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Maserati Kyalami

The Maserati Kyalami was the first new model developed under the Alejandro de Tomaso ownership. It was derived from, and mechanically virtually identical (except for some body panels) to the Longchamp, a three-box grand tourer made by De Tomaso Automobili.

Vehicle Overview

The Maserati Kyalami: When De Tomaso acquired Maserati after the demise of Citroën in 1975, he found the brand in dire financial straits. In a desperate need to develop a new flagship model to improve sales, De Tomaso had the idea to use the recently unsuccessful Longchamp as the base in order to save development costs of the new model. Pietro Frua was commissioned by De Tomaso to undertake the restyling of the Tom Tjaarda-designed Longchamp, to give the new car a distinctive Maserati feel. The edgy lines of the Longchamp were softened and the headlamps were replaced by quad round units. The car was also lowered, lengthened and widened in order to give the car a more sporty character. This move was disdained by purists and this showed in the form of declining interest in the car. The interior was also upgraded to incorporate classic Maserati elements such the steering wheel and instrumentation. It was upholstered in premium Connolly leather and had plush carpeting. The boxy design for the roof meant that the car could easily seat taller passengers. A quad overhead camshaft Maserati 90° V8 engine was utilised to power the car, as opposed to the American-sourced Ford V8 which was used in the Longchamp. The Maserati Kyalami was the last car to use this engine. The Kyalami was a sales failure and only 200 units were built before it was replaced by the mass-produced Biturbo.

maserati kyalami frua

Technical Specifications

  • Body
  • Year
    1976
  • Make
    Maserati
  • Model
    Kyalami
  • Coachbuilder
    Frua
  • Length (mm)
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  • Width (mm)
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  • Height (mm)
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  • Units built
    200
  • Engine Type
    V8
  • Designer
    Pietro Frua
  • Make
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  • Model
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  • Cylinder Capacity
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  • Number Of Doors
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  • Date Of First Registration
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  • Transmission
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  • Colour
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  • Type Approval
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  • Wheel Plan
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  • Colour
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  • Type Approval
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  • Wheel Plan
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  • Revenue Weight
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