Wednesday One-Off: 2005 Maserati Birdcage 75th

Automotive design blends form with function, and the nature of various standards and regulations means that it is often more of the latter than the former. However, good design is also about pushing the boundaries of what is, or what could be, possible.

Concept cars are arguably the epitome of this goal. Frequently produced as outlandish, non-functioning display pieces, they allow audiences to marvel at visions of the automotive future. It is no surprise that many of the companies that have produced some of the most dramatic and beautiful concept cars in history hail from Italy, and one of the most famous of all is Carrozzeria Pininfarina.

While some show vehicles are simply rolling chassis, or powered by low-capacity motors, many Pininfarina-designed concept cars were no mere show ponies. They were often built on existing model platforms, allowing manufacturers and enthralled audiences to see and experience these creations in all their visceral glory. One car that took this to extremes was the Maserati Birdcage 75th.

This extraordinary machine was the result of a project that brought in three well-known companies: Maserati, Pininfarina, and Motorola. It marked the 75th anniversary of the Pininfarina company, and was conceived as a vision of an imaginary but altogether possible future. The car blended the racing and performance heritage of Maserati, with technological innovations from Motorola, within an exquisite body sculpted by Pininfarina.

The basis for the Birdcage 75th was the Maserati MC12 GT1 race car, making use of both its carbon-fibre honeycomb monocoque chassis, and the howling naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 engine, which was modified to produce up to 700bhp. Coupled to the six-speed automated manual transmission from the road-going MC12, the Birdcage 75th was a concept car that took your breath away, with both its gorgeous styling and prodigious pace.

Manufactured from carbon-fibre and designed using complex 3D renderings, the sweeping aerodynamic bodywork seamlessly combined futuristic cues with unmistakable nods to Maserati’s competition provenance. Its low, streamlined stance and clearly defined cockpit evoked the essence of the successful Italian racers of the 1960s, most notably the Tipo 60 and 61. The Birdcage 75th had even taken its moniker from the nickname given to these classic sports cars, which stemmed from their intricately fashioned tubular steel frames.

At the end of the sloping nose cone was the signature oval Maserati grille, with slim LED headlights on either side that incorporated aluminium cooling ducts. This design was echoed at the rear of the car, with the elongated tail lights also including ducts to disperse the hot air from the engine bay. Deep rear diffuser channels sat either side of the vertically mounted twin exhaust pipes, and slick twin active spoilers sat between the haunches, capable of increasing downforce at high speeds.

However, the Birdcage 75th’s party piece was its elegant teardrop-shaped Perspex canopy, which was integrated within front and rear body sections that lifted up to expose the entire interior and engine bay. The cabin featured blue suede upholstery, and the F1-inspired steering wheel included a large LED display, giving the driver access to a customised array of functions and menus. Most dramatic of all though was the effortlessly stylish full head-up display that projected onto the huge clear dashboard panel.

Pushing the car’s technological capabilities even further, Motorola installed cameras around the vehicle that could capture and share the owner’s driving experiences, as well as offering enhanced night-time driving via an infrared system.

After the Birdcage 75th was completed, it was unveiled to the public at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. The concept caused a sensation, and within a few days was named ‘best in show’. This prestigious award was followed swiftly by the car being voted ‘The Most Beautiful Car in the World’ by Automobila magazine, before taking the Louis Vuitton Classic Concept award in 2006.

This astonishing concept car was the perfect blend of innovation, power, and striking design, which firmly reminded the world what Pininfarina was capable of. The Birdcage 75th remains on display at the Italian coachbuilder’s museum in Turin, where it will no doubt continue to inspire for decades to come.