Gandini might be the most recognized automotive designer when it comes to the 1970s wedge shape, but Giorgetto Giugiaro offered up his take on the wedge with the Maserati Bora and its little brother, the Merak. Substituting a Citroen and a pair of rear seats for the Bora's V8 offerings, the Merak competed with entry-level heavy-hitters like the Ferrari 308GT4 and the Lamborghini Urraco.

Maserati was owned by Citroen while the Merak was developed, so in addition to the quad-cam V6, the Merak received its brake hydraulics, clutch hydraulics, and headlight lift hydraulics from the venerable SM. Flying buttresses in the rear went a long way in distinguishing the Merak from the Bora, but both shared the majority of their front sheetmetal with one another.

Year: 1974
Model:  Maserati Merak
Engine: 3.0L V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage:  not listed
Price: $39,950
Location: Los Angeles, CA

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1974 Maserati Merak

1974 Maserati Merak This highly collectible 1974 Maserati Merak is available in a vibrant color combination of red with a grey interior. It comes equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, power windows, chrome bumpers, air conditioning, Campagnolo wheels and includes the spare tire. This is a very clean and presentable car and an excellent opportunity to climb into vintage Maserati ownership at a great price. The car is also mechanically sound. For $39,950

It is said that the front suspension mountings and the rear fuel tank saddle areas are prone to rust on otherwise clean cars, and that both can require considerable expense to repair. In addition, on many cars, the sodium-filled exhaust valves are known to drop without warning, an outcome that is best avoided through proactive replacement. The transmission is shared with the Lotus Espirit of the era, so parts can be found, and the hydraulic suspension has an impressive reliability record, with replacement accumulators, the only real service part, obtained at a reasonable expense.

This seller features some of the roughest finds on the internet, so we aren't really sure what to expect from this particular example. It was likely out of service for a long period, and we wouldn't bet on the front suspension rust being already repaired. The passenger side door paint doesn't match the rest of the body, so expect some damage repair in the vehicle history. Production for the Merak is relatively high at 1830 units produced, but for a car so interesting and rare, we think the price of admission is well worth it.

-Graham