Author: Nathan Chadwick
Photography: Aston Martin/Maserati/Broad Arrow/Hagerty/Dean Smith
Aston Martin DB4 (1958-1963) vs Maserati 3500 (1957-1964)
A fascinating line-up as both cars are examples of Anglo-Italian collaboration. Maserati shopped the UK’s parts providers for its first proper road car, while Aston Martin employed Italy’s Touring Superleggera to give the DB4 its shape. Both use straight six power, with the 3.7-litre Aston doling out 240bhp compared to the 220-235bhp of the Maserati. Slightly lighter Aston means it’s a whisker faster to 60mph and all out too.
Aston Martin DB5 (1963-1965) vs Maserati Sebring (1962-1968)
Evolution was the name of the game here, with a further refinement of the previous cars’ mechanicals and aesthetics. Aston Martin made more of a fist of the performance, with 282bhp in standard form, enough to give it a 145mph top whack and an eight-second 0-60mph figure. Sebring had a 3.5-litre, 3.7-litre and 4.0-litre straight six with between 220bhp and 255bhp, so in its most potent form just a half second behind the standard DB5 and 5mph shy. Of course, the DB5 is Bond’s car – but these days that could be as much of a disincentive as it is something to brag about…
Aston Martin DBS V8 (1969-1972) vs Maserati Indy
Radically different styling for both, and an extra two cylinders. Britain leads the way on brawn, with between 320bhp and 345bhp on offer, good for around six seconds to 60mph and a top whack of 160mph. Maserati’s V8 offered in 260bhp (4.2-litre), 290bhp (4.7-litre) and 315bhp (4.9-litre) form, and its elegant Vignale form can slither to 60mph in 6.5-7.5 seconds and on to a 143mph-155mph top speed.
Aston Martin Lagonda (1976-1990) vs Maserati Quattroporte III (1979-1990)
These expensive leviathans lived long lives, bringing indulgent V8 goodness to plutocrats the world over. The wedgy William Towns overture for Aston was a vision of a future we still haven’t got, while Giorgetto Giugiaro’s imposing form was rather more traditional. Aston had between 280bhp and 310bhp from its 5.3-litre V8 while Maserati coughed up between 255bhp and 300bhp. Aston was quicker, but only just – but also significantly rarer.
Aston Martin Virage (1989-1995) vs Maserati Shamal (1990-1996)
Controversial cars from an era when both companies were on the ropes. Virage’s 5.3-litre V8 had 330bhp and was good for a 6.5-second 60mph dash and a 158mph top whack, while Marcello Gandini’s brutalist icon had a 3.2-litre twin-turbo V8 that was good for 326bhp. All out you’d be doing 168mph, having kissed goodbye to 60mph in just 5.3 seconds.
Aston Martin DB7 (1994-1999) vs Maserati Ghibli II (1992-1998)
Both cars used reheated bits in a redesigned body to make the most of what both companies had. Aston Martin and TWR combined to give the XJS platform an Ian Callum-designed twist. Supercharged straight six was good for 335bhp and a 165mph top whack, with 60mph gone in 5.7 seconds. Marcello Gandini gave the decade-old Biturbo fundamentals a visual spritz, with power and performance upgraded to. Most UK-market Ghiblis used a 2.8-litre twin turbo with 284bhp, which was good for 162mph and a 0-60mph time of 5.7 seconds.
Aston Martin DB7 Vantage (1999-2003) vs Maserati 3200 GT (1998-2002)
Aston upped the cylinder count to 12 for a final fling for the DB7, doling out 420bhp. This took the horsepower up to 420bhp, which provided a top speed of 186mph and a sub-five-second 0-60mph time. Maserati gave its twin-turbo engine philosophy a last hurrah; this 3.2-litre engine develops 370bhp in a curvy Giorgetto Giugiaro body. It could hit 60mph in a smidge over five seconds and hit 174mph all out.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage 4.3 (2005-2008) vs Maserati GranSport (2004-2007)
Aston Martin’s millennial promise made metal with a ‘baby’ Aston that parked its Gaydon-built tanks on Porsche’s lawn. However, the much-improved 4200-derived Maserati GranSport wanted a piece of the action. Aston’s 4.2-litre V8 develops 380bhp for a five-second 60mph sprint and a 175mph top speed, while the GranSport’s Ferrari-derived 4.2-litre V8 delivers 400bhp for a 4.6-litre 0-60mph time and a 180mph top whack. Oh, and you can bring two extra passengers in the back of the Maserati too – but you forego a manual transmission in the process.
Aston Martin Rapide (2009-2012) V vs Maserati Quattroporte V Sport GT S (2008-2012)
Both lay claim to being the best-looking four-door ever made. Aston’s 6.0-litre V12 pumps out 470bhp for a sub five-second 60mph dash and 190mph top speed, while the QP counters with a 4.7-litre Ferrari-derived V8 that’s good for 433bhp, a sub five-second 60mph dash and a 179mph top speed. Tall rear seat passengers might prefer the Maserati, mind…
Aston Martin One-77 (2009-2012) vs Maserati MC12 (2004-2005)
The ultimate modern classics from both marques? Homologation-special Maserati opens the batting with a Ferrari Enzo-derived 6.0-litre V12 that’s good for 630bhp, a 3.8-second 60mph sprint and a 205mph top speed. Aston’s One-77 counters with a 7.3-litre V12 with 750bhp, a 3.5-second 0-60mph and a 220mph top speed. Aston would be far easier to use day to day – the Maserati doesn’t have a rear-view mirror and is 5.3 metres long. Parking on Savile Row would be a challenge…
Aston Martin DB12 (2023-current) vs Maserati GranTurismo (2023-current)
Aston Martin and Maserati lock horns again, with the Brit bringing a Mercedes-AMG sourced twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 to the party. It’s good for 630bhp, a 3.5-second 0-60mph and a 202mph top whack. Maserati counters with its in-house 3.0-litre twin-turbo Nettuno V6 that’s good for 542bhp, a 3.5-second 0-60mp time and a 199mph top speed.
Which classic marque gets your vote-sleek British craftsmanship or Italian flair? Tell us your pick and why at hdc@hagerty.co.uk