Aston Martin vs Maserati over the years

Across the ages

Aston Martin and Maserati are names that evoke the very best in elegant GT motoring, both classic and modern. They share similar stories: heroic motorsport pedigree, famous racing drivers, elegant Hollywood glitz and, less heroically, oft-perilous financial situations.

Here we have lined up a series of head-to-heads from across the decades: six-cylinder GTs, V8 continental cruisers, brutal ’80s design studies, modern classics and even hypercars crafted from the finest ‘unobtainium’.

Which would you choose in each case?

All values provided are from the Hagerty price index, unless stated otherwise

’50s cool – Aston Martin DB4

The 1958 DB4 was a new era for Aston Martin – it was a brand-new chassis, and it used a Superleggera construction style inspired by Touring, who happened to design the car’s sensational looks.

The 3.7-litre straight-six was good for 240bhp (according to the manufacturer…), and on the UK’s then speed-limit-free roads you could romp all the way to 140mph. Well, if the bonnet didn’t fly up at speed, or the engine overheat – something which Series 1 DB4s became known for in period. Happily, a larger oil sump and an upgraded oil pump were options from the Series 2 onwards…

That’s ancient history now. The DB4’s more angular looks give it a much different, edgier styling approach compared with the DB5 that followed; somewhat meaner, more aggressive. It took the best bits of British engineering, Polish powerplant mastery and Italian design flair to create a car that would shape Aston’s next decade.

’50s cool – Aston Martin DB4 (cont.)

Aston Martin DB4 (1958-1963)

• Engine 3670cc dohc straight-six
• Power 240bhp @ 5500rpm
• Torque 240lb ft @ 4250rpm
• Weight 1308kg
• Top speed 141mph
• 0-60mph 8.5 secs
• Yours from £365-595,000
• Pros Stunning looks for less than a DB5
• Cons Most people still idolise a DB5

’50s cool – Maserati 3500GT

The 3500GT of 1957 was a development of Maserati’s 350S racing engine, but clothed in a much-needed road car. It came at a time when Maserati was under deep financial stress and needed a volume seller to keep the lights on.

Of course, volume selling means triple digits in the world of Maserati, so the 3500 is rare – and it’s a treat. A twin-overhead camshaft straight-six engine with around 220bhp to play with, but the best was yet to come with regards to the styling.

This came from Touring, with a swish Superleggera aluminium body, though several design houses were commissioned to come up with exciting ways to cover such advanced and sporty mechanical underpinnings, including Vignale, Allemano, Boneschi, Frua and Bertone.

There’s also a deep British connection – chief engineer Giulio Alfieri had to source the rear axle, brakes and parts of the suspension from the UK. It all came together to create a car that set the template for Maseratis for years to come, right up to the Mistral.

’50s cool – Maserati 3500GT (cont.)

Maserati 3500GT (1957-1964)

• Engine 3485cc dohc straight-six
• Power 220bhp @ 5500rpm
• Torque 239lb ft @ 5500rpm
• Weight 1350kg
• Top speed 128mph
• 0-60mph 9.3 secs
• Yours from £171-235,000
• Pros Pure elegance
• Cons We’re struggling…

Sensual ’60s – Aston Martin DB5

The Aston Martin DB5 of 1963 isn’t a mere car – it’s a cultural icon, a poster, a dream and an intrinsic part of being, well, British. The only problem is that, of course, Bond’s first DB5 was actually a DB4 Series 4 (DB5 prototype)…

But let’s not get bogged down with that, because on its own terms the Aston Martin DB5 is a star in its own right. Even if Britain’s least successfully discreet secret agent isn’t your thing, surely the glorious Touring-penned curves are? Or maybe the classy interior does it or, even better, the seductive tones of its 4.0-litre straight-six. With a smidge over 280bhp and 145mph at the top end, the DB5 has the bite to match the bark, too.

A Vantage version appeared in 1964, sporting three Weber carbs and reprofiled camshafts to deliver a healthy 325bhp. In some ways the James Bond connection has overshadowed the DB5’s merits on its own – this is truly a great way to travel, even if you don’t have a licence to kill.

Sensual ’60s – Aston Martin DB5 (cont.)

Aston Martin DB5 (1963-1965)

• Engine 3996cc dohc straight-six
• Power 282bhp @ 5500rpm
• Torque 288lb ft @ 3850rpm
• Weight 1465kg
• Top speed 142mph
• 0-60mph 8.1 secs
• Yours from £540-910,100
• Pros It is James Bond’s car…
• Cons …that’s not necessarily the best association

Sensual ’60s – Maserati Sebring

The Maserati Sebring was based heavily on the 3500 and squarely aimed at conquering the lucrative American market – hence the car’s name, a reference to Juan Manuel Fangio and Jean Behra’s victory at the 1957 Sebring 12 Hours in a Maserati 450S.

Unlike the 450S, the Sebring used the same straight-six as the 3500, in either 3.5, 3.7 or 4.0-litre form. And it was potent – the first cars could scorch past 60mph in 8.5 secs and all the way to 137mph. It was improved over its lifetime and when the final call came for the Sebring, output was up to 261bhp.

Because it was designed for the American market, not only is it exceptionally roomy inside, but it was also the first Italian car to be fitted with an automatic gearbox. Although it is best enjoyed with the five-speed manual gearbox, letting the smooth six-cylinder engine work its sonic magic far up the rev range.

Sensual ’60s – Maserati Sebring (cont.)

Maserati Sebring (1962-1968)

• Engine 3485cc dohc straight-six
• Power 232bhp @ 5500rpm
• Torque 260lb ft @ 3600rpm
• Weight 1510kg
• Top speed 137mph
• 0-60mph 8.4 secs
• Yours from £160-221,000
• Pros GT gorgeousness for a fraction of the DB5’s price-tag
• Cons James Bond didn’t drive a Sebring

Svelte GTs – Aston Martin DBS V8

The Aston Martin DBS V8 is arguably the birth point for Aston Martin as we see it today. Not only was it the last car developed under David Brown’s control (in straight-six form), but since the introduction of the DBS V8 in 1969, Aston has rarely dropped below eight cylinders.

The precise output of the Tadek Marek V8 was never released at the time, but the introduction of eight pots under that elegant William Towns-penned bonnet proved to be a hit. At the beginning of production, all cars were sold out so that Aston couldn’t even lend a real one to Brett Sinclair in The Persuaders! – that car was a ‘six’ made to look like a V8.

At the time the DBS V8 was one of the fastest production cars in the world, and more than 50 years later its performance figures still stack up. Add in beautifully chiselled looks and an engine note to get the heart pumping, it’s understandable why these are so special. Just 402 were built before the car morphed into the Aston Martin V8 in 1972.

Svelte GTs – Aston Martin DBS V8 (cont.)

Aston Martin DBS V8 (1969-1972)

• Engine 5341cc dohc V8
• Power 315bhp (est)
• Torque 400lb ft @ 4500rpm
• Weight 1820kg
• Top speed 7.1 secs
• 0-60mph 150mph
• Yours from £82-145,000
• Pros More elegant than the V8 models that followed
• Cons Looks a bit too similar to the six-cylinder models?

Svelte GTs – Maserati Indy

The Maserati Indy took the elements that made the Ghibli so great – sleek fastback design, big-league V8 – and added room for four people. Three different engine sizes were offered (4.2, 4.7 and 4.9) and unlike the Ghibli V8s, these had a wet sump and four Weber 42 DCNF twin-choke carbs.

Also unlike the Ghibli, which was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Ghia, the Indy was penned by Virginio Vairo and Elio Mainardi at Vignale, though it did share the Ghibli’s suspension layout.

Named after Maserati’s two wins with the 8CTF at the Indy 500 in 1939 and 1940, it was launched in 1969. Unlike a lot of GTs of the era, the Indy is exceptionally roomy inside, with a much higher roofline to accommodate rear-seat passengers. And although the car started out fairly conventionally, Citroën’s takeover of Maserati led to some French thinking with the brakes.

Nowadays the Indy is a fraction of the price of a Ghibli, yet much more useable. Maybe not quite as achingly pretty, but at least the kids can come along…

Svelte GTs – Maserati Indy (cont.)

Maserati Indy (1969-1975)

• Engine 4719cc dohc V8
• Power 286bhp @ 5500rpm
• Torque 282lb ft @ 3800rpm
• Weight 1650kg
• Top speed 156mph
• 0-60mph 7.5 secs
• Yours from £50,100-72,990
• Pros Sleek Ghibli-esque looks; roomy
• Cons Not quite as pretty as a Ghibli

Saloon shootout – Aston Martin Lagonda

The Aston Martin Lagonda somehow still manages to look futuristic now, even though it first burst into life during a time when there were just three channels on the TV.

Perhaps seeking to make up for that, the Lagonda famously had a screen of its own, though as owners found out the thing you’d most likely watch was an empty display, given its unreliability. It’s said that development costs of the electronics ended up being four times that of the car itself, and even replacing the LED dash display for cathode ray tubes did little to help the Series III car; they were even more unreliable.

Enough of the negatives – most cars have had their issues sorted in one way or the other by now. The William Towns shape still cuts an impressive dash today, even if the styling is as polarising as ever. There’s excellent room inside and it’s trimmed in the most opulent way – you can well imagine the well-heeled industrialist rocking up to Heathrow in this for his or her Concorde flight to New York at the dawn of the ’80s.

With easy torque and the kind of ride comfort that is unheard of today, the Lagonda makes for a classic four-door like no other.

Saloon shootout – Aston Martin Lagonda (cont.)

Aston Martin Lagonda (1976-1990)

• Engine 5341cc dohc V8
• Power 280bhp @ 5500rpm 
• Torque 302lb ft @ 3000rpm
• Weight 2023kg
• Top speed 8.8 secs
• 0-60mph 143mph
• Yours from £35,200-79,700
• Pros There’s nothing quite like it…
• Cons …there’s a reason for that

Saloon shootout – Maserati Quattroporte III

The Maserati Quattroporte III came at a time of great uncertainty for the firm. The 1970s had been a tumultuous time of poor sales, even poorer workplace relations and a divorce from Citroën. With Maserati’s traditional supercar sales performing at a trickle, new boss Alejandro De Tomaso went after the luxury saloon market.

Despite much research and prototyping being undertaken under Citroën, De Tomaso went back to basics with a more conventional suspension set-up and the quad-cam V8 from the Kyalami. Styling came from Giorgetto Giugiaro, and foreshadowed the Biturbo that was to set the styling template for the firm for near enough the next two decades (although Giugiaro didn’t design the Biturbo). 

Despite a trend for cars to become ever larger over the past 40 years, the Maserati Quattroporte III still seems enormous. Almost as enormous as the fuel bill, undoubtedly.

Saloon shootout – Maserati Quattroporte III (cont.)

Maserati Quattroporte III (1979-1990)

• Engine 4930cc dohc V8
• Power 276bhp @ 5500rpm
• Torque 289lb ft @ 4000rpm
• Weight 1969kg
• Top speed 143mph
• 0-60mph 6.2 secs (est)
• Yours from £25,000-40,000 (est)
• Pros It certainly makes a statement
• Cons It will cost a lot to fuel

Brutal couture – Aston Martin Vantage Zagato

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato came at a time when Aston and Zagato were both struggling, and this car did much to revitalise interest in both brands. 

This wasn’t just a spot of Italian tailoring for an ageing British marque, this really was the time-honoured Zagato approach to coachbuilding – lighten and make more aerodynamic. The engine was much more fruity, too. Power was up to 482bhp, nearly 100bhp more than the X-Pack upgrade for the normal V8 Vantage.

Despite the extra performance, the Giuseppe Mittino-penned styling didn’t go down well with many people, but Victor Gauntlett, then in charge of Aston, was an avowed fan of the car. His enthusiasm also led to a Volante version – he even sliced up his own Vantage Zagato for the prototype of that car.

Just 52 coupés and 37 drop-tops were built, making this a very rare car, one that’s developed a cult following in the years since.

Brutal couture – Aston Martin Vantage Zagato (cont.)

Aston Martin Vantage Zagato (1986-1988)

• Engine 5341cc dohc V8
• Power 432bhp @ 6000rpm
• Torque 395lb ft @ 5100rpm
• Weight 1590kg
• Top speed 186mph
• 0-60mph 5 secs
• Yours from £335,000-410,000 (est)
• Pros A lighter, more hardcore V8 Vantage
• Cons Aluminium corrosion

Brutal couture – Maserati Shamal

The Maserati Shamal was the last act of the Alejandro De Tomaso era, and with this car he certainly went out with a bang. Styled by Countach designer Marcello Gandini, the Shamal is an assault on the senses. It’s certainly a look you’ll either love or hate, but there’s no doubting it catches your attention.

Then there’s the engine, a ferocious twin-turbocharged V8 that in a 1417kg car feels almost modern-day fast under hard acceleration, largely because the Shamal is so light.

However, despite going and looking like a hardcore supercar, the Shamal is a beautifully refined GT, with super-squidgy leather pews, excellent ride quality and a quiet ambience, when you’re not headbutting the horizon.

The only downside is that the steering lacks some of the communication you might want with that kind of power, but it makes far more sense on the long road trips it was intended for.

Brutal couture – Maserati Shamal (cont.)

Maserati Shamal (1990-1996)

• Engine 3217cc dohc V8
• Power 318bhp @ 6000rpm
• Torque 319lb ft @ 3000rpm
• Weight 1417kg
• Top speed 168mph
• 0-60mph 5.3 secs
• Yours from £38,500-68,500
• Pros A comfortable GT cruiser; bludgeoning performance
• Cons Build quality can be iffy; parts availability is poor

’90s rebirth – Aston Martin DB7 Vantage

The Aston Martin DB7 Vantage took what was good about the original DB7 – the looks – and evolved the car into a more rounded GT. Out went the shouty supercharged six-pot, in came a smooth and burbly V12 with enough power to put Aston back up amongst the GT elite.

The 5.9-litre engine was crafted from two Ford six-cylinders, but any thoughts of poor provenance are soon forgotten as the vast reserves of torque surge you into the horizon with a wonderful baritone soundtrack.

There’s a V12 Vantage for all tastes, too – coupé or drop-top, manual or clutchless – so whatever you want to do with your DB7, it’ll happily respond. The best part is that it rides beautifully, something the later DB9 didn’t quite nail first time out. It might not handle as sharply as a Ferrari, but you can certainly hustle the DB7 Vantage.

The only fly in the ointment is that the interior is cramped in the front, and near unusable in the back. Still, step out of the car and it’s still gorgeous.

’90s rebirth – Aston Martin DB7 Vantage (cont.)

Aston Martin DB7 Vantage (1999-2004)

• Engine 5935cc dohc V12
• Power 414bhp @ 6000rpm
• Torque 400lb ft @ 5000rpm
• Weight 1780kg
• Top speed 185mph
• 0-60mph 5 secs
• Yours from £25,100-38,900
• Pros Lusty V12 has plenty of power; gorgeous looks
• Cons Manuals are rare; cramped cabin

’90s rebirth – Maserati 3200GT

The 3200GT was the car that brought Maserati back to life, with the help of Fiat and Ferrari. Car production had been trickling along in the hundreds for the best part of 10 years, but this fired the firm back into the desirability stakes and in only four years, just under 4800 were built.

It’s easy to understand why – the Giorgetto Giugiaro-penned exterior is a winning mixture of elegance and aggression, while the Enrico Fumia-styled interior is a delight, and has genuine room for four. It makes for a great touring companion. But it does have a more vicious side…

The Shamal-derived twin-turbo feels far more potent than the numbers suggest – it’s an intoxicating blend of naturally torque-plentiful V8 with the added frisson of twin-turbocharged danger. This ups the adrenaline factor, but the feel-free steering does make keeping hold of its 370bhp somewhat tricky – or the key to its appeal. This is a car with a very loyal owner base, and it’s easy to see why.

’90s rebirth – Maserati 3200GT (cont.)

Maserati 3200GT (1998-2002)

• Engine 3217cc dohc V8
• Power 370bhp @ 6250rpm
• Torque 362lb ft @ 4500rpm
• Weight 1587kg
• Top speed 174mph
• 0-60mph 5.1 secs
• Yours from £12-22,000 (est)
• Pros Truly eye-popping accelerative thrust
• Cons Poor parts availability; the steering is a little vague

Into the ’00s – Aston Martin V8 Vantage

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage was a stunning design that catapulted Aston into the Porsche 911 arena. It had the right person at the helm of the company, Ulrich Bez, whose sheer dogged belief in quality made the Porsche 993 so great and applied that thinking to the junior Aston. The gearshift is oddly familiar…

There was no flat-six here, though. Instead there was an extensively reworked Jaguar-sourced V8 that sounded truly glorious, that was draped in arguably the most beautifully styled British car since the Jaguar E-type.

Early 4.3-litre cars were criticised for a lack of oomph (though some prefer their rev-happy nature), but this was made up for later with a 4.7-litre version that added power and torque.

Into the ’00s – Aston Martin V8 Vantage (cont.)

Aston Martin V8 Vantage 4.3 (2005-2008)

• Engine 4280cc dohc V8
• Power 380bhp @ 7000rpm
• Torque 302lb ft @ 5000rpm
• Weight 1630kg
• Top speed 174mph
• 0-60mph 4.9 secs
• Yours from £25-40,000 (est)
• Pros It handles as sharply as it looks; reliable for an exotic
• Cons No rear seats; not as lithe as a 911

Into the ’00s – Maserati GranSport

The Maserati GranSport was the final evolution of the Coupé/4200 line that replaced the 3200. There were only modest power gains over the 4200, but the big differences were in the chassis and execution.

Not only were the exterior and interior restyled for a more sporty persona, with lashings of carbonfibre, but the suspension was retuned. It might not be quite as sports-car-like to drive as the Vantage, but it’s got sharp Ferrari-style handling, and feels far nimbler and lighter than it is.

The star of the show is the Ferrari-derived V8. It sounds gloriously raspy as you soar to 7000rpm, and there are deliciously addictive ‘poofles’ on the overrun.

The GranSport is also very practical – you really can seat four people in comfort. It’s much rarer than the V8 Vantage, too, and as such feels a little more special.

Into the ’00s – Maserati GranSport (cont.)

Maserati GranSport (2004-2007)

• Engine 4244cc dohc V8
• Power 395bhp @ 7000rpm
• Torque 333lb ft @ 4500rpm
• Weight 1680kg
• Top speed 180mph
• 0-60mph 5.1 secs
• Yours from £20-30,000 (est)
• Pros Ferrari V8; room for four
• Cons F1 paddleshift gearbox only; uncompromising ride

Hypercar heroes – Aston Martin One-77

The Aston Martin One-77 may look vaguely similar to the V12 super GTs that had appeared from Gaydon since the turn of the century, but this was nothing like what we’d seen before.

Firstly, though the familiar V12 was the basis of the engine, it was completely reworked to the point there are very few components that carry across. Aston Martin worked with Cosworth to not only give the naturally aspirated 7.3-litre 750bhp, but also made it 25 per cent lighter than the normal V12s.

The body was also designed with light weight in mind – compared to a Vanquish, which clocks in at 1739kg, the One-77 is a mere 1627kg thanks to a carbonfibre monocoque. And there’s racing car tech in the suspension: mounted inboard front and rear, it transfers vertical suspension travel to horizontally mounted springs and dampers.

Just 77 were built, and we don’t know of any that have dropped below the £1,150,000 original asking price…

Hypercar heroes – Aston Martin One-77 (cont.)

Aston Martin One-77 (2011-2012)

• Engine 7312cc dohc V12
• Power 750bhp @ 7500rpm
• Torque 533lb ft @ 5000rpm
• Weight 1630kg
• Top speed 220mph
• 0-60mph 3.5 secs (est)
• Yours from £2-2.5m
• Pros 750bhp
• Cons That semi-automatic gearbox isn’t the smoothest

Hypercar heroes – Maserati MC12

The Maserati MC12 was designed to win – pure and simple. Using the Ferrari Enzo as its basis, its design was handed over to Frank Stephenson to create a racing car that would defeat all. It duly did, romping to FIA GT1 championship after championship.

The good news is that in order to homologate the car for competition, Maserati had to build 50 roadgoing versions. It’s not the most practical car – there’s no rear window to see out of, it’s on the flippin’ big side of enormous and there’s a massive wing to contend with – but each time you send the rev needle around to 7500rpm, where peak power is delivered, you’ll easily forget all of the problems.

Even better, you can take the roof off to hear the majesty of its V12 in full voice.

If 621bhp is a bit meagre for your tastes, Maserati also built 12 special versions called the Versione Corse – a track-only edition with 745bhp. That should do it…

Hypercar heroes – Maserati MC12 (cont.)

Maserati MC12 (2004-2005)

• Engine 5998cc dohc V12
• Power 621bhp @ 7500rpm
• Torque 481lb ft @ 5500rpm
• Weight 1355kg
• Top speed 205mph
• 0-60mph 3.8 secs
• Yours from £1.5-1.7m
• Pros Rarer than an Enzo; it has true motorsport pedigree
• Cons Parking it can seem more challenging than 24 hours round Spa