The Maserati Boomerang Concept

Images: Italdesign, Maserati, Gautam Sen

A dream car, an extreme, futuristic, almost irrational but astounding model capable of remaining imprinted on the memory of every single fan: half a century has passed since 9 March 1972, when the Maserati Boomerang made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. It was a concept created by the renowned hand of Giorgetto Giugiaro and produced by Italdesign.

One of the wedgiest of all the wedgy concepts from the early 1970s

Maserati Boomerang—a mock-up which made a fleeting appearance at the 1971 Turin Motor Show: only one model was ever made, which was presented at the Swiss show in 1972 as a registered vehicle that ran perfectly.

The base used by Italdesign (chassis and complete mechanicals) was a Maserati Bora, with a 90° V8 located amidships, displacing 4719cc. With a maximum power of 310bhp, the Boomerang claimed a top speed of almost 300 km/h. A five-speed gearbox was mated to the V8, with drive going to the rear pair of wheels.

The Maserati Boomerang went on to influence cars like the Lotus Esprit

The two-seater sports coupe 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.

We guess Giorgetto Giugiaro had no use for the French Curves when designing the Boomerang

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.

Period image of the Boomerang

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.

It was extremely modern in terms of its interior, where the dashboard instruments were built into the spokeless steering wheel, and the seats were positioned very low.

Another period image showing the light greenhouse

The only specimen of the Boomerang ever produced also made other appearances in international competitions. It would change hands between various owners, ending up featuring in several successive auctions, and was even used in commercials.

The Maserati Boomerang at a dream car show in Turin, with concept rivals such as the Alfa Romeo Carabo and the Lancia Stratos Zero in the background

Maserati Boomerang, considered by many to be a genuine work of art, was revolutionary and managed to influence the designs of successive cars. It continued the tradition of Maserati as a brand capable of creating unique automotive concepts, iconic and avant-garde cars that acted as pioneers of technology and style.