Biturbos/number cars/Ghibli IIs for sale

P5Nij

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2,371
Intersting description on the eBay advert. I doubt very much that Maserati would have made prototypes in RHD as the U.K. usually didn’t get new models until a year or more after they were released in Europe. The Ghibli MY94 being a prime example which didn’t come to the UK until 95.

Whilst a 425i isn’t exactly common in the UK, it’s not that rare as Biturbos go, one starred in the James Bond film Licence to Kill. 1989 would have been the crossover between the end of U.K. 425 supply and the introduction of the 430; the 430 went on sale in Europe in 1987 however. I suspect that car is either mistakenly registered or it’s had an engine swap, you’d need to see the data plate to confirm. Either way that’s one rusty car that won’t be seeing the road again ☹


The 430 has just been bought by a chap in Yorkshire, he's taking the engine and gearbox out and is parting out the rest of it if anyone's interested....

 

dickyb

Member
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432
Apparently it is a 2.5l engine with the black cam covers.

Black cam covers aren’t exclusive to the 2.5L, they were also found on various 2.0L models too such as the 420 and some 222s. Black cam covers are usually seen on the more mainstream versions, whereas the more sporty versions tend to have red cam covers such as the 420S/Si, Biturbo S/Si.
 

dickyb

Member
Messages
432
Good spot.
Should it not be badged as an Ottocilindri? My 97 QP V8 is, so assume this should be also? Your thoughts?

Yes it should have the Ottocilindri badge on the front wing so this appears to be missing. A V6 would have a Seicilindri badge. An Evolution would have either V6 Evoluzione or V8 Evoluzione badge.
 

Ewan

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6,757
Yes it should have the Ottocilindri badge on the front wing so this appears to be missing. A V6 would have a Seicilindri badge. An Evolution would have either V6 Evoluzione or V8 Evoluzione badge.
Has probably been repainted over the years, but mistakenly not re-badged.
It's a rare car - they only made about 70 Ottocilindri models in RHD, of which I'd guess maybe half came to the UK. Certainly not many left now. A dozen maybe?
 

dickyb

Member
Messages
432
Very difficult to know for sure how many QPIVs are left as many were incorrectly described when registered so the DVLA have some odd entries in their records. The light blue car that's coming up for auction is registered as a "Maserati Quadtroporte" so won't appear on any searches for a Quattroporte. There's a dark blue V8 Evo on Ebay and that is recorded as a "Maserati Quattro" so it also won't appear on any searches for a Quattroporte. I think your estimate of numbers of RHD QPIV V8s are about right, probably a total 50-60 cars of both V6 and V8 sold in the UK new, although the V8 was on sale for longer as the V6 Evo was not sold in the UK. The number of manual cars sold was quite low, I only know of 1 manual V6 and there were probably around 10 manual V8s.
 

Ewan

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6,757
That V8 blue EVO looks lovely, and at a bargain asking price. I had 2 exactly the same as this. I’ll call the owner to see if this was one of mine.
There certainly seem to be more V8 EVO cars around than the earlier Ottocilindri version.
When the QP IV first appeared, Meridien were the sole UK dealer, so sakes were very low - maybe 2 or 3 sold per year. But by the end of the EVO run, there were maybe a dozen dealers, including the likes of Maranello and HR Owen, so sales were far higher.
My guess (and that is all it is), is that maybe 30 of the early cars were sold here, followed by 50 or so of the EVO version. And in both cases, autos outsold manuals.
 

Nayf

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Messages
2,734
Does anyone know the current owner of this car? ZAM336B00*00400208 Sprint Blu UK
Image via http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/alfieri-ghiblicup-rhd.htm

Essentially, after uhming, ahhring, prevaricating and then 'missing out' on the light metallic blue Cup in the Cotswolds, I want to track down the one I actually want, so when/if the owner ever wants to sell...
 

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