1979 Maserati Merak SS

Which makes ‘HAH 701T’ a very rare beast indeed – and not just for those build numbers because it’s also original, unmolested, has covered just 25,701 miles, and is finished in Argento with a black Connolly hide interior and Campagnolo cast alloy wheels.

In the care of the seller since 1992, we are told that McGrath, the respected independent Maserati specialists, said it is one of the best they have seen – and they should know because the seller asked them to give the car a thorough going over in 2020 with a view to commissioning them to refresh it.

However, having now eased himself into retirement the seller feels it’s too late for him to commission the work, and he’d prefer to hand the baton onto someone else to enable him to enjoy his other classic cars with a clear conscience.

Making this is an exciting opportunity for someone to get their hands on an incredibly original, right-hand-drive example of the ultimate Merak they could then fettle and restore as and when motivation and money coincide.
 

Doesn’t it look great finished in Argento (Italver code 6336031), a colour that makes the Maserati look like it’s been hewn from a solid ingot of aluminium.

Shutlines that look like they’ve been drawn on with a black marker pen help maintain the illusion, as do the dent- and dink-free panels. There are no ripples along the flanks either, something the full-length character line that runs down either side demonstrates in the clearest possible way.

The paintwork is pretty good too, albeit in need of refreshing in places. The most obvious flaw is peeling paint along the horizontal panel that lies between the headlamps and the indicators.

The 7x15 Campagnolo cast alloy wheels (has there ever been a more evocative brand of wheel?) are free of major damage, with only light scuffs to their perimeter. In fact, they’ve survived so well they each still boast the Campagnolo sticker on the outer edge.

They’re fitted with a matching set of Avon Turbospeed tyres too – and has there ever been a more iconic tyre for a car of this type either?

Plus, as we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The various slats and grilles all look good too, and while the badges are a bit faded, the lamp lenses are excellent with no cracks, chips, or other damage. The headlamps also rise and fall as they should.

The good news continues because the front valance, which hangs quite low, looks to have survived negotiating various sleeping policemen over the years without damage, and the chromed front and rear bumpers are shiny and bright.

That said, the rest of the (limited) chromework is lightly pitted and a bit dull but we suspect an afternoon with some Autosol would reap a huge improvement.

As for rust, the bane of every Italian car of the era, we’ve spotted only a couple of outbreaks, including the nearside front wing and the rear of the offside sill.

Even less worrying are the dent in the bonnet, the good-sized chip in the paint near the driver’s door handle, and the mark on the offside rear wing.
 

The black Connolly hide interior (Connolly code VM 8500) is beautifully patinated and by that we mean it wears its history proudly and honestly – and given so many of us love our classic cars as much for the romance as the engineering, we think its condition only adds to the car’s (already considerable) desirability.

Because that Connolly hide is no more than creased and light cracked; it’s not damaged, or falling to pieces, and the two front seats have retained their shapes very well, including the vulnerable outer bolsters that usually sag and soften.

The 2+2 rear seat is in an even better condition, which is as you’d expect give it will have seen much less use.  However, while their overall condition is good, there is a small round hole in the base of the nearside rear seat.

The top of the dashboard is in good shape too, and the suede-like material  appears to have dodged the ravages the sun can wreak. It is a bit stained though, possibly due to the ingress of a small amount of water as the rubber windscreen seal doesn’t look in great shape.

The door cards and centre console are very good and have aged in line with the Maserati’s mileage rather than its age.

A wonderful Pioneer twin-spindle radio is located to the right of the steering wheel, so the driver will retain complete control of the music.

The Merak also benefits from a full suite of elegant Veglia instruments. Finished in luminous green, they sit in an aircraft-style dashboard that, again, focusses only on the driver’s needs.

It’s clear to see where the Merak’s priorities lie.

Other niceties include a taut and undamaged pleated headlining that echoes the design of the seats; switches that might be tucked away in odd places but are easily differentiated by touch alone; and an ambience that reassures you that you’re sitting inside something very special indeed.

As for work that actually needs doing?

Nothing, nothing whatsoever.

What about the sort of work you might like to do?

Well, you could spend up to a five-figure sum on a full retrim depending on your attitude towards patina, perhaps starting with the jaded and faded carpets.

But it doesn’t NEED anything. 
 

The engine bay, which contains legacies from its parent company such as the spare wheel, an LHM reservoir, and an oil filler cap emblazoned ‘huile moteur’, is in a decent cosmetic condition.

The engine and chassis plates are still rivetted to the offside inner wing too, which is also reassuring.

Again, probably in need of nothing more than a good valet, we spotted a few recent bits and bobs including HT leads, a battery, and a distributor cap.

However, while we are told it does start McGrath recommended that it not be started or driven before recommissioning following many years in storage. That’s the bad news. The good news is that there is a detailed, three-page report that tells you exactly what the same specialist would recommend.

The underside looks like it’s been protected by a good coat of underseal. Not that that should set any alarms bells ringing though as it looks like it’s been there for a good while now, so it was probably applied to protect rather than obscure. 
 

Of course, as it needs recommissioning the Maserati doesn’t have a current MoT certificate. However, it does have a heritage certificate from Maserati plus a copy of the original data test sheets from the firm’s archive as well as a copy of the sales brochure.

It’s got the original handbook too, plus some useful service and maintenance information from The Maserati Club and a clear Vehicle History Check. 
 

If you’ve got somewhere between £20,000 and £25,000 burning a hole in your pocket – and a decent tool kit in your garage – this Maserati Merak SS has an awful lot going for it.

Charming and full of character, we suspect the fear of working on it will be far greater than the reality.

We also imagine it would be a very easy car to fall in love with.

Which is rarer than you might think; while there’s no shortage of cars that are easy to admire, ones you can lose your heart to are much scarcer.

So, if you listen to Dean Martin, wear Persol sunglasses, and wished you still smoked, this is the car for you. 

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