1999 Maserati 3200

With just three former keepers, ‘T371 YAB’ has been in the seller’s hands for the past fourteen years. Still having covered only 37,000 miles from new, it comes with a long MoT and a Maserati main dealer and independent specialist service history.

It’s got the desirable manual gearbox too, allied to that gem of a Ferrari engine. It’s also finished in metallic silver with a blue leather interior, which makes it the perfect specification, surely?

In need of only a little refurbishment – and maybe a service – it is being offered with a very reasonable estimate, so might prove to be a very cost-effective way to own a Ferrari-engined supercoupé.

The Maserati’s coachwork really is rather good. With excellent alignment and shutlines that speak of a life gently led, it’s easy to see this is a car that’s fresh from long-term ownership rather than a problem child that’s been shuffled between a series of uncaring owners.

Even the door mirrors and the four corners are free of scuffs and scratches: parking by touch has not been a thing.

The 18-inch alloy wheels have been largely untroubled by kerbs and other inanimate objects. They are in a fine condition with no scuffs, dinks, or other serious damage and their open, ten-spoke design allows the black brake calipers behind to be seen - and we think their subdued colour suits the car’s clean lines much better than the more usual red.

More good news comes with the fact they’re fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 3 and 4 tyres, all of which have decent tread on them still, even if they do date from 2014 and 2016 respectively.

The silver paintwork further reinforces our interpretation of the Maserati’s careful curation as it is nice and shiny and in fine fettle. The colour also gives the car a hewn-from-solid look that adds a touch of elegance and class to the design that other, brighter colours, do not.

This is a wonderfully understated example.

The lights, including the distinctive rears, are all good too, as is the window glass and badging.

As for flaws, the chrome around the front grille is rusty, there is some bubbling in the paint on the base of the offside mirror, some corrosion on the windscreen surround, and the front numberplate is held on with Mercedes-like levels of over-engineering featuring screws and washers. (The rear numberplate isn’t central either. OCD? Us? Surely not…)

The blue leather interior is as joyously extravagant as we’ve come to expect in a modern Maserati – just in a better condition than most.

Yes, it’s got the sticky button problem that plaques the model, but the Internet is full of helpful advice and suggestions as to how to get rid of it.

And that aside, the cabin really is very, very good. 

Fulsome and plump seats offer comfort and support in equal measure. The front ones are heated and electrically adjustable, of course, and all four are in an excellent condition. 

The blue hide extends to the centre console, dashboard, door cards, and rear panels and it is has been very well looked after.

A modern flip-front Kenwood multimedia DVD-combo with Bluetooth and a touchscreen sits in the dashboard.

As for wear and tear, the driver’s seat is scuffed and has been patched on its lower outer edge, as has the bottom of the offside door card. The carpets could do with a deep-clean, too. 

While the engine bay is tidy enough, we can see most of you would probably want to hand it over to a professional to be freshened up. It’s not that it is especially bad, it just looks a bit tatty compared to the rest of the car.

The underside looks good, with only surface corrosion to suspension components and the like as far as we can see. Certainly, no MoT tester has ever raised the thorny subject of structural corrosion, which is good to see.

But then the Maserati’s service history is recorded as follows:

• 09.10.2004 and 26,456 miles – service by Dick Lovett
• 24.07.2006 and 28,138 miles – service by Dick Lovett
• 22.08.2008 and 29,471 miles – service by Dick Lovett including new cambelts
• 17.03.2011 and 31,264 miles – service by Dick Lovett
• 27.02.2012 and 33,135 miles – repairs by Dick Lovett including new brake master cylinder, fresh brake fluid, new handbrake shoes and cables, turbocharger oil feed and drain pipes, and new anti-roll bar links
• 12.03.2012 and 33,135 miles – service plus new cambelts, new knock sensor, new coolant pipes, and an oil feed pipe repair by Dick Lovett
• 25.08.2017 and 36,616 miles – service by Meridien Modena, an independent specialist, including overhauling all four brake calipers and fitting new rear brake pads

As you can see, it is due a service, something the engine management light on the dashboard and idle confirm; it hunts between idle and about 1,200rpm and won’t settle. Which the customer states has done since owning the car and never caused issue. 

It does start and run well though, which is reassuring.

As is the MoT we’re just about to talk about.

The Maserati’s MoT certificate, which is valid until September 2024, was issued with just the one advisory for “Offside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear” – and this is the first advisory it has since 2014, which speaks volumes, doesn’t it?

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the Maserati comes with three keys, the stamped service history booklet, the book pack, and some old invoices.

We have to be honest: buying a Maserati 3200 GT is going to be one of the bravest moves you’re ever going to make. 

But you, like us, probably have this very conversation with yourself at least once a month and if you’re going to pull the trigger then this one looks like a decent one to pull it on. 

With a good history file and plenty of services in its lifetime, its 37,000 miles have been supported by diligent maintenance that includes two sets of cambelts. 

It also sports matching tyres and a full set of keys, which ought to further help put your mind at ease regarding its curation. 

The owner is a car enthusiast who’s enjoyed owning this “historically significant and interesting” Maserati as part of a collection that’s included three Ferraris, and it’s only being sold to make way for his latest acquisition.

And it’s not like you’ll be risking the house, either. 

At a time when a contemporary Ferrari is fetching silly money, you could find yourself the owner of this one for only £11,000 -15,000, which is staggeringly good value and gives you plenty of headroom to splash out on a thorough service.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.