Maserati Bora: which version to buy
The choice on the Maserati Bora is between two Coupe versions of the same 1 generation (1971–1980): 4.7 MT and 4.9 MT. Both are Gasoline, 8-cylinder, V-shaped, no boost, Manual 5, RWD, with 130 mm ground clearance. 4.7 MT is the higher-output, higher-specific-output, higher-compression, multi-point-injection, 4-valve-per-cylinder car (310 hp / 228 kW at 6000 rpm from 4691 cm³).
The choice on the Maserati Bora is between two Coupe versions of the same 1 generation (1971–1980): 4.7 MT and 4.9 MT. Both are Gasoline, 8-cylinder, V-shaped, no boost, Manual 5, RWD, with 130 mm ground clearance. 4.7 MT is the higher-output, higher-specific-output, higher-compression, multi-point-injection, 4-valve-per-cylinder car (310 hp / 228 kW at 6000 rpm from 4691 cm³). 4.9 MT is the larger-displacement, lower-peak-power, carbureted, 2-valve-per-cylinder car (300 hp / 221 kW at 5600 rpm from 4930 cm³) and the only one of the two with a measured torque figure (402 Nm at 3000 rpm). Kerb weight, 0–100, top speed, mpg, tank, and wheels are not measured on either version, so they cannot decide the purchase.
Generations: what actually changed
There is one generation, so there is no later Bora to “wait for.” 1 generation ran 1971-01-01 to 1980-12-31 as a Coupe with 2 versions. Both 4.7 MT and 4.9 MT share those dates. Restyling is not listed as a separate generation. What you are choosing is not year-to-year hardware within a facelift cycle; it is two concurrent engine–induction packages under the same body type, gearbox type, drive type, and listed clearance.
Specs: side-by-side engines
| Version | hp | kW | rpm (power) | Nm | rpm (torque) | Displacement, cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Valves/cyl | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 MT | 310 | 228 | 6000 | not measured | not measured | 4691 | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | 4 | No | Manual 5 | RWD |
| 4.9 MT | 300 | 221 | 5600 | 402 | 3000 | 4930 | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | 2 | No | Manual 5 | RWD |
4.7 MT has 10 hp more than 4.9 MT (310 − 300) and 7 kW more (228 − 221). Peak power arrives 400 rpm later (6000 vs 5600). Displacement is 239 cm³ smaller (4691 vs 4930). Compression is 11.0 vs 9.5 (1.5 points higher). Bore × stroke is 94 × 85 vs 93.9 × 89. Fuel on both is 95. Induction is Distributed injection (multi-point) on 4.7 MT vs Carburetor on 4.9 MT. Engine position is Front, longitudinal on 4.7 MT and not measured on 4.9 MT.
Specific output from the given figures:
- 4.7 MT: 310 hp / 4.691 L ≈ 66.1 hp/L; 228 kW / 4.691 L ≈ 48.6 kW/L.
- 4.9 MT: 300 hp / 4.930 L ≈ 60.9 hp/L; 221 kW / 4.930 L ≈ 44.8 kW/L.
4.7 MT makes about 5.2 hp more per litre (66.1 − 60.9) and about 3.8 kW more per litre. That is the arithmetic of the extra 10 hp on 239 cm³ less capacity, plus 4 valves per cylinder vs 2, plus compression 11 vs 9.5, plus multi-point injection vs carburetor.
Torque is not a two-way comparison. 4.9 MT is 402 Nm at 3000 rpm. 4.7 MT torque is not measured — do not treat that as “no torque,” only as an unlisted number. You cannot compute Nm/L or a torque gap.
Performance and mpg: what is not measured
0–100, top speed, city, highway, and combined consumption are not measured for 4.7 MT and not measured for 4.9 MT. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured. A buyer cannot rank these two on sprint, Vmax, or mpg from this catalogue. The only performance-adjacent numbers that exist are power, (on 4.9 MT) torque, displacement, compression, valve count, and how the fuel is metered.
If you want the version that the data actually ranks higher on peak output and specific output, that is 4.7 MT. If you want the version with a documented mid-range torque figure, that is 4.9 MT, and only 4.9 MT.
Dimensions and weight: same listed clearance, everything else not measured
Kerb weight is not measured on either version. Gross weight is not measured. Tank is not measured. Wheel sizes are not measured. Ground clearance is 130 mm on 4.7 MT and 130 mm on 4.9 MT — no difference.
Weight per horsepower cannot be calculated: mass is missing. “What the extra money buys in kilograms” cannot be calculated: prices are not in the data, and mass is not in the data.
Chassis items that are listed are the same where both sides exist: front suspension Independent, spring; front brakes Ventilated disc. Rear suspension is not measured. Rear brakes are not measured. Those blanks apply to both versions, so they do not break the tie.
Which version to choose
Buy 4.7 MT if the decision is peak power and how hard the engine works per litre. It is the 310 hp / 228 kW car, 10 hp and 7 kW above 4.9 MT, at 6000 rpm rather than 5600. It is the 4691 cm³ engine with 4 valves per cylinder, compression 11, and Distributed injection (multi-point). Specific output is ~66.1 hp/L versus ~60.9 hp/L on 4.9 MT. Engine placement is stated: Front, longitudinal. Fuel is 95, gearbox is Manual 5, drive is RWD, boost is No — same as the other car, so those are not reasons to pick it.
Buy 4.9 MT if the decision is displacement, a listed torque number, and a lower-rev power peak. It is the 4930 cm³ engine — 239 cm³ more than 4.7 MT — with 402 Nm at 3000 rpm (the only measured torque in the pair). Peak power is 300 hp / 221 kW at 5600 rpm: 10 hp and 7 kW less, 400 rpm earlier. It uses 2 valves per cylinder, compression 9.5, and a Carburetor. Engine position is not measured. Specific output is lower (~60.9 hp/L). Fuel 95, Manual 5, RWD, No boost, 130 mm clearance match 4.7 MT.
Do not pick on generation. There is only 1 generation (1971–1980, Coupe, 2 versions). Nothing later in this dataset adds AWD, Automatic, extra gears, boost, or a different body.
Do not pick on 0–100, top speed, mpg, tank, wheels, or kerb weight. All of those are not measured on both 4.7 MT and 4.9 MT. Claiming one is quicker, more economical, or lighter would invent numbers.
Do not pick on ground clearance or listed chassis hardware. Clearance is 130 mm on both. Front suspension Independent, spring and front brakes Ventilated disc on both. Rear items not measured on both.
Net arithmetic. The only ranking the data supports: 4.7 MT wins peak hp, peak kW, hp/L, kW/L, compression, valve count (4 vs 2), and has injection instead of a carburetor; 4.9 MT wins displacement (+239 cm³) and is the only version with Nm on the page. If those two priorities conflict, the catalogue does not resolve them with 0–100 or weight. For a peak-output, high-specific-output, 4-valve, injected Bora, the version name is 4.7 MT. For a larger-capacity, carbureted Bora with 402 Nm at 3000 rpm, the version name is 4.9 MT.