1977 Maserati Merak SS

By the beginning of the Seventies any supercar manufacturer needed a mid-engine design, Maserati was no exception so they employed the services of Giorgetto Giugiaro. The result was the Bora and the Merak which virtually shared the same underpinnings and body design. By 1975 Maserati had shrugged off the restraints of ownership by Citroen and were revitalised with De Tomaso as a partner. Fortunately for the Merak this would see an increase in power from the three litre Maserati unit and further weight saving - the Merak SS was the ultimate evolution. The Merak was now fulfilling its design brief to provide an alternative to the Lamborghini Urraco and the Ferrari 308/GT4. Like the Bora, the Merak was comfortable and refined and really only differed by engine size and the treatment to the engine cover. The 2+2 design did offer occasional seating in the rear. When production ceased nearly a thousand Merak SS had been delivered. Offered here today is the ultimate Merak, the 1977 SS version, the lighter and more powerful variant in the best combination of Black and Creme. Bell and Colvill was the original supplying dealer on March 26th 1977. It has seen a constant service programme and has sixteen stamps in the original full service book, there are eighteen additional service invoices. Recent work and receipts show that the clutch has been replaced together with a comprehensive rebuild of the A/C system, which included compressor, clutch, belt, condensor, valve blocks and hoses. Bob Houghton has recently undertaken some engine work. The mileage is only 56000 miles, with just four owners and the car comes with a full MoT. Additonally a further 20 previous MoT's are present in the history file. Maserati Boras', in good condition, are virtually three times the estimate on this Merak SS which offers great drivability without the heavy controls of Italian alternatives. It is certainly a Grand Tourer with a comfortable interior with 'plus two' seating if required and usable luggage space. The styling is one of the most pleasing designs and quite rightly is attracting attention as Maseratis' still remain undervalued.