The Maserati 420/430 was a four-door, five-seater version of the popular Biturbo available from 1986 to 1994, available in various engine sizes from 2.0L to 3.0L. It was constructed on a longer chassis, yet received much of the same design and features as the Biturbo model.
Naming Convention of the Maserati 420/430
The naming convention leads to a fairly confusing history to the evolution of what is essentially the same vehicle. The model code is Tipo AM332 and they were designed by Pierangelo Andreani. In 1983, the Maserati 425 was originally introduced as a four-door with a 2.5 liter engine (hence 425 model name). In 1985, the Maserati offerings included the original 425, plus a new 420 model (four-door with 2.0L engine) and a high-performance 430 model (four-door with 3.0L, more precisely 2.8L, engine). The 430 would eventually replace the 425 entirely in 1989. This scattered naming convention has led some people to refer to this vehicle simply as the Maserati 420/430, using the two main engines featured in this four-seater Maserati through the time period.
Original Design
Just two years after the mass-production Maserati Biturbo was introduced, the company added the 425 saloon, which was a four-door version of the popular two-door coupe. It sat on a wheelbase that was 3 inches longer with a more pronounced rear overhang. The nose and hood were shared from the Biturbo lineup, but the rest of the body panels were unique to the Time AM332 model. The additional length and interior space caused an overall increase in weight of 220 pounds. The increased length also meant changes to the exhaust system, which resulted in slightly less power than the two-door counterparts.
Regulatory Pushes for Smaller Displacement Engines
Like many car manufacturers of the time, Maserati changed its built specifications to handle the increasing government regulations. The 425 model’s 2.5L engine resulted in increased tax burden from the Italian government, which could be avoided by limiting it to a 2.0L engine. Hence the Maserati 420 with a 2.0L engine was born. It produced 180 horsepower and had a top speed of 215 km/h. This was the primary AM332 available to the Italian market. Maserati also immediately introduced a 420 S model with an additional 30 horsepower for a total of 210hp. Twin intercoolers with two NACA ducts on the hood helped achieved this increased performance. In 1986, a Weber fuel injection system was introduced and was accompanied by a small naming change to the 420i. The exterior color options mimicked the Biturbo with a two-tone treatment available in silver or red option over a standard grey lower body. Blacked-out chrome trim was used throughout. Turning to the interior, you’d find hand-trimmed red leather in the seats, center console, dashboard, and armrests.
Power Option
In 1987, a more powerful version of this four-door, five-passenger sedan was made available, mainly for export purposes, for those who desired it. While it shared many features of the 420 model, it was the first to receive a more founded grille and hood before the rest of the lineup would follow suit. The Maserati 430 used a 3.0L engine (more precisely closer to 2.8L) that produced 250 horsepower at 5,600 RPM. The top speed was increased to 240 km/h. A catalytic converter was added for exports to places requiring one, reducing overall output to 225 horsepower. This power range, plus a luxurious interior, put the Maserati 430 at the top end of the saloon market. It featured standard leather upholstery and wallet veneered trim pieces. In 1991, styling changes were brought to the Maserati 430 including slimmer headlights, wider grille, and a new spoiler. 7-spoke alloy wheels and new bumpers were added too. That same year, 4-valve-per-cylinder heads were implemented, increasing power to 279hp, and causing another small naming change to the 430 4v. 995 vehicles were built between 1987 and 1994.