Maserati: A Century of Prestige and Innovation

Maserati is synonymous with prestige, speed and Italian style. Founded in 1914 in Bologna by
Maserati brothers, the brand began as a racing car workshop and then evolved into
one of the most prestigious names in the luxury automotive industry. The trident, symbol of Maserati, inspired by the statue of Neptune in Bologna, embodies strength, vigor and refined
elegance.

The 1960s witnessed a period of extraordinary innovation for Maserati. With models such as the Ghibli, the Mistral and the Quattroporte, Maserati not only redefined the aesthetics of luxury sports cars but established new standards of performance, without ever sacrificing elegance. The neon wire sign, produced in this decade, is emblematic of this era, representing not only the brand but also the aura of innovation and luxury that Maserati brought to the automotive world.

Curiosity:
Did you know that Maserati also produced motorcycles in the late 1950s?
The prestigious Bolognese brand Maserati has a fascinating history that extends far beyond the world of motoring. In fact, for a short period, it also produced some splendid motorcycles, which sported the Trident logo on their tank.

Let's summarize briefly the steps that led to this brief two-wheeled industrial parenthesis:

In 1937, the Orsi family from Modena acquired the small company founded by the Maserati brothers from Bologna. At that time, the company was not only limited to the production of cars but also that of spark plugs and batteries. With the transfer of industrial activities to Modena in 1939, the group expanded to include various companies linked to transport, navigation and mining.
Adolfo Orsi was at the helm of this growing industrial empire. The consolidation that took place in the following years allowed the creation of an autonomous division for the production of candles, batteries and, later, light bulbs.
Thus the joint-stock company “Fabbrica Candele e Accumulatori Maserati” was born in 1947, further enriching the corporate image of the Maserati brand.

In the 1950s the various activities of the group were divided between the Orsi brothers, with Adolfo concentrating on the automotive sector, Marcello on the foundry and Ida at the helm of the "Maserati Spark Plug and Accumulator Factory".

In a post-war Italy in full expansion of individual transport, motorcycles and mopeds acquired a growing share of the market, due to the high prices of cars and the economic constraints of a people tormented by war. In 1953, Ida therefore decided to venture into the world of two wheels, acquiring the Italmoto company of Bologna, recognized for its know-how.


The production of the first Moto Maserati models, such as the 160 T4, immediately proved to be a success thanks to their reliability and attractive design. The company, finding itself in crisis in the spark plug and battery sector, then decided to invest further in the motorcycle market, launching models such as the T2/U and the T2/D.
With the introduction of models such as the 125cc T2/TV and T2/GTS and the 50cc T2/S and T2/SS sports cars, Maserati acquired an important role in the Italian motorcycle market of the 1950s. The T2/SS became a style icon, especially appreciated by young people for its sporty and bold look.

The production of Maserati motorcycles officially ceased in 1960, due to increasingly ruthless competition from manufacturers such as Ducati, MV Agusta, Benelli, but also the advent of low-cost utility cars, such as the Fiat 500.

We want to conclude the story of the industrial parable of Moto Maserati with a happy note: in 1956 the 50 T2/SS was launched, a small motorcycle with a 50cc engine, which dreamed of being a Grand Prix motorcycle. Unfortunately, she was immediately given an unfair nickname, "the Toad", as she was considered not very graceful by public opinion of those times.
To date, "il Toad" has taken its revenge and is one of the most sought after models by collectors, reaching prices 10 times higher than its competitors at the time.

Toad has finally become a Prince.