Coming under the hammer at Coy's "True Greats" sale at the Royal Horticultural Society, London, UK - 1st December 2015.

LOT 312 - 1978 MASERATI MERAK SS

ONE OF ONLY 300 RIGHT-HAND DRIVE EXAMPLES.

ESTIMATE £35,000-£40,000.

CHASSIS NUMBER: AM 122A*503*.

DESCRIPTION

"Maserati followed-up its first mid-engined supercar – the Bora – with the similar Merak. Launched in 1972, the latter was intended as competition for Ferrari’s top-selling Dino 246 and used a stretched, 3.0-litre, 190bhp version of the four-cam V6 that had debuted in the Citroën SM. The French firm owned Maserati at the time, so the Merak made use of the SM’s transmission, power-operated, all-disc braking and, more controversially, Citroën’s quirky instrumentation, though this applied to left-hand drive cars only, right-hand drive examples using the more conventional fascia of the Bora. The unitary construction chassis, all-independent suspension and impeccable handling remained basically as the V8-engined Bora’s, though the Merak offered the convenience of ‘+2’ seating in the rear and superior all-round vision thanks to its distinctive rear ‘flying buttresses’.

Competition from Ferrari’s new Dino V8 prompted the introduction of a more powerful version – the Merak SS with 220bhp engine and revised interior – for 1975. Widely recognised as one of the finest, if not the finest, of contemporary V6s, the Merak SS engine proved smooth, powerful and capable of delivering its urge over a surprisingly wide range for such a high performance engine. Like any true thoroughbred, the Merak possessed handling commensurate with its breathtaking acceleration and 150mph maximum speed. ‘Performance and handling are the raison d’être of a mid-engined sports car, and the Merak’s astounding cornering power is a match for its straight-line punch,’ observed Motor magazine.

Changes made to the SS suspension greatly improved ride comfort over that of the original Merak, while alterations to the instrumentation, switch gear, and interior, and the phasing out of the Citroën brakes in favour of a more conventional system addressed some of the criticisms levelled at the earlier version. The most successful Maserati of its day, the Merak ceased production in 1983 after 1,832 had been built, 626 of them the SS version.

One of only approximately 300 right-hand drive models produced, this example on offer today is finished in Giallo Fly Yellow with a wonderful grey interior. According to the history file this SS has had just 5 owners from new. ETA 659T was acquired by a Mr Price on the 21st October 1988, he kept the car until it was sold to a David Fordham in 1995. David owned the car until the car was purchased by the current vendor in 2008. The current vendor, a well-regarded Maserati Collector and Connoisseur spent over £14,000 with the world renowned Bill McGrath Ltd in 2011- bringing the car up to the condition and specification seen today.

Complete with UK V5 registration, and a history file with various bills, MoTs and receipts dating back as far as 1978 this highly collectable SS specification Merak is ready to be enjoyed by its next custodian."

LOT 316 - 1988 MASERATI BITURBO 222 E.

EX-WORKS BRITISH TOURING CAR - ONE OWNER FROM NEW.

ONE OF FIVE WORKS BUILT AND SUPPORTED CARS.

ESTIMATE £60,000-£75,000.

CHASSIS NUMBER: ZAM331B00*HB117119*.

DESCRIPTION

"One of the greatest names in the history of motor racing was to be seen on major race circuits after a period of 25 years, when a Maserati Biturbo competes in the 1988 British Touring Car championship”- Press information. Maserati. 1988 When Alejandro de Tomaso acquired Maserati in 1976, he had ambitious plans for the marque. His plan was to combine the prestige of the Maserati brand with a sports car that would be more affordable than the earlier high-priced models that had traditionally made up the Maserati range. In fact, Maserati ceased making supercars like the ones developed under Citroën ownership altogether, like the Bora and Khamsin.

In 1988, with the coupés being restyled, the Biturbo name was dropped in favour of 222 — meaning 2-door, 2-litre engine and 2nd generation. The car carried all the visual clues of Gandini’s first facelift, with a more rounded grille and bonnet, different wing mirrors and rear spoiler. The engine size of the 222 E export model grew from the Biturbo’s 2.5- to 2.8-litres. A mixed velour-leather interior was standard on the domestic models, while export markets got leather upholstery as standard.

Purchased new by Trident Motorsport Ltd., this Biturbo was used to Launch Maserati’s return to Motor Racing at the Maserati Showroom, Berkeley street, London on the 20th April 1988. Indeed, testament to the cars originality and provenance, even the press call, press information from Maserati and selection of press photos in Berkley square accompany the car within its history file.

The original sales invoice within the car’s file confirms the car being sold from Maserati as a works car, along with the FIA papers with valid homologation from July 1987, and an RAC production car specification sheet.

Internationally regarded and respected driver Nick May competed in the car during the 1988 British Touring Car Championship, where the car displayed some excellent potential! After the season finished, the car was put in to storage. Most remarkably, it is offered today by the same owner who bought the car new! Chassis HB 117119 has been left to rest in the same collection for the last 30 years. This is first time the car has been offered on the open Market. Offered for sale with a host of bills and receipts, the Biturbo also comes with its original Maserati Handbook and even its original door key, and most importantly all the ECU settings, and the ECU itself.

One of only 5 Maserati Works built and supported cars- this wonderful piece of Maserati’s history is now eligible to compete in a wide selection of historic race series’, and would make an excellent passport to an array of UK and worldwide events. Unique and offered with a realistic reserve. The car also comes with a small spares package."

LOT 331 - 1961 MASERATI 3500 GT COUPÉ

COACHWORK BY CARROZZERIA TOURING

ESTIMATE £175,000-£200,000.

CHASSIS NUMBER: AM 101*1232*.

DESCRIPTION

"In 1957 Maserati enjoyed its most successful season in motor racing when Fangio won the World F1 Championship in a lightweight 250F, and the mighty 450S sports-racer came within an ace of winning the World Sports Car Championship. Such success normally calls for celebration and the planning of the next move. But Maserati’s parent company had invested heavily in Argentina and the overthrow of President Juan Peron in 1955 had caused a severe cash-flow crisis. So at the end of its most glorious season in the sport Maserati had to withdraw to concentrate on becoming a profit centre in the Orsi group of companies.

The writing had been on the wall for some time, and Maserati was prepared. As the racing side wound down so it set on the road to becoming, for the first time in its history, a significant maker of high quality sports cars. Over the next few years Maserati would challenge Ferrari as a maker of road cars. Perhaps the reason why Ferrari finally drew ahead was not mechanical competence but the close relationship with Pininfarina.

There could hardly be any question about the mechanical competence since the Maserati 3500 GT was designed by Giulio Alfieri, who was the best all round designer of his day.

In creating a road car, Alfieri was able to draw on a 3,486cc dohc straight six, derived from the sports-racing 350S unit, and half-sister of the engine which had powered Fangio to the World Championship. The tubular chassis was recognisably the descendent of the classic Maserati A6/1500, but the live rear axle was suspended on semi-elliptics.

Front disc brakes were optional in 1959 (ahead of Ferrari, naturally) and standard in 1960. Typical of Alfieri’s pioneering, Lucas fuel injection was fitted from 1961 and this gave a small power increase, when it worked. This car has triple Weber carburettors, which are completely reliable and produce a much nicer sound !

Maserati’s chief engineer Giulio Alfieri developed the two 2+2 prototype 3500GT, revealed at the Salon International de l’Auto in Geneva in March 1957. Both had a 2,600 mm wheelbase and aluminium bodywork; one a Superleggera body by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, the other by Carrozzeria Allemano. Minor design changes were undertaken before production of the Touring-based body started in late 1957. Front disc brakes and limited slip differential became optional in 1959, standardized in 1960; rear discs became standard in 1962. Borrani knock-off wire wheels complemented the standard steel wheels, as well as wider 185×16” radial tyres. All cars had leather interior and Jaeger-LeCoultre instruments. Power windows were added as standard.

This Maserati 3500 GT was sold new by a Maserati dealer in Geneva on 12th January 1961 to a Mr. Jules Muggler, a Swiss executive living in Lausanne. In 1961 the price of the 3500 was 41,500 Swiss francs, the same price of a Mercedes 300 SL Roadster! In the February of 1964 Mr. Muggler sold the car, to the next owner, who decided to paint it in his favourite shade of blue. Thereafter, the Maserati remained safely in storage for more than 30 years, changing hands in 2002, and then again in 2012.

The current vendor finally completed the restoration of this lovely GT car in early 2015, supported by invoices which are presented in the car’s file. This fantastic matching numbers 3500 GT is offered with its Belgian registration documents, also a large file of invoices for much work completed through the years. As such this well known car is possibly one of the most desirable examples on the market today. These Maseratis were the envy of many in the 1960’s, and remain so today. Not to be missed."

LOT 342 - 1965 MASERATI SEBRING SERIES 2

ONE OF FOUR RIGHT-HAND DRIVE EXAMPLES

ESTIMATE £140,000-£160,000.

CHASSIS NUMBER: AM 101/10*011*.

DESCRIPTION

"Introduced in 1962, the Sebring was one of the final manifestations of the landmark 3500 GT, which had been the linchpin of Maserati’s programme to establish itself as a manufacturer of road cars. Despite numerous racetrack successes that included Juan Manuel Fangio’s fifth World Championship – at the wheel of a 250F – and runner-up spot in the World Sports Car Championship with the fabulous 450S – both in 1957, the marque’s most successful season – Maserati was by that time facing a bleak future. Its parent company’s financial difficulties forced a withdrawal from racing and Maserati’s survival strategy for the 1960s centred on switching production from competition to road models.

Introduced in 1962, the Sebring was one of the final manifestations of the landmark 3500GT, which had been the linchpin of Maserati’s programme to establish itself as a manufacturer of road cars. Despite numerous racetrack successes that included Juan Manuel Fangio’s fifth World Championship – at the wheel of a 250F – and runner-up spot in the World Sports Car Championship with the fabulous 450S – both in 1957, the marque’s most successful season – Maserati was by that time facing a bleak future. Its parent company’s financial difficulties forced a withdrawal from racing and Maserati’s survival strategy for the 1960s centred on switching production from competition to road models.

Built on the short-wheelbase chassis of the spyder and likewise styled by Vignale, the Sebring 2+2 coupé arrived in 1962. By now a five-speed gearbox, four-wheel disc brakes and fuel injection were standard equipment, with automatic transmission, air conditioning and a limited-slip differential available as options. Introduced in 1965, the Sebring Series II came with a 3.7-litre, 245bhp engine while some cars left the factory with 4.0-litre units towards the end of production in 1966, by which time 591 Sebrings had been built, around 400 of which were in the first series.

Chassis Number 11 dates from 1965, and is believed to be the first of only 4 Right Hand Drive Series 2 Sebrings manufactured, also, the only known example fitted from new with Borrani wire wheels.

This fabulously original example was purchased by dignitary Prince Zu Hohenlohe from who we understand was its first owner, whilst he was studying in London around 1980. He went on to own his beloved Sebring for the next 35 years, during which he returned to his native Germany.

An unrestored example, in Prince Zu Hohelohe’s ownership it has been painted once, but otherwise remains startlingly original. The bodywork is said to be in excellent condition with no signs of rust, and shows good gaps to the opening panels. Showing just 72,000 miles from new, and finished in silver metallic with a contrasting black leather interior, this lovely GT shows a lovely patina which is unattainable in restored examples.

Offered with a German title and current German TüV documents, this is a wonderful example of a rare and desirable GT car. A Maserati for the true connoisseur."

Photos and text courtesy of Coy's.