Tuesday 1st September 2015

Maserati Quattroporte Evo: You Know You Want To

Because old Maseratis are cool, and even more so when they're cheap

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This was originally going to be a story on a Maserati Shamal because, well, when did you last hear anything about the Maserati Shamal? There are two on PH, they're incredibly rare and who wouldn't fancy a go at two turbos, a manual gearbox and short wheelbase?

Let's call the styling individual...

But both are in excess of £45K, which is a lot of money. Especially when a Quattroporte with a very similar twin-turbo V8 engine is £13,000. And that's for an immaculate low mileage car too, not some recently discovered moss-ridden 'project'.

Crucially this car is a Quattroporte IV Evoluzione, the Evo tag reflecting Ferrari's input after taking control of Maserati in 1997. But this wasn't just a case of signing a couple of contracts and business continuing as usual - oh no. Ferrari closed down the Maserati factory immediately after taking control for a complete refurbishment, so shocked at how it was being run. When production of the QP resumed in 1998, it was not only being built in freshly updated factory but also with hundreds of detail tweaks and hence the 'Evo' tag.

What changed little was the Gandini design. Yes, it's dated and the overhangs are quite ungainly but, to these eyes, there's something really charming about this QP. It's quite compact and modest, yet still recognisable as a Maserati. Or boxy and dull. Very perspective dependent!

Grigio Alfieri with Bordeaux? Noice!

To matters we can all agree on. The fourth-generation Quattroporte is a very rare car but, even still, you're unlikely to find a better example than this. Owned "for a number of years" by a Maserati Club member, it has only covered 41,000 miles in 15 years and understandably looks very fresh because of it. The colour combo is lovely and, as you might expect, the service record is impeccable. Here a more knowledgeable PHer can fill us in on how reliable a QP really is...

Given this car is being pitched as a YKYWT, we probably should discuss why you wouldn't in a little more detail. Put simply, it's because you might well want other Maseratis instead. If four doors aren't a requirement, then the 3200GT must be a lot more desirable to many. Still impossibly pretty, it can also be considered the first model of 21st century Maserati. Lovely. Furthermore this car's replacement, the Quattroporte V, is only getting cheaper. Sure, it will be an early one with the horrid automated manual 'box and quite a few miles, but it's hard to argue against when cars like this are £12K.

It would be great to see this Quattroporte appreciate like the Ghibli and Shamal as a reminder of Maserati's more eccentric times. Heck, if a Biturbo can be worth £15K then there has to be hope for some QP recognition. Long live the curio!

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MASERATI QUATTROPORTE EVOLUZIONE
Price: £12,950
Why you should: "Shall we take the Maserati?"
Why you shouldn't: "Is the Maserati working this week?"

See the original advert here.

[Sources: ClassicDriver]

[mrpushrod]

I was quite surprised to see this on here considering how much of a pasting it took from Clarkson on old Top Gear;

http://www.google.co.uk/url?url=http://www.youtube...

Ferrari must really have been through this car with a fine toothcomb. The pre-evo model sounded like a right dog.

Edited by mrpushrod on Tuesday 1st September 13:59

[Bencolem]

So much want and so much no want all at the same time, lovely! Seems a deal if not viewed in the light of other Maserati's and some how seems much better built than the 3200GT. That BiTurbo though, what a mess it looks now. Remember my father having one and thinking it was the coolest thing ever! Guess the body kit is what's really dating it. 80's-tastic!

[BarbaricAvatar]

I do want to! Gorgeous car.

[hebbhog]

Have always had a soft spot for these and wanted one - but don't really know why..............

For me it would have to be the manual version (which are even rarer), there is a lot of car and badge for the money but I imagine some bills could be 'interesting' if any exotic repairs were required.

[Amirhussain]

BarbaricAvatar said:

I do want to! Gorgeous car.

Gorgeous? Really?

[Schermerhorn]

Maserati has undergone various image perceptions over the decades

Cool....supercool....bad..... cool.....supercool

This car is from the 'bad' period. Yet....because it is so bad....I think it is quite cool.

[BarbaricAvatar]

Amirhussain said:

BarbaricAvatar said:

I do want to! Gorgeous car.

Gorgeous? Really?

Admittedly i didn't look at the interior until just now, it appears that a sheep has exploded inside. But nevertheless it is a handsome car to behold, i just don't have £12k hiding down the back of my sofa.

[anonymous-user]

Love the old Ghibli. However, think this has been beaten with the ugly stick.

[Axionknight]

Totally bogging inside and out.

I do not want to.

[Vee12V]

Schermerhorn said:

Maserati has undergone various image perceptions over the decades

Cool....supercool....bad..... cool.....supercool

This car is from the 'bad' period. Yet....because it is so bad....I think it is quite cool.

Well said.

[rtz62]

Leaves me strangely cold.
But click on the hyperlink to the 3200 GT, and it takes you to a wonderful dark blue 3300 GT V8 with 75k and more importantly, a manual gearbox.
And all for £11,750 which leaves headroom to get it checked at a marque specialist.
And the deal clincher to me is those wonderful pre-facelift 'boomerang' rear lights.
You take the QP if you want, I'll throw my hard-earned at the 3200 and get more pleasure from driving and, I'd suggest, more admiring glances and knowing nods....

[crostonian]

Personally I love the look of these inside and out however you must be fairly mad to buy one over the later QP or a 3200 GT. At £8k maybe, but then as with an E39 M5 or E55 AMG there is always a danger of repair costs exceeding the cars value. That's why I've come close to buying one, along with a Ghibli V6 and numerous Biturbo variants on several occasions yet I've always chickened out at the last minute.

[rtz62]

On the few occasions I've seen one of these I always think that the fromt looks like a Lancia that has been Xerox'd +25% and the rear like a VW Phaeton that has been hit from behind, causing the strange (in my eyes) rear wheel arch shape.

[Contigo]

Beautiful, I have two 3200's and love them.

[Contigo]

These drive really well, bucket loads of torque, a great engine used in the 3200 too but without the annoying Magnetti Marelli Drive By Wire throttle system used in the 3200 which is a royal pain in the proverbial.

This car is immaculate and personally knowing this dealer it is one of the best out there. If I didn't have two already then I would be all over this one!

[Neil E 99]

mrpushrod said:

I was quite surprised to see this on here considering how much of a pasting it took from Clarkson on old Top Gear;

http://www.google.co.uk/url?url=http://www.youtube...

Ferrari must really have been through this car with a fine toothcomb. The pre-evo model sounded like a right dog.

Edited by mrpushrod on Tuesday 1st September 13:59

Well lets hope the new buyer doesnt watch this first!
However not that I would buy it theres just something about it I like. Just dont know what.

[Wadeski]

Has anyone worked out an easy way to swap the horrid robotized manual of the Quattroporte V back to a regular 6-speed, much like Aston have with the Vanquish?

[galaxie5000]

I did it! I bought a pre EVO Quattroporte IV from a distinguished gent who had a 3200 and a new Ghibli in his stable- he had owned from new and had lavished an absolute fortune on it over the 18 years of ownership. Like 3 x 6 inch thick folders of receipts from Bill McGrath Maserati covering every conceivable part of the car and totalling some £65 k (!!)

Build quality absolutely dire- sub kit car in places. I owned for 6 months and had all sorts of minor issues (nothing expensive it has to be said) mainly electrical. It once locked me and the kids in and was unable to get out for 5 mins until the central locking spluttered back to life. I bailed out as I just couldn't stomach the prospect of a 'real' bill- try 6 grand for a cam chain change, or £2k for a single adjustable electronic shock (!)

Would I recommend? Absolutely. Loved every minute of it- so much CLASS. You either get it, or you don't. Like an Alfa, but more so.

[anonymous-user]

galaxie5000 said:

Like 3 x 6 inch thick folders of receipts from Bill McGrath Maserati covering every conceivable part of the car and totalling some £65 k (!!)

This would make me run a mile and did with an old Ghibli. One of the 'selling points' of the car I looked at was that the last service/trip to Bill McGrath's came to about 6k. However that was several years prior and the car has been in storage. I reckon it's next overdue trip to Bill's would of probably cost the same. Interestingly I've seen the same car pop up a few times for sale from different owners since. As they all mention the 6k odd receipt for work it's probably had nothing done to it since. I shudder to think what a moneypit that car would of been. As far as build quality was concerned I didn't think it was too bad. Well until I pressed one of the buttons on the dash and it fell through through the other side. Quality.

[soad]

Sporting poise and luxury-car comfort?

These are rare - yet to spot one.