Maserati Karif Register


The Maserati Karif Register 2.8-litre Production (1988-1991) UPDATED: 22-04-2022

The 2.8-litre V6 twin turbocharged engine of the Karif

Intake valves	Exhaust valve	Timing system

RANGER® Rear Differential	'Meccanica Attiva' Front Suspension	Rear Suspension

Official Maserati brochure for the Karif		*Karif Libro di Uso e Manutenzione* ( Driver's manual )**

Karif - Year: 1988 to 1993 Karif was the name of an African wind, chosen to respect the Maserati tradition of using wind names for the designation of its GT cars (Mistral, Ghibli, Khamsin, etc). The proportions were rather unusual for such a high-performance coupé. In fact it was the result of a no-nonsense approach: the Karif’s lines were derived closely from those of the Biturbo Spyder with a rigid roof welded on. The aim was to create a rigid body that would enhance the handling qualities of the shorter wheelbase model. The colour and trim treatment followed the style of the Biturbo S range, thus with two-tone paint, blacked out chrome trim and an elegant interior clad in wood and leather. Though the car was equipped with occasional rear seats, it was basically a 2-seater but with a sense of airiness due to the large windows and thin posts. Mechanically, the car was equipped with the most powerful version of the twin turbo V6 available at the time, of 2.8-litre capacity. Rated at 285 hp it was claimed to be good enough for a top speed of over 255kph, despite later versions being de-tuned by way of a catalytic exhaust. The relatively light overall weight combined with a 5-speed manual gearbox with special short ratios to add to the sense of performance. The Karif gained a reputation for being a demanding driver’s car, of which just 222 found their way in the hands of true enthusiasts. One of the prototype Karifs came from the ex-De Tomaso Museum, which later passed into the hands of Matteo Panini, who sold it to a German collector. It was the official press car for all journalists to road test and write reports in many motoring magazines! All Karifs were painted in either white, red or black for general sale. The first three cars were painted in metallic silver. Two cars crashed, and the third car was the press car which was also painted silver. But the journalists commented that the silver colour was unsuitable for photographs to be published in the newspapers and magazines. So, De Tomaso painted the exterior only of the car in Rosso Maseraticar in red outside only. The car has now been repainted back in its original metallic silver, remains in working order, and stored bin te German collector's garage.


"Dear Maseratisti, I have been asked by several Karif owners to set up a register similar to that of the Ghibli and Shamal, and with your help I am happy to do so. Please send in your details to enricomaserati@btinternet.com. I am trying to put together a database for left and right-hand drive 2.8-litre Karifs produced between 1988 and 1991 to establish the total numbers produced. This database will include all Karifs. If any owners of these Karif would be kind enough to send me a photo, and details including; model type, VIN number, engine type, colour, interior, present location and any special features, we can establish the exact number of Quattroporte that are still on the road. According to factory figures, a total of 221 Karif models were produced: Please send your photo and details to enricomaserati@btinternet.com. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

"Gentili Maseratisti, Sto cercando di creare un registro per le Karif di 2.8-litri prodotte fra il 1988 e il 1991, per stabilire i numeri prodotti. Questo registro includerà tutti i modelli Karif. Se sei proprietari di queste Karif fossero così gentili da mandarmi una foto e alcuni dettagli, tra cui: il tipo di modello, il numero di VIN, tipo del motore, colore, interno e in che località si trova, possiamo stabilire il numero esatto di Karif che sono ancora circolanti. Vi pregherei di mandare le vostre foto e dettagli a enricomaserati@btinternet.com. GRAZIE TANTE PER IL VOSTRO AIUTO!

"Liebe Maseratisti, Ich versuche, eine Datenbank für alle linksgesteuerten Karif 2.8 Liter zu erstellen die zwischen 1988 und 1991 produziert wurden, um die produzierte Gesamtzahl zu ermitteln. Diese Datenbank schließt alle Modelle des Karif. Ich bitte daher alle Besitzer eines Karif so freundlich zu sein, mir ein Foto und folgende Details zu senden: Ausführung, Fahrgestellnummer, Hubraum und Standort (Land). So können wir die genaue Anzahl von Karif ermitteln, die noch auf der Straße sind. Foto und Details bitte an enricomaserati@btinternet.com senden. DANKE FÜR DIE UNTERSTÜTZUNG !

"Cher Maseratisti, J'essaye de remonter un registre pour les 2.8-litre Karif avec la conduite à droite et à gauche produit entre 1988 et 1991 pour établir tous les nombres produits. Ce registre inclura tous les modèles Karif. Si des propriétaires des ces Karif seraient assez aimables pour m'envoyer une photo, et des détails comprenant; le type modèle, le nombre de VIN, le type de moteur, la couleur, l'intérieur, l'endroit et tous les usages spéciaux, nous pouvons établir le nombre exact de Karifs qui sont toujours sur la route. Veuillez envoyer votre photo et détails à enricomaserati@btinternet.com. MERCI TOUT DE VOTRE APPUI !

Left-Hand Drive Karif Production 1988-1991						LHD Karif recorded so far: 021

Image	Year	Model	Chassis Number	Engine Size	Engine Type	Colour	Interior	Location	Special Features
	1988	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100???	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	First Karif produced

	1988	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100002	2.8-litre	AM473	Nero over Soft Grey	Pelle Avorio & Alcantara	France	On the road

	1988	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100004	2.8-litre	AM473	Rosso Maserati	Pelle Avorio & Alcantara	The Netherlands	Temporarily off the road Undergoing total restoration

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100008	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1988	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100009	2.8-litre	AM473	Rosso Maserati over Rifle Grey	Pelle Grigia and Alcantara	Switzerland	On the road

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100011	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100012	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100013	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1988 Registered 1997	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100018	2.8-litre	AM473	Rosso Maserati over Rifle Grey	Pelle Nera and Grey Alcantara	Austria	On the road

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100020	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1988 Registered 1997	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100021	2.8-litre	AM473	Rosso Maserati	Pelle Beige & Alcantara	Switzerland	On the road

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100022	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100024	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100025	2.8-litre	AM473	Nero over Soft Grey	Pelle Grigia & Alcantara	Germany	On the road Manual transmission

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100026	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100027	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100028	2.8-litre	AM473	Nero Over Soft Grey	Pelle Avorio & Alcantara	The Netherlands	On the road Manual transmission

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100029	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100030	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100031	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100032	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100033	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	Registered 1997	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100034	2.8-litre	AM473	Swan white over Soft Grey	Pelle Nera and Grey Alcantara	France	On the road

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100035	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100036	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100037	2.8-litre	AM473	Nero	Pelle Nera & Alcantara Grigia	Austria	On the road

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100038	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100040	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100041	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100042	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100043	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100044	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	Registered 1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100048	2.8-litre	AM473	Nero over Soft Grey	Pelle Avorio & Alcantara	The Netherlands	On the road Manual transmission

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100049	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100050	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100051	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100052	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100053	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100054	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100055	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100056	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100057	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100058	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	Registered 1992	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100060	2.8-litre	AM473	Swan White over Soft Grey	Pelle Blu & Alcantara Blu	Switzerland	On the road

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100061	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100062	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100063	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100064	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100065	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100067	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100069	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100070	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00JA100071	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100072	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100074	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100075	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100076	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100077	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100078	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100079	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100080	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100082	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100084	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100085	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100087	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100089	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100090	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100092	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100094	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100095	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00KA100096	2.8-litre	AM473	Dazing Black over Rifle Grey	Pelle Grigia	Turkey	On the road

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00KA100098	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00KA100101	2.8-litre	AM473	Dazing Black	Pelle Nera	???	???

	Registered 1990	Karif	ZAM339B00KA100105	2.8-litre	AM473	Giallo Fly with Tetto Nero	Pelle Nera & Alcantara Grigia	France	On the road

	199?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA100107	2.8-litre	AM473	Soft Grey Metalizzato	???	France	On the road

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA100110	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA100114	2.8-litre	AM473	Nero over Soft Grey	Pelle Nera & Alcantara Grigia	The Netherlands	On the road Japanese import

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA100116	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	First registered 1993	Karif	ZAM339B00KA100117	2.8-litre	AM473	Soft Grey Metallizzato	Pelle Grigia	Finland	On the road

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA100134	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA100135	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	1989	Karif	ZAM339B00KA100136	2.8-litre	AM473	Swan White over Soft Grey	Pelle Beige	USA	Japanese import

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00LA100142	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100149	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	Registered 1992	Karif	ZAM339B00LA100160	2.8-litre	AM473	Swan white over Rifle Grey	Pelle Blu & Alcantara Celeste	Austria	On the road

	Registered 1992	Karif	ZAM339B00LA100161	2.8-litre	AM473	Rosso Maserati over Rifle Grey	Pelle Nera	UK	On the road From a collection in Italy On private plate on "K4RAF"

	199?	Karif	ZAM339B00LA100162	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	199?	Karif	ZAM339B00LA100166	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	199?	Karif	ZAM339B00LA100167	2.8-litre	AM473	Dazing Black	Pelle Nera & Alcantara Grigia	Austria	On the road Manual transmission

	1993	Karif	ZAM339B00LA100181	2.8-litre	AM473	???	Pelle Nera & Alcantara Grigia	Germany	On the road

	199?	Karif	ZAM339B00?A100183	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

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Right-Hand Drive Karif Production 1988-1991						RHD Karifs recorded so far: 007

Image	Year	Model	Chassis Number	Engine Size	Engine Type	Colour	Interior	Location	Special Features
	1988	Karif	ZAM339B00??????	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	First RHD Karif produced

	1988	Quattroporte 2.8 seicilindri	ZAM339B00JA190001	2.8-litre	AM473	Rosso Maserati over Rifle Grey	Pelle Grigia	UK	On the road - Manual transmission

	1989	Quattroporte 2.8 seicilindri	ZAM339B00KA190003	2.8-litre	AM473	Nero	Pelle Grigia	UK	On the road - Manual transmission

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190004	2.8-litre	AM473	Swan White	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190005	2.8-litre	AM473	Rosso Maserati	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190006	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190007	2.8-litre	AM473	Rosso Maserati	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190008	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	Australia	Shipped to Australia

	1989	Quattroporte 2.8 seicilindri	ZAM339B00KA190009	2.8-litre	AM473	Rosso Maserati	Pelle Avorio	UK	On the road - Manual transmission

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190010	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190012	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	Australia	Shipped to Australia

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190013	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190014	2.8-litre	AM473	Dark Aquamarine	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190015	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	Registered 1992	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190017	2.8-litre	AM473	Rosso Maserati over Rifle Grey	Pelle Nera	Australia	On the road

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190018	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190019	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190020	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	Australia	Shipped to Australia

	1991	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190021	2.8-litre	AM473	Rosso Maserati	Pelle Nera	France	On the road

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190022	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190024	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190025	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190027	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190028	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190029	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	Australia	Shipped to Australia

	1991	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190031	2.8-litre	AM473	Rosso Maserati over Rifle Grey	Pelle Nera Grey Alcantara	Australia	On the road

	199?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190032	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00KA190033	2.8-litre	AM473	???	???	???	???

	198?	Karif	ZAM339B00190035	2.8-litre	AM473	Rosso Maserati	Pelle Grigia	Australia	On the road

UK Colour and Interior Guide for 1990/1991