Maserati 5000 GT I (Tipo 103) gallery (1959–1966)

The Maserati 5000 GT (factory project code Tipo 103) was conceived in 1959 after the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, commissioned Maserati to combine the grand touring chassis of the 3500 GT with the ferocious five-liter V8 engine derived from the 450S endurance racer. Built around a heavily reinforced tubular steel chassis with independent front double-wishbone suspension and a De Dion rear axle, the vehicle represented the ultimate pinnacle of performance luxury in its era. The early iterations were powered by a 4.9-liter (4,937 cc) quad-cam 90-degree V8 fed by four dual-throat Weber carburetors, producing roughly 325 to 340 horsepower. In 1961, the powertrain received a comprehensive revision: engine displacement was modified to 4,941 cc, a Lucas mechanical fuel injection system replaced the carburetors, and a twin-spark ignition setup was introduced. Early cars utilized a four-speed manual transmission, which was soon superseded by a five-speed manual gearbox sourced from ZF. Only 34 chassis were completed between 1959 and 1966, clothed in bespoke coupe bodywork by Italy's premier coachbuilders, predominantly Carrozzeria Touring and Allemano, alongside rare one-offs by Frua, Pininfarina, Ghia, Michelotti, Monterosa, and Bertone for royalty, industrialists, and celebrities across Europe and America.