2009 Maserati GranTurismo S 4.7

Now then.

This car isn’t being sold by a vendor as such. And it doesn’t come with any kind of history or even a current V5.

The reason is that this car was brought to us to be auctioned by a debt collection company which is authorised by DVLC to sell the car on behalf of the administrators.

Or something like that.

The successful bidder for this car will have to apply for the V5 through the DVLA.

This, we’re assured, is a straightforward thing.

This 2009 GranTurismo S is a seriously sexy-looking car.

More to the point, it has somehow managed to amass just 1,580 miles in its 12-year life.

It’s barely run in.

The car is a beautifully balanced symphony of swoops and curves, and the white paintwork accentuates the car’s squat, aggressive stance and its alluring promise of power and speed.

This is a car you’ll want to park outside the pub or restaurant window (just so that you can carry on admiring it - and congratulating yourself on your good taste for buying it in the first place).

Finished in white with a red interior, it starts, goes, steers, rides, handles and stops as well as it looks.

Mercifully free from the “wait for it…wait for it…thump!!” unpleasantness of the flappy-paddle gearboxes on some earlier Maseratis, this GranTurismo makes the most of its marvellous Ferrari-derived 4.7 litre V8 to deliver plenty of power and grunt as and when it’s needed.

The steering is positive, direct and weighty. The ride is sporty but not harsh.

If you hear any rattles, groans, sighs, twangs, whistles, clunks or creaks when driving, they’ll be coming from the car’s occupants, not the car. This one is properly screwed together and feels solid.

When asked to press on a bit the mighty V8 rewards you with a noise that sounds like a two rugby teams having a fight in a tin shed. It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

It’s a fabulous engine note, and one you’ll never tire of hearing.

All in all, this is a very handsome, fast, capable, low-mileage, pedigree GT car and it’s in very good overall condition.

But it’s been sitting around doing nothing for quite a while (it’s done about 70 miles since 2016) and it’s picked up the odd scuff here and parking dink there.

Broadly speaking, the white paintwork is in good order.

The shut lines and door gaps are crisp, even and consistent.

The panels are mainly - but not entirely - free of dents, dinks, creases, scuffs, warps, buckles, ripples, nicks, chips or other unsightly marks.

The exterior trim appears to be pretty much untroubled by the ravages of time or use, as are the light clusters, glass, bumpers, badges and grilles.

The principal exception to the generally good news is to be found on the front valance, where (presumably) a high kerb has scuffed the plastic and actually cracked it around the n/s fog light. The front number plate also has a crack through it.

The alloys are in reasonable nick but there are some scuffs indicating kerbing and one or two places where the lacquer has worn away.

The tyres, though unworn, are now too long in the tooth and are starting to show cracks (which was noted in previous MoT advisories).

We haven’t seen any signs of rust anywhere on the bodywork. Which is hardly surprising when you consider that it’s barely been used and looks like it’s been kept garaged throughout its life.

If you like red leather you’re in for a treat.

Lashings of hide, carpet and brushed aluminum combine to create a very attractive cabin and one that makes you feel more than a bit special.

The red leather upholstery is in fine fettle all round and the seats - front and back - are both supportive and comfortable. Otherwise, our only observation about the seats is that they look like they could do with being shown some soapy water and a chamois leather.

The door cards and headlining are pristine and even the kick plates have clearly never been kicked in anger.

All dials and instruments are in good order both aesthetically and functionally, and most knobs, switches and levers have avoided the ‘sticky button’ feel sometimes encountered in Maseratis and Ferraris of a comparable vintage.

The buttons on the panel just to the right of the steering wheel are just starting to feel a tad tacky to the touch.

There is a note affixed to the centre console instructing you not to use the handbrake. This is because the electronic handbrake has broken and we have had a mechanic come in to our HQ and disable it (as it was fixed in the 'on' position and therefore the car couldn't be moved). This will obviously need to be repaired by the winning bidder before it can be MoT'd.

The black carpets and mats are in very good condition, as you’d expect in a car with this mileage.

As with every other GranTurismo we’ve ever encountered, the leather on the front and rear cup holder surrounds is wearing away at the corners.

Presumably, it starts to do this as it’s leaving the factory.

The boot, which isn’t cavernous but is certainly big enough for ‘normal’ living, is clean and tidy although, somewhat bizarrely, there is some superficial rust present in the chrome rings designed to take luggage straps.

Lifting up the carpets here or anywhere else on this car reveals no rust whatsoever.

There really is nothing to raise a frown or prompt a tut anywhere.

Yes, it has an underneath. No doubt about it. Not much to say really, as most of it is covered by trays, heat shields and protectors - which seem to have done a sterling job of protecting it.

There is no rust in evidence and everything here and in the very full engine bay appears to be in its right and proper place. It all looks right for a car that’s done virtually no mileage.

This car has no history whatsoever.

None. Nada. Nix.

It’s a mystery.

Much like the current whereabouts of its previous owner.

It doesn’t have an MoT certificate, but it does have an MoT trail going back to 2016 on the check-mot.service.gov.uk site.

There really can’t be many 2009 GranTurismo S 4.7 examples out there with 1,580 miles or fewer on the clock.

This car is a thing of beauty, a delight to behold and a joyous, grin-inducing thrill to drive.

Yes, it’s provenance is a bit murky and its history decidedly thin, but that might just make it something of a uniquely affordable route to ownership of one of the world’s most prestigious cars.

We like these cars and we’re of the opinion that this example is fundamentally a good ‘un.

We think that with a full service and some new tyres, this particular vehicle will represent a great deal of car…..and a great deal full stop.

We’re happy to offer it for auction with an estimate of between £30,000 - £40,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.