2001 Maserati 3200 GT Assetto Corsa (Manual)

Back in the late nineties, fresh under Ferrari ownership, the rejuvenated Italian marque Maserati was ready to take on its rivals. Its latest weapon of choice was the 3200 GT. Designed by Italdesign, the car didn't just make it to Evo Magazine's  inaugural cover, it soon found its way to the heart of many car lovers globally. But for those who wanted their brand-new Maserati to be a bit more special, the 3200 GT was also launched in a special edition called the Assetto Corsa. Its limited production run meant that in the early noughties, you could own a Maserati that was not just more driver-focussed but also rarer —just 75 of these right-hand drive cars were officially imported into the UK. Developed from the 3200 GT Automatica, the special edition was limited to 250 units and was available in three colours (Grigio Touring, Nero Carbonio and Rosso Mondiale).

‘Assetto Corsa'  translates to race set-up in Italian and it is in this area that the main changes have been made to this stylish Maserati. The ‘handling package’ included a lowered suspension set-up – some 15mm lower than the standard car with stiffer springs, a larger diameter anti-roll bar and a variable electronic suspension system which allows the driver to adjust to a number of individual settings. The main feature of the Assetto Corsa package was the adoption of an intelligent electronic damping system allowing automatic adjustment of each individual gas strut depending on the level of vertical and lateral acceleration. Using processing data from a set of sensors, the suspension automatically adjusted up to 14 different settings and the traction control could be turned off.

Nothing under the shapely bonnet had changed and the Assetto Corsa continued to utilise the twin-turbocharged version of the 3.2-litre, dual overhead camshaft V8 engine first seen in the Gandini-styled Quattroporte, developing 370bhp at 6,250rpm and mated to a 6-speed, gated manual gearbox. 

The Assetto Corsa also adopted a larger front anti-roll bar, stiffer springs, Pirelli P-Zero Corsa soft-compound tyres, Pagid racing brake pads, bespoke ventilation ducts, a new steering servo with faster response, ergonomic sport pedals, perforated Connolly leather interior, 'Titanium-effect' painted 15-spoke. 18" alloy wheels, an ‘Assetto Corsa’ script on the sill kick panels and red brake callipers.

According to the dedicated plaque on the dashboard, this 2001 Assetto Corsa is the 19th out of the 75 right-hand drive cars destined for the UK and has been enjoyed by six former keepers with just over 37,000 miles on the odometer. Its condition is described by our vendor as excellent, which is evident in our accompanying images. However, the most important thing is that the car has been maintained to a very high standard, corroborated by its detailed service history with 16 stamps in the book, alongside the relevant invoices and previous MOT Certificates.

These svelte Italian coupés go particularly well, sound great, seat four in a fabulous interior and are rare, being one of 250 examples worldwide. All the markers for future investment appeal and great fun while you are waiting.