The classic Trident design is underlined by a thunderbolt, which represents the ideas of speed and performance. Today, one of the most unmistakable versions is the “Saetta” logo that adorns the C-pillars of both Quattroporte and Ghibli, carrying on a tradition dating back to 1963. Decade after decade, model after model, the design of the Trident, along with its details, kept evolving, taking on multiple shapes. Today, the logo is at the center of a perfect oval and it is blue and red - representing the colors of the city of Bologna where it came to life. Whatever the reason, the more aerodynamic and modern oval shape has been in use ever since, with slight stylistic variations through the years. Another version of the story though says that the new shape represented the ellipse section of the chassis tubes that Maserati used for its Grand Prix cars - a distinct engineering feature that made them stronger over traditional round chassis tubes. In fact, the flat, rectangular badge could no longer be applied on the now curved radiator shapes: that’s why it became an oval. Starting from 1931, the retaining shape was changed. The black logo of the Trident was placed at the center of a white badge. On early cars - and particularly on the Tipo 26 - the badge was rectangular and made out of pure silver. Italian gentlemen drivers inundated the Maserati brothers with orders for the car. Bolstered by their initial success, the brothers immediately started to build more Tipo 26s and by mid-June, the car took its first overall victory when Ernesto Maserati won the flying kilometer at Bologna. They won their 1500 class and came in eighth overall, even beating two Bugattis to the finish line. It was powered by a vertical 8-cylinder 1492 cc in-line engine that generated 120 hp at 5300 rpm for a top speed of over 112 mph. The car was painted red, the Italian racing color, and it bore the number 5. From that moment on, the Trident badge would become world-renowned, symbolizing quality and victory. Held on a 70-mile course of public roads on the island of Sicily, the Targa Florio saw the participation of the Tipo 26, driven by Alfieri Maserati with Guerino Bertocchi as his riding mechanic. It was an historic day both for the Maserati brothers and for Italian motor racing. On Sunday, April 25, 1926, the Tipo 26 made its very first appearance along with the famous Trident badge, which has since become synonymous with Maserati. Mario’s idea to use it for the Maserati symbol was very well received. The god of the sea was holding his three-pronged spear in his hand: the trident. Legend has it that Mario went walking around Bologna, and at the very end of Piazza Maggiore came across the statue of Neptune. As such, he was the one Alfieri asked to create an image that represented the product that would carry the Maserati family name on the roads of Italy and beyond. He loved the arts instead and studied at Brera Academy. Mario, fifth-born of the Maserati brothers, was the only one who wasn’t interested in cars or motor racing. It was the first real Maserati so, of course, a badge was needed. They called it the Tipo 26, the number indicating its year of construction. The three Maserati brothers spent the winter months of 1926 at their via Emilia Levante headquarters in Bologna, working on what would become the first car they would build themselves. The first World Motor Racing Championship for car manufacturers took place in 1925.
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