Complimenting the mint condition Maserati Biturbo we featured last week, here we have a very low mileage example of that car’s evolutionary successor, the 430. The one thing that can be concerning about low mileage Maseratis from the 1980s is determining whether they have low mileage due to the fact they might have been bought by a collector or whether they spent more time in the shop than on the road. This 430 is claimed to have been from a collection and certainly looks as such from the condition. The problem here is, how much of a headache can a 24 year old Maserati that has sat for most of its life be?

Year: 1989
Model: 430
Engine: 2.8 liter twin turbo V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 3,850 miles
Price: Reserve auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1989 Maserati 430

1989 Maserati 430, 3850 original miles. This is literally a brand new car. It was stored indoors in a climate- controlled collection for 24 years, this is the first time it is being offered to the public. Still has remnants of the plastic on the leather that covered it during shipping from the factory. Has original tires as it rolled out of the factory. Comes with the dealer window sticker and full professional maintenance manual in three ring binder. Standard equipment on this car are: 2.8 liter SOHC aluminum V6 engine, 3 valves per cylinder, twin turbochargers and dual air-to-air intercoolers, Webber- Marelli computerized fuel injection/ ignition system, rack and pinion power steering, ZF 5-speed manual transmission, Ranger limited slip differential, 4 wheel independent suspension, Hi-Speed radial tires on 15" alloy wheels, servo-assist four wheel disk brakes, automatic air conditioning with touch-sensitive control panel, power windows & door locks, tinted glass,leather upholstery, adjustable steering column with leather steering wheel, Maserati clock, tool kit, electric door mirrors, stereo cassette radio, noise & corrosion control coatings, factory fog lights. Clean California title. This car cost $45,786.00 in 1989.

There are very minor scuffs, imperfections in the paint and interior as can be expected of a car this age. The power antenna has also been removed and is in the trunk. This car runs and drives good, but can use a standard tune up to get it running excellent. Shipping is the responsibility of the buyer, I can assist in loading. Payment is due 7 days after close of auction. See my other auctions for other super-rare cars I'm selling from my collection.

Like the Biturbo, the 430 can be had for pennies on the dollar these days. These cars were meant to be targeted as a more exclusive, upscale choice to the typical BMW 3 series and Mercedes 190s of the era, but have seen their values plummet to the level of those cars and below, due to the cost of upkeep. This car has minor cosmetic issues but nothing to detract terribly. A clean, well-sorted 430 could fetch between $12,000 and $14,000 at the high end. Good examples of these cars usually hover around $10,000. There’s a lot of questions to be asked with regards to this car and why it sat for so long, and a lot of things might need attention to make it reliable for regular use. This one is certainly worth a punt, but, as they say, caveat emptor.

-Paul