1991 BiTurbo Spyder E 2.8 auto- Time to sell

Azzurrinick

Junior Member
Messages
27
I am having a sort out as we have downsized and don't have space for all of our cars in the family. The TVR has gone to a dealer to sell and I am also planning to sell my Spyder but really struggling to understand their values. I am looking for a bit of guidance as there are a few for sale but not selling, not sure if it is because they are overpriced or that the market for these cars are very small. My one is a very useable car, not a show queen, starts first time, looks great, drives really smooth attracts lots of attention. Some of may have seen it at Brands Hatch last 2 years. You may also recognise it as the Bridge Classics completion car from December 2022 and also featured in a YouTube video review. Current mileage is showing at 54k, it will have a new MOT as it's booked in for a service and MOT in April.

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Nayf

Member
Messages
2,904
A lovely car and one I also bought a ticket for. Sadly it's completely the wrong time of year to sell any droptop, let alone a Maserati, let alone a Maserati Biturbo. I would advise against an auction; instead I would approach a dealer - Richard Grace (@dickygrace )/McGrath Maserati as they will have a long list of regular customers who may be interested.
 

Azzurrinick

Junior Member
Messages
27
Thanks for your reply @Nayf , interesting thoughts. I was looking at the auction route but later in the year when the sun is shining, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay and the auction will provide that. I will be more than happy to approach both Richard & McGrath but worry that the car will be good enough to sit in their portfolio. Being in Devon does have it's advantages but unfortunately not if you want to just pop in to a specialist and chat.
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
7,293
A car such as this can be tricky for a dealer, as they have to provide full back up post-sale, and these don’t have the best reputation for reliability and rigidity. So typically they’d want/need a large margin.
Better to try to sell privately, via here, the owners club, and a site such as Cars and Classics.

There is a very nice biturbo Spyder in blue about to come on the market. It’s a very late one, a Gandini facelift model (series 3) from 1993, with (from memory) about 45k miles. I think it’ll have an asking price of maybe £17k.

I mention that as a guide, as would expect your earlier car to sell for slightly less.
Maybe try an asking price of towards £15k?
 

Azzurrinick

Junior Member
Messages
27
Thanks @Ewan, not sure if I want to go through the hassle of a private sale. I attempted it with my TVR last year and struggled with people's expectations of a 30 year old car. I suppose it's all down to price.
More thinking to do.


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Nayf

Member
Messages
2,904
Thanks for your reply @Nayf , interesting thoughts. I was looking at the auction route but later in the year when the sun is shining, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay and the auction will provide that. I will be more than happy to approach both Richard & McGrath but worry that the car will be good enough to sit in their portfolio. Being in Devon does have its advantages but unfortunately not if you want to just pop in to a specialist and chat.
Yeah, I don’t envy you that servicing conundrum. Emblem are the only specialists even remotely that way that I’d really trust with the Biturbo’s - ahem - quirks and getting there and back must be at least a day there and back via train?
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
22,651
I like these but they are always a tough sell, personally I prefer the look of the later facelift cars but at the end of the day you need to find the right buyer with the money and they seem few and far between.

Some sellers seem to think these will make high teens or even low twenties but the reality is they rarely do. At auction I think it might do £12-13k at best which is an under valuation if its a good one. Private to the right buyer nearer to the £15k that Ewan suggested.
 

Azzurrinick

Junior Member
Messages
27
Thanks @zagatoes30, £12k to £15k seems quite appealing, I think I will be quite happy with that. The more I think about it I am leaning towards selling it privately through the Club & forum. @Nayf I hadn't considered Emblem but just had a long conversation with Martin and booked the car in with them for a full service and MOT. I will now cancel my previous booking with a local TVR specialist garage. Now all I have to do is wait for the sun to start shining. Thanks again for all your help
 

RodTungsten

Member
Messages
671
One exactly like this used to flash past us in our Alfa E33 - school bound in the ‘90’s - on the Odiham to Upper Hale road - always wanted a Maserati from then on! Anyone on here?