Highlights
- Original press car, reviewed by Tiff Needell on Top Gear
- Copy of Motor Sport on file featuring a review of this very car
- Smart Merlot leather interior with plenty of features
The Appeal
This Maserati has a fascinating claim to fame: it was the manufacturer’s press car and comes with an original copy of Motor Sport magazine featuring the car. But even more impressively, it was the car used, driven and reviewed by Tiff Needell for the BBC’s original Top Gear. This review can still be found online via your preferred video search engine.
The car remains in good condition throughout, and features suave dark tan leather upholstery as well as plenty of interior features. It comes with extensive service history and has clearly been carefully maintained by its previous owners.
So if you’re in the market for a fast, capable GT car with heaps of Italian flair, then this 3200 could be the answer to your dreams.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in July 1999
- This is the original press car
- Featured on Top Gear, being reviewed and driven by Tiff Needell
- Seen in Motor Sport magazine
- MOT valid until 28th April 2023
- Three keys
- UK V5C showing ten former keepers
- Historic MOT certificates
- Original owner’s manuals on file
- Purchased by the current owner in June 2017
- Service history record printout showing plenty of maintenance work completed between 2018 and 2022
The Interior
- Excellent Merlot leather upholstery
- Only some light creasing to the leather
- The driver’s bolster is slightly more worn, as you would expect to see
- Heated, electronically adjustable seats, said to function without issue
- Matching carpets and 3200GT branded overmats
- Philips stereo with Bluetooth
- Bold, clear instrumentation
- All buttons, switches, stalks and interior features said to be in working order
- Spacious boot to the rear
The Exterior
- Smart coupé styling
- The bodywork looks good, with smart shut lines
- The paint is well presented for its age, with few scratches or chips we could see
- The chrome front grille and Maserati trident badge were reportedly re-plated in 2018
- Lamp lenses clear and bright
- The windscreen is said to be free from damage
- Electronic folding wing mirrors
- All exterior trim present and correct
- Alloy wheels in good condition, no reported scratches or damage
- The vendor tells us that the front under tray has been repaired
- There is a little surface corrosion to the underside, as you would expect to see on a vehicle of this age
The Mechanics
- 3,217cc V8 engine
- Twin turbochargers
- Automatic transmission
- Engine bay clean and tidy
- Most of the hoses have reportedly been recently replaced
- Throttle body replaced in 2017 with a unit supplied by The Maserati Shed, said to still be working perfectly
- Air conditioning condenser, dryer and resistor replaced in July 2020
- Rear brake discs and pads replaced in 2018, only 2,000 miles ago
Summary
Having been featured on Top Gear and in the motoring press, this Maserati has certainly led an interesting life so far. It appears to remain in great condition and would make a great choice as an everyday classic.
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UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
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