1982 MASERATI MERAK SS

This Maserati Merak SS is a smart example of a classic 2+2 Italian sports car, which is believed to be highly original with genuine low mileage. Under the rear decklid is a 3.0-litre naturally aspirated V6, fed by three twin-choke carburettors and producing around 220bhp, with rear-wheel drive via a five-speed manual transmission. The odometer shows 39,979 km (24,842 miles).

The Merak SS was a lighter and more powerful version of Maserati’s mid-engined sports car, designed to offer more effective competition against Ferrari’s V8 models of the era. This right-hand drive 1982 model with a kilometre-readout speedometer was completed in May 1982 and then delivered from the factory via the official distributor in South Africa to its first owner in July 1982.

In August 2001, this car was purchased by a Swiss gentleman, and shipped to his home where it formed part of a discerning collection. In July 2005, he drove this car from Switzerland to the UK to attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed. During this event, the previous owner spotted the car and fell for its charms, subsequently keeping in touch with the gentleman and purchasing it later that year. It was again driven from Switzerland to the UK, where it was re-registered in May 2006. It is now in the care of its second UK owner, though it has not yet been registered in their name.

Its bodywork is reported to present well, and there is no known prior accident damage. Overall, the blue paint finish is in very good condition, though there are a few spots of bubbling, notably around the windscreen scuttle panel on the driver’s side, and along the lower flank on the passenger side. The vendor believes that the paintwork may well be original, and notwithstanding a few age-related blemishes, it has been polished to a deep shine. It rides on 15-inch Campagnolo alloy wheels, which have some chips and grazes around the rims. Given the original markings and clear stampings, they have evidently never been restored.

Stepping inside, this Merak SS is upholstered with cream leather, and as with the exterior, the trim is believed to be original. There is some modest wear visible on the seats and door panels, but overall it looks superb. The black leather trim around the dashboard certainly looks original, with some discolouration and wear to the edges around the panels, and some more prominent loss of colour on the edge near the driver’s door. The steering wheel and gear lever are in good order, but exhibiting an aged patina. There are no known faults with any of the switchgear, and no warning lights present.

Since arriving in the UK, this Italian classic was initially looked after by the Merak gurus at Bill McGrath Maserati, and has invoices on file for maintenance and light restoration totalling just over £21,000. The current owner has had the Merak maintained by Italian car specialist, SB Race Engineering, which carried out a full service with new spark plugs in 2017, and more recently a major service was carried out by AV Engineering in 2020. This included an overhaul of the suspension, steering, and carburettors, with the total bill coming to just under £7,000.

The most recent MOT test was on 10 November 2020 at 39,823 km, which resulted in a first-time pass with no advisories or defects. The wheels are shod in brand-new Pirelli P5 tyres. Accompanying the car is an original handbook, as well as a file of service history paperwork.

This Maserati Merak SS is believed to be a genuine low-mileage example of the Italian marque’s characterful 2+2 sports car, benefiting from the improvements of the more powerful version, which the vendor reports make it a great classic cruiser. It is an elegant GT car, which is evidently in good order, and would be a fine addition to any collection.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence through HPI checks and MOT history where available. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. This vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.