1981 Maserati Merak SS

This car is offered from outside of the European Union. It has been imported under temporary admission customs bond and is therefore subject to Dutch import tax (9%) on top of the winning bid price. Cars less than 30 years old will pay 10% Dutch import tax plus 21% VAT on the hammer. If exporting immediately to another country, then tax/duty will only be paid in that country.

The winning bidder will pay €500 customs charge on top of the ‘hammer’ price.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, as their proof of purchase.

This vehicle has been on static display in the Middle East for a number of years and the only history or paperwork available is displayed in the photo gallery. In all cases the papers shown are photocopies unless otherwise stated. We do not have the original paperwork.

Unless otherwise stated, we have not tried to start or drive the car and cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. The car is not registered anywhere.

It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

As CARS Europe BV is the guarantor of all customs duties and taxes for vehicles within Dutch customs bond, the car cannot be released until full payment received.

All storage charges (€30 + local VAT per day commencing from the sixth day following the auction end) must be paid in full prior to the vehicle’s collection or onward transportation. Collection and viewings are strictly by appointment only.

Please send an email to the storage centre to ensure vehicle(s) are ready at time of collection. Photographic ID will be required at time of collection. If a third party is collecting for you, then written authorisation is required in advance from you and photographic ID of the third party is required at the time of collection.

CARS Europe BV will contact you after the balance payment is received to confirm onward transport requirements. For enquiries about import tax and shipping contact Madam Joanna Herlihy, +31 (0) 252 682 526, +44 7483 433912, joanna@carseurope.net.

The example on offer today, chassis No. AM122A4090, is a LHD manual version and is showing just 10,796 kms on the odometer.

The car comes with no history or service records beyond whatever documentation is shown in the gallery, although the sticker on the rear tells us that it was living in Switzerland before being bought for the vendor’s collection of static display vehicles in 2012.

It’s a very striking and stylish sports car, that’s for sure, and it seems to be in broadly good condition, save for one or two largely cosmetic issues.

The bodywork is free of any dents, dinks, warps or bends of any significance.

The silver paintwork looks good from a few metres away but closer inspection reveals that it is covered with tiny splits and micro-blisters. It may be that a professional machine polish would rectify this, but we can’t be sure.

The driver’s door does not close properly at present.

There are a few cracks in the paint at the base of the ‘A’ pillars, a few brown spots on the engine cover and roof, and some oily marks on the bonnet.

There are some paint chips on the front valance, on the ‘nose’ of the car, around the wheel arches and on the edges of the doors.

Aside from one or two nicks on the rims, the wheels are in decent order.

Most of the chrome trim and other exterior fixtures and fittings are in good condition.

The beige leather interior needs a good clean but is in very good overall condition.

The front seats are excellent and only have a little light creasing on the driver’s seat to show for their age.

The rear seats look untouched which, given that you’d need to be about 75 centimetres tall and as slim as a snake to stand a chance of fitting into them, is not surprising.

The door cards are good, as is the headlining.

The carpets and mats need some vigorous attention with a variety of cleaning products but are otherwise serviceable.

The dashboard, steering wheel and gear lever all look fine.

We can’t make any claims about the full functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t tried to start or drive the vehicle.

The front luggage area is good.

The undersides of the car look really very decent and what we can see appears to have a good amount of structural integrity.

The engine and engine bay are reassuringly clean and dry, and everything seems to be present and correct.

The car doesn’t come with any history or service records, unless otherwise stated.

Any paperwork we have is photographed and displayed in the photo gallery.

We do not have anything else.

This is a very good and really quite rare example of fine model from Maserati.

Yes, the paintwork needs looking at and someone needs to sort out the mechanism on the driver’s door, but those relatively minor jobs aside, this low kilometres car has the potential to turn heads and inspire envy wherever it goes once a little time and effort has been put into it.

Provided, of course, that the engine and mechanicals are amenable to recommissioning.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of €25,000 - €40,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located in a bonded warehouse in Amsterdam. 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’.