The Maserati Boomerang hits 50

Half a century has now passed since the Maserati Boomerang made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show on 9th March 1972, a concept created by Giorgetto Giugiaro and produced by Italdesign. A mock-up had made a fleeting appearance at the 1971 Turin Motor Show, but the one and only example created was presented at the Swiss show in 1972 as a registered vehicle that ran perfectly.

The chassis and running gear came from the Maserati Bora, with a centre-rear eight-cylinder engine laid out at 90° that swept 4719cc and could unleash 310hp, bringing it close to a top speed of almost 186mph. The rear-wheel drive had a five-speed gearbox.

The originality of the Boomerang from an aesthetic point of view was demonstrated in its wedge shape and in its bold, clear lines which conveyed an image of penetration, power and speed. The model was designed along a horizontal line that divided the car in two, with a sloping windscreen and a panoramic sunroof. The original windows, especially on the two doors, were interspersed with a strip of metal. The retractable square headlamps stood out in the front, alongside the horizontal lights in the rear.

The two-seater sports coupé never went into production. Instead, it left behind a stylistic legacy that continued to live on not only in Giugiaro’s later creations, but also in other projects, serving as inspiration for various other automakers in Europe and the United States.