1978 Maserati Merak SS

Manufactured in January 1978 and supplied new to a lucky American buyer, chassis 2288 is believed to be one of just 312 Merak SS cars to be fitted with the Bora dashboard.

We understand the car lived in New York for many years before being displayed in a museum from 2001 to 2017. That perhaps goes some way to explaining the car’s very low 29,567 mileage.

Our seller bought the car from a US contact and imported the car to the UK, registering it for the first time in December 2020.

The car was originally silver and unhappy with the car’s rather tired paintwork, he had the car painted in Maserati Dark Blue, a far more flattering shade. The dreaded US ‘impact’ bumpers had to go too and were replaced by chrome ones from the Bora.

Further enhancements in the form of discreet LED indicators and running lights were also fitted.

The factory original powerplant is retained and our seller comments that the car drives and runs as you would expect and feels ‘tight’, as only a genuine low mileage car ever can.

The car is part of our seller’s large collection of cars and with the Merak getting little use, he has decided that now is the time for it to find a new home. It would make a lovely Christmas present for a loved one!

With motor trade connections, our seller completed a full bare metal respray, changing the tired and dowdy silver paint for something altogether more striking. What a transformation!

The gorgeous Giugiaro lines are now displayed in all their glory and the car is really quite dazzling. The paintwork has been redone to the very highest of standards and will withstand even the closest of scrutiny. We cannot fault it.

The chrome glistens, the rubbers look in good shape and as for those Campagnolo wheels, well they are impressive. Each is equipped with a Firestone tyre, all with ample tread. Matching premium rubber is always something we like to see, indicating in our experience careful and considered classic car ownership.

The LED indicators and running lights are discreet so as not to spoil the car’s aesthetic and let’s not forget the pop-up headlights, a lovely and stylish feature.

We most certainly applaud the decision to remove the US-spec bumpers, which have ruined the looks of many a classic European sports car.

Our only observation, is that the passenger door trailing side doesn't sit fully flush with the rear 3/4 of the car when shut. This is probably an easy fix, but one worth mentioning. 

As impressive as the exterior? We think so, our seller having gone to great lengths to thoroughly clean the black leather upholstery. The seats have a gentle patina which comes with age and is impossible to replicate. They are comfortable too and let’s not forget the back seats, for occasional extra passengers, though more likely for additional luggage capacity.

The carpets were replaced and are complemented by hard-to-find genuine Maserati floor mats.

Ahead of the driver sits a comprehensive bank of instrumentation, with gauges for important information such as oil and water temperature, battery condition and of course the amount of ‘benzina’ lurking in the tank.

The leather-clad steering wheel is a delight to hold and close at hand is the gear lever, ready for those snappy gearchanges required to keep the fiery motor in its generous powerband.

The front boot is not the most spacious, but it will hold some squashy bags for a weekend away or why not commission some bespoke luggage?

We always include a raft of photographs of a car’s underside, so pause a while and take a look. Impressive, isn’t it? The fact the car has been a museum exhibit for almost two decades has clearly helped, along with careful ownership and limited use at other times.

Other than a little road dirt, we cannot spot even the merest trace of any surface corrosion. Find another 40+ year old Maserati in such fine fettle, we challenge you!

The engine compartment, a crowded place, shows all the hallmarks of careful ownership and we have been assured by our seller that the car has had a full mechanical check over by his experienced mechanics.

He tells us that the car drives well, running as one would expect from a car of this type. Fast in its day, overshadowed perhaps now by the latest generation of turbocharged engines. In any case, this is a car that is all about the Italian classic car experience. The ride, the handling, the sound, and the admiring glances from passers-by as you burble on past – meraviglioso!

We cannot tell you a lot about the Merak’s time in the USA other than the long-term display in a museum.

After importation, as we have already mentioned, our seller commissioned a full bare metal respray with cosmetic improvements.

His experienced mechanics were engaged to ensure that the car ran and drove properly, carrying out a full service at the same time.

We get to sell some very fine classic cars, most coming from loving homes, where care and attention has been lavished. Not to mention a considerable amount of cash!

This Merak SS is up there with the best and to quote our seller, he says ‘it runs and drives as you would expect’, whilst adding that it represents ‘an opportunity to drive away in a superb, matching numbers car’.

In order to be in with a chance of being this lovely car’s new owner, we would urge you to place your bid with out delay. We estimate that a sale price in the region of £45,000 to £55,000 will be achieved, a relatively small price for such a fine Italian motor car.

Viewing is always encouraged, within government guidelines of course. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’