Background
The Maserati Merak SS was the higher-performance version of the original Merak, which was first launched in 1972 at the Paris Motor Show.
It was clearly designed to compete against such luminaries as the Ferrari Dino 308 GT4, Porsche 911 and the Lamborghini Urraco.
All were mid-engined sports cars offering 2+2 seating and with either a rear or mid-engine configuration.
Named after a star from the Ursa Major constellation, the compact 2+2’s styling deliberately copied its Bora supercar sibling, both cars having been designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro.
The Merak was based around a steel monocoque chassis and was equipped with all-round independent double-wishbone suspension, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes and rack and pinion steering.
At the time of the Merak development Maserati belonged to Citroen and, as a result, many of the latter’s parts found their way into Maseratis, such as the hydropneumatic systems, engines and transmissions.
However, the engine used in the Merak was based on the 2.7-litre V6 originally used on the Citroen SM, but it wasn’t actually a French engine.
It was a unit designed by legendary Italian engineer Giulio Alfiera who had a long and illustrious record of designing engines and cars for Maserati, including the 3500 GT and the Birdcage.
For the Merak, however, the engine was enlarged to 2,965cc, longitudinally mounted and mated to a slick five-speed transaxle gearbox.
Triple Weber carburettors were fitted, and the engine was credited with 190bhp and 188lbft of torque, which were impressive figures for the day.
The Merak SS boasted more power and torque from a powerful 220bhp, V6 'SS' engine with triple Weber 44DCNF carbs and 9:1 compression. It also had a lower kerb weight.
As such the ‘Super Sport’ was reputedly capable of accomplishing the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in under 8 seconds.
Leading magazine ‘Motor’ was impressed, commenting:
“Performance and handling are the raison d’etre of a mid-engined sports car, and the Merak’s astounding cornering power is a match for its straight-line punch.”
When production finally ended in 1983, some 1,830 cars had been built, of which 970 were the sought-after SS variants.
Only 300 of these exceptionally rare vehicles were ever made in RHD form.
