 mm

Overall width	1730 mm

Overall height	1350 mm

Maximum speed	255 kph (240 kph)

Models constructed	482

This Mexico brochure courtesy of Sig. Ermanno Cozza.


*"Prestige, elegance, reliability, space, in a car of high performance."*


This brochure contains a single b/w photo of the Mexico and full specification in Italian, English, French and German.