Category Archives: Maserati

Giugiaro, Maserati

2004 Maserati Coupe GT on BaT

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We are going to miss having the Maserati around. A restrained design, 6-speed manual, and an engine from Maranello with nearly 100hp/liter of displacement all add up for quite an enjoyable car. We always thought that we would replace it with a Ferrari 456 GT, but we think this will get replaced by another Maserati Coupe down the road.

For now, having the space back for our growing list of project cars will be welcome. The car has been perfect throughout our four years of ownership, with only a window regulator failure to report on as far as issues go. And we were able to come up with a fix for those here.

2004 Maserati Coupe GT for sale manual transmission Ferrari engine side
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Year: 2004
Model:  Maserati
Engine: 4.2L V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage:  49,000 miles
Price: No reserve auction
Location: Dearborn, MI

2004 Maserati Coupe GT for sale manual transmission Ferrari engine black interior
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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2004 Maserati Coupe GT on BaT

This 2004 Maserati Coupé GT is finished in black over black leather and is powered by a replacement 4.2-liter V8 paired with a six-speed manual transaxle. Equipment includes 18″ seven-spoke wheels, a Blaupunkt CD changer, a carbon-trimmed shift knob, automatic climate control, and Tubi rear mufflers. The car was originally delivered to The Collection of Coral Gables, Florida, and later moved to Michigan, where it was acquired by the seller in 2017. Service in 2020 consisted of a heater core replacement, a coolant flush, and oil change, while the battery was replaced in preparation for the sale. This Coupé GT shows 49k miles and is offered at no reserve with three keys, an owner’s manual, service records, a factory tool kit and tire inflator, a Maserati-branded car cover, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Michigan title in the seller’s name

2004 Maserati Coupe GT for sale manual transmission Ferrari engine
Click to view auction on Bring A Trailer

The car had an engine replacement at 33k miles, so the new engine has just 16k miles on it. We replaced the heater core with a Saab aluminum unit in summer of 2020, and changed the coolant and engine oil and filter at that time. We installed new Michelin tires at around 43k miles and repaired both window regulator pins. The car has minor paint imperfections and stone chips, but the car shows very well.

We hope that the next owner can enjoy the car as much as we did, and continues to keep it in great shape. Enjoy the final day of the auction!

-Graham

Giugiaro, Maserati

2006 Maserati Coupe GT

We are currently at work on a VW Rabbit pickup with a GTI engine and transmission swap. If VW had offered our favorite body configuration with the top-spec gasoline engine and close-ratio 5-spd transmission, they could have saved us some trouble. But, automakers can't always make a business case for the specific configuration of their offerings that we would enjoy most.

The seller of this Maserati Coupe GT encountered a similar situation: the GranSport is only available with paddle-shifter manual transmission, and clearly the seller prefers to drive a car with a manual transmission. The seller has grafted the GranSport body modifications onto this Coupe and has upfitted the interior with the GranSport goods as well.

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Giugiaro, Maserati

2002 Maserati Coupe GT

Yesterday we discussed the bold designs of European cars during the early 2000s. Todays Maserati Coupe GT originates from that era, but lacks the boldness that we associate with cars out of the same period. The milquetoast exterior of the Coupe GT can be partially attributed to the fact that it is itself a refreshed edition of the Maserati 3200 GT, abandoning the boomerang taillights that set the 3200 GT apart on the road. Evaluating the contemporary Ferrari 456 and 550, the designs for front-engined exotic Italian coupes at the time were pretty restrained in comparison to what was offered from Alfa Romeo and Fiat.

This Coupe GT features the 6-speed manual transmission that is a less common sight among Coupes. As a refresher, the GT moniker denotes the manual transmission option, but many listings seem to stumble on this naming convention, so when shopping for a manual example, it's a good idea to comb through the Cambiocorsa offerings to make sure that you don't miss out on any mislabeled GT cars.

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Giugiaro, Maserati, Uncategorized

2006 Maserati Coupe GT Project

We are not serious drivers here at CICFS. We enjoy driving on the track enough to visit once a year, and for us that is plenty. It seems that every spring when the Alfa Romeo Owners' Club track day is approaching, we have some sort of tricky issue with our Milano that has us rushing to get the car track-ready. And every time that happens, we joke about just bringing the Maserati to the track.

Now, one of these years when the tires on the Maser are due for replacement, we'll make it onto the track. We're in no rush though. The Coupe is an odd car to bin into any single category. It's certainly not a sports car, lacks the power of a muscle car, and it doesn't ride well enough to be a useful GT. It's probably best described as a sports sedan with two doors, then. In any case, it doesn't beg to be driven fast, but with the willing V8 underhood and the beefy manual transaxle between the rear seats, it would certainly be enjoyable to drive at speed.

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Giugiaro, Maserati

2004 Maserati Coupe GT

The Maserati Coupe and Spyder bridge the De Tomaso and Fiat ownership eras at Maserati. The 3200GT, on which the Coupe is based, was the first new chassis developed under Fiat's sole ownership of Maserati. The twin-turbo V8 was borrowed from the Quattroporte IV, which remained on a De Tomaso era Biturbo chassis.

Ferrari's 50% stake in the outfit led to a substantially improved version of the 3200GT, renamed the Coupe and Spyder. Ferrari took advantage of its new luxury division to send the Enzo racing in Maserati MC-12 form, and it released its new F136 V8 to market in the Maserati Coupe before later introducing an uprated version of the engine in the F430. Better to get the teething issues out on the Maseratis than the Ferraris, we'd say.

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Maserati

1990 Chrysler TC By Maserati

As car enthusiasts, we sometimes respond irrationally to brands that we perceive as the mark of excellent engineering. The Chrysler TC By Maserati features pistons by Mahle, a Cosworth and Maserati cylinder head, a transmission by Getrag, and the list goes on. If we were to assess the TC solely on the merits of its component suppliers, it would rank among the greats. But, the whole probably comes up short of the sum of the parts.

The TC rides on a modified Chrysler K-car platform - specifically, the truncated chassis of a Dodge Daytona. Bodywork was a product of Innocenti facilities in Turin, while the final assembly took place in Milan. The intercooled Turbo II powertrain was an amalgam of Chrysler and specialty components. The base engine was similar to a standard Chrysler Turbo II, while the cylinder head was cast in a Cosworth foundry and assembled by Maserati.

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Centro Stile Maserati, Maserati

1985 Maserati Biturbo

The Biturbo should be met with suspicion. After all, it was selected as Time's Worst Car of 1984. Piling on further, we've been advised by those in the Alfa Romeo community to permit the Biturbo ample berth. And yet the temptation remains.

We aren't fans of the shape, though once you get past the awkward, stunted proportions, the design details are handsome. The wheels are a classic design with a nice deep dish to them. The exhaust tips are interesting, and the fonts on the decklid are handsome. We can imagine how the interior, worn out as it is today, would have looked in the original design concept sketches and we see what they were going for. Still, it brings to mind the current Maserati Ghibli - a car that sells in relatively large numbers (for a Maserati) in spite of its odd appearance.

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Giugiaro, Maserati

1974 Maserati Merak

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.

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

1974 Maserati Merak interior grey seats manual
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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

Maserati Merak 3.0L V6 Citroen engine hydraulics
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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

Giugiaro, Maserati

2003 Maserati Spyder GT

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Giubo. Gweeebo. Stradaaale. Gran Turisomo. Cambiocorsa. Some words, for the english speakers at least, are fun to pronounce. Sometimes they are so fun that they get used even where they don't apply. With the Maserati Coupe and Spyder, much of the public was confused by what was essentially a lack of any sort of name, outside of Coupe or Spyder. And complicating matters were the Cambiocorsa and GT designations, separating the manual GT cars from the automated-manual Cambiocorsa cars. So, it's nice to see one properly labeled, as searching for Coupe or Spyder GT usually leads to a disappointing handful of Cambiocorsas.

The traditional manual cars seem to be the more reliable of the two options, and do tend to command higher prices. That said, we don't see the problem with the automated-manual. It doesn't quite fit the grand touring theme, but that's what makes it more appealing to us - like Recaro sport seats and a throaty exhaust in an unassuming sedan, often it's the unexpected features of a car that give it the most personality. But enough about paddle shifters, because today we're featuring a 3-pedal manual.

2003 Maserati Spyder GT rear view manual transmission
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Year: 2003
Model:  Maserati Spyder GT
Engine: 4.2L V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage:  36,464
Price: Auction, est. $30,000-40,000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL

2003 Maserati Spyder GT interior black leather red stitching manual transmission Jaeger
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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2003 Maserati Spyder GT

-390 horsepower, 4.2-liter V-8 engine
-Desirable six-speed manual transmission 
-Finished in Mondia Red over black leather interior 
-Originally sold through Maserati of Washington in Sterling, Virginia 
-Optional extras included red piping, heated front seats, wind-stop deflector, xenon front lights, skyhook suspension, as well as custom dashboard and lower door panels
-Accompanied by original window sticker, factory books, tools, and air compressor
-One of 574 Spyder GTs produced from 2001 to 2007

2003 Maserati Spyder GT manual transmission red 4.2L Ferrari V8 F136 engine
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This example is optioned nicely, with the Skyhook suspension and some tasteful contrast stitching on the inside. When these were on the new-car market, the option book rivaled Porsche, when it came to interior options. Upper and lower door panels and dashboard as well as seats and carpet were all available in a wide array of colors - for a price, of course.

Last week we featured an Alfa romeo 8C Spider at 10 times the price of this Maserati Spyder. With around 500 built of each, if you separate the manual Spyder from the automated-manual Spyder, they are equally rare. The 8C is more of a car of occasion, but we see a tremendous value in the Maserati, which is mechanically similar at one tenth of the cost.

-Graham

Giugiaro, Maserati, Uncategorized

2004 Maserati Coupe Cambiocorsa Track Car

Serial eBay prowlers are probably wondering why this car hasn't turned up here sooner. It would be dishonest of us to not admit that it's mostly due to the fact that we were hoping to come up with the courage to list our 2004 Coupe GT in order to make room for this track version of the same car.

The Tipo M138 Coupe straddles the line between a true GT and more of a large sports coupe. The general internet consensus is that, in comparison to a true Italian GT such as the Ferrari 456, the Coupe is sportier, and easier to toss into a corner. On the other hand, a Ferrari F430 owner might prefer the streetable power curve of the Coupe, but nobody will confuse a Maserati Coupe with a sports car after stepping out of a Ferrari F430.

2004 Coupe Cambiocorsa blue track car race seats Brembo rear
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Year: 2004
Model:  Maserati
Engine: 4.2L V8
Transmission: 6-speed automated manual
Mileage:  18,288mi
Price: $20,000
Location: St. Louis, MO

2004 Coupe Cambiocorsa blue track car race seats Brembo Recaro seats Shroth harness
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CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2004 Maserati Coupe Cambiocorsa Track Car

This particular motorcar was purchased by a gentleman who always wanted to race cars. He spared no expense when it came to outfitting his dream.
It has Forgeline Alloy Wheels, Brembo Calipers, Recaro Seats, Schroth Racing Harness, Mychron 5 Dash lap counter, Camera and special roll bar.
The transmission is manual six speed CC using paddle shifters. The Cambiocorsa electrohydraulic manual transmission uses a Formula One type of gear box operated by F1 style paddles behind the steering wheel, similar to the system used in Ferrari sports cars. It allows the driver to choose between 4 different modes of operation: Normal, Sport, Auto and Low Grip.

2004 Coupe Cambiocorsa blue track car race seats Brembo Ferrari V8 F136
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We love the idea of getting one of these out onto the track. After all, the Cambiocorsa gearbox was designed for track use, and by most accounts comes up short on the street anyway. The platform deserves to be let loose. Hopefully you don't mind getting lapped by Mustangs and Camaros though - we aren't betting on the Coupe being anything spectacular out on the track.

Pricing here is on the high side for a paddle-shifting Coupe, but between the wheels, brakes, dash display, camera, seats, and harness, there is plenty to sweeten the deal. The color is less common, and the mileage on this example is quite low. Of course, those miles contain many hard track miles. Now, who is ready to double that count?

-Graham