PHOTO GALLERY
Motorraum VOR Trockeneisreinigung
FOR SALE
After many years of providing serious fun to the present owner, this fabulous example of classic motoring is now for sale.
Suitable for tall drivers!
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Much work has been done over the years, including a cylinder head rebuild, and so this Merak SS is ready to be driven fast and far, without any further preparation. A powerful yet smooth engine, efficient brakes, the right noise from the exhaust system and the eye-catching looks will put smiles on your face and on those of the people who will turn their heads when you roar past them.
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The car comes with the Osprey AutoHistory book "Maserati Bora & Merak", some original publicity leaflets and brochures plus copies of the spare parts and repair manuals.
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The asking price is CHF 98'000 / EUR 90'000 ono.
MASERATI MERAK 3000 SS
CONTACT
1981
MASERATI MERAK 3000 SS
MASERATI
THE MERAK
According to the certificate issued by Maserati S.p.A car No. 2829 was built in October 1981. The SS production was discontinued in 1983
The car has a fantastic presence in its "nero" body colour, contrasting red Connolly leather and, according to information obtained from Maserati itself, rare customer ordered matching red carpets.
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Being the late model, the car features the most powerful engine and efficient brakes. Maserati purists will appreciate the fact that there are no Citroen parts on this model. Additionally the dashboard is the same as that of the upmarket Bora.
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This car is suitable for tall drivers. The current owner is 1.88 m / 6 ft 2 in and finds the car very comfortable to drive, thanks to generous space and the adjustable steering wheel.
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The car is currently registered in Switzerland. It also comes with Dutch papers, i.e. it has been registered in the EU in the past.
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The asking price is CHF 98'000 / EUR 90'000 ono.
CHASSIS NR 2826
The Merak is arguably the most underrated car of the Maserati stable. This model is tainted by being "only" a six cylinder and by Citroen's involvement. While the Citroen SM is seen to be a better car because of its Maserati engine, the Meraks built with certain Citroen parts (for example a less than sporty steering wheel and dashboard and some hydraulics), are not appreciated by purists.
On the plus side, the Merak utilised a great part of the structure of the chassis of the Bora and the body design was placed once more in the expert hands of Giugiaro who cleverly maintained the Bora's overall shape.
The Maserati brothers, Alfieri, Bindo, Carlo, Ettore, and Ernesto were all involved with automobiles from the beginning of the 20th century. Alfieri, Bindo and Ernesto built 2-litre Grand Prix cars for Diatto, but in 1926, Diatto suspended the production of race cars.
This lead to the founding of the Maserati marque. One of the first Maseratis, driven by Alfieri, won the 1926 Targa Florio.
In 1937, the Maserati brothers sold their shares in the company to the Adolfo Orsi family. The brothers continued in engineering roles with the company. Racing successes continued, even against the giants of German racing, Auto Union and Mercedes.
In 1968, the financially troubled Maserati was taken over by Citroën. With secure financial backing, new models were launched and built in much greater numbers than before. In 1971 the Maserati Bora was the first series production mid-engined Maserati and ended Maserati's reputation for producing fast, but technologically outdated cars.
In 1975 Maserati passed from Citroën to an Italian state-owned holding company and Alejandro de Tomaso, an Argentinian industrialist and former racing driver, who became president and CEO.
THE SS MODEL
Luckily, at the time the SS iteration was built, Citroens short-lived involvement was a thing of the past and the Merak was pure Maserati again.
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Now that the 8-cylinder Maseratis have reached very high price levels, the more affordable Merak - in the SS guise very much a Maserati - starts to attract the attention the fantastic design deserves.
