2001 Maserati 3200 GTA

This later-production GTA originally lived in Hong Kong; which perhaps goes some way to explaining the low mileage - only 28,000 miles driven - and excellent condition - the Far East climate is always kinder on the bodywork than British weather. It wasn’t until 2014 that the car was imported into the UK by West Midlands (independent) Porsche dealer Zuffenhaus, whose owner was also a collector. However, the car was little (if ever) used and was soon passed on to its first ‘proper’ owner/driver, who purchased the Maserati in 2016. That owner ordered a thorough mechanical report before buying the car, which is included in the documentation. The report gave the car the sort of conclusion you'd like to hear from a low-mileage example of an Italian supercar. What faults were found, he also resolved to rectify - something he appears to have done successfully.

The car left his ownership even better than it came to him, with both minor trim deteriorations caused by the Hong Kong climate restored, and some well-known Maserati flaws put right. 

The current vendor has owned the car for around a year, but has realised he has too many cars, and despite buying this to satisfy a yearning to drive an Italian car, just hasn't found the time. Apart from a few hundred miles and a new waterpump, it remains as he bought it - this is the kind of example you'd like to buy.

Blue over biscuit leather is a beautifully understated colour combination for what is a sizeable GT. Red might have been a little too much! The dark blue coachwork retains a deep lustre across the whole of the bodywork and a consistency across all materials used - steel or plastic. And it sets off the famous boomerang rear lights to a tee.

The louvres on the front bonnet had cracked. New ones could not be had, but excellent condition second-hand parts were sourced and have been professionally resprayed and fitted. Finish is consistent with the whole of the car, and the Maserati car appears symmetrical side to side.

Panel gaps too are narrow and even, with bonnet and boot fitting snugly, and those big doors showing no signs of sagging. A long look over the complex curves of the panel work - and its reflections - finds no dents or significant inconsistencies.

Although it isn’t possible to tell, both front and rear bumpers have been resprayed (yes, that’s in the history too). ‘Something’ scratched the rear one in a supermarket car park, and while that was being resprayed, Mark thought it prudent to ‘repair’ the stone chips on the nose - hence both.

Like the paint, the brightwork is in fine fettle, with no pitting or discolouration. Those sharp-looking tridents on the rear pillars, as well as the grill and Maserati wording have suffered no dents or distortions.

Perhaps the worst that can be seen is a little discolouration to the paint below the petrol cap when you open the fuel filler flap, but this is probably the factory finish these days.

With only 28,000 miles covered, the interior is, as hoped-for, in excellent condition. The biscuit/sand-coloured hide appears to be largely blemish-free, with only the gentlest of patina to the cushion leather. The embossed tridents in the head restraints are a nice touch (before ‘everyone’ was doing that kind of thing). Predictably, there are some slight scuffs to the material at the driver’s seat edge, near to seat positioning switches. Seat bolsters and cushions retain their shape - the rears appear largely untouched - and the darker piping hasn’t been scuffed or had its edges chafed.

The gear-shift and steering wheel look to be free of any major fingernail or ring scratches and there is no grime in the creases of the gear-stick gaiter. Mark felt there was some work to be done in the cabin. The passenger door card leather (black section) has seen a very small repair. The dashboard has also been professionally reupholstered where some of the finish was peeling away. He also felt that some of the plastics in the cabin felt ‘sticky’ a traditional problem for Italian cars of the era - but a professional clean sorted them out without resorting to restoration. The door seal rubbers have in no way deteriorated. However, he did replace speakers (with Maserati units), as the leather covers had degenerated, and replaced an aftermarket stereo with the original as the substitute looked incongruous. There is a CD multi-changer in the boot, and, as a concession to modern(ish) gadgets, an iPod connector snooping out from the centre console. 

In the wider cabin, you will see from the photos that the carpets are generally clean - with bright, uncorroded metal floors beneath and that the suede headlining (a nice Maserati touch since times gone) is stain-free, nicely ‘brushed’ and doesn’t sag. And what a great colour too.

One of the great aspects of this car is just how free from crud it is in those places that even quite particular owners and service centres ignore - around bonnet hinges and struts, behind cable ducting, and in screw heads.

Opening the bonnet reveals an engine bay, which, while maybe not concours, is a cut above ‘workmanlike’. There is a little discolouration to the under-bonnet soundproofing, but there are no oil stains, no corrosion in ancillary parts or signs of overheating. Nor do there look to be any ‘improvised’ electrical fixes. Hoses appear supple and unperished, and where ducts and wires are routed together, the ties are evenly-spaced, at the right tension and, again; clean. Same with the jubilee clips - and jubilee clips can tell you a lot about a car.

Looking underneath the Maserati, the structure appears to be in very good shape. There is some (very) light surface corrosion on parts most exposed to elements, but nothing at all beyond - or often even near to - the norm for a car of this year. Take time to look through the ‘underside’ pictures and you will see just how good the suspension elements look - joints, bolts, arms - as well as the rubber components.

One detail that cannot be seen, though the history bares record, is how when a suspension actuator failed (Ferrari part atop the suspension arm), it was sent away to the US to be refurbished. The plastic cogs inside were replaced with aluminium parts and the improved sensor reassembled. The alloys have been recently refurbished (with new centre caps fitted). They and the Brembo brake discs/callipers behind them look to be in very good order.

We have the car with us and our test drive can report no issues, just the usual sharp driving experience. These cars can be a nightmare to drive and maintain if they have not been properly looked after, rest assured this example is great to drive, and sit in. Do feel free to use the Contact Seller to come and look at the car yourself prior to auction end.

This Maserati comes with an new MOT until November, with no advisories.

The engine warning light is currently lit, when tested by our neighbouring garage, the mechanic showed us that the knock sensor had triggered it - something he said can happen if the car has been run low on fuel. It was cancelled but the light has returned unfortunately; all we can add is that it drove without fault on our 5 mile test, the gearbox and engine working well because of the attention and modification it has received. And it is low on fuel... 

The documents show how the car was reassuringly inspected and then repaired during the previous owner's stewardship.

As well as three main services, the Maserati has had a recent cambelt change, and a range of gaskets in ‘hard to reach’ places have been replaced. The throttle bodies have been changed to magnetic sensors (to cure over-revving and an ‘aggressive’ tickover - a common 3200 ailment), and one of the turbos was swapped out due to a dislodged impeller.

There is sufficient service history from Hong Kong to show a high level of care and some high confidence in the mileage being fully genuine - the condition it is presented in today also helps.

The Maserati comes with two ‘black’ keys and the necessary official 'red and grey' codes in its documentation to allow future keys to be acquired. One of whose remote function seems to have stopped working.

Whichever Maserati you buy - of any era - you’re always going to be in select company - there are usually far fewer of them around than any given Ferrari. However, unlike their Ferrari cousins, their values fell faster, bringing them potentially into the grasp of folk who really should know better than to bankroll what is still a slightly detuned Maranello exotic. Luckily that hasn’t happened here - the paper trail shows money spent on both remedial and preventative maintenance, and the car is low mileage and in a very desirable condition, colour scheme and specification.

Some might turn their nose up at the idea of an automatic transmission, but, like the slightly earlier Ferrari 456, it suits the grand touring mein very well. And it doesn’t hurt the value or the enjoyment of the car. When we drove it, the word 'soft' was definitely not on our mind...

A cruel estimate might say this car could go for £10,500 (that wouldn’t be a bargain, that would be a miracle), and a ‘steady’ price for a good 3200 GTA might be £15,000. These Maseratis are gaining a serious following and prices are firming, but only for the lower-mileage well-serviced examples like this. And anyway, the Trident is sooo much more exclusive than the Black Horse…

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’.