Following the 5000GT and the Quattroporte, the Mexico became the third Maserati road car powered by a “civilized” version of the V8 engine from the 450S race car. It shared its general construction with the original Quattroporte, using a slightly shortened chassis. Although a two-door coupe, the Mexico was a true four-seater sporting elegant and refined coachwork by Vignale. Contrary to other Maserati four-seat coupes, it was not named after a racetrack. The name Mexico was chosen because the 5000GT that served as its prototype was once owned by Mexican president Adolfo López Mateos, and it returned to Mexico after having appeared at the 1965 Turin Motor Show. It was truly fitting, but also pure coincidence, that John Surtees would close the 1966 Formula 1 season with a convincing win in the Mexican Grand Prix at the wheel of a Cooper-Maserati T81. Launched in 1966 at the Paris Motor Show, the Mexico was offered with the same engine variants as the Quattroporte, with either 4.2-liter or 4.7-liter displacement.