Finally, I've found my next Maserati...

[general_piffle]

So, after selling my Ghibli GT last year followed by nearly a year of hunting, looking at different models from the 3200 to the GranTurismo, visiting sellers and seeing cars I've finally settled on one after a plan took shape.

Originality doesn't really bother me, but being able to personalise, enhance, and future-proof against known issues (e.g. better quality heater core, new sport cats, etc.) do. Plus the colour combination is crucial. I looked at a few cars in white, black and silver, lovely as they are they didn't grab me. But then I spotted this 2005 facelift 4200 in Blu Nettuno with Cuoio interior that was very low mileage (about 24,000 miles) already had some mods (upgraded Brembo calipers, etc.) and it got me thinking.

What if I were to upgrade the car to have the power and handling of the GranSport (perhaps even better) but with the comfort and interior of the original GT. Personally I've always seen the 4200 as more of a GT than a sports car. This could be a project to do over time, as budget and time allow. The planned modifications are as follows:

• NOS sill plates LH/RH
• Dynax treatment full underside
• Brassworks heater core
• Formula Dynamics anti-roll bars
• Formula Dynamics drive-by-wire module
• Formula Dynamics ECM performance chip
• Goodridge stainless steel hoses
• New hazard light switch
• Hill Engineering reverse lever
• Larini X-pipe
• Larini ‘Club Sport’ rear boxes
• Larini Sport Cats
• Gryp centre console cover replacement
• TA Simeti smoked side indicators
• Long paddles (carbon fibre: Strada Spares)
• NOS 4200 carbonio steering wheel
• Headlight switch (Strada Spares)
• Ultimate Pedals deluxe set (embossed brake, accelerator, dead pedal)
• TA BMC air filter
• Devil Engineering rebuildable control arms (OEM Flanbloc bushing)
• Maserati 19” Trofeo wheels in Anthracite

I understand I'll never get the money back, but it's not about a return, it's about fun and having something a bit different. I kept the Ghibli for over a decade and I expect this car to be no different, probably longer if everything is just so.

Here's a link to the car, the Japanese inspection report gives it 5/5 for exterior paint etc. and 4/5 for interior, with some very light wear in a couple of places that should be rectified by a good clean, condition and detail. It's also comforting to know that Japanese inspection reports are normally very strict:

https://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/MASERATI/COUPE/700073004130260109001/

A huge 'thank you' to everyone who shared information and answered my endless stream of questions when I was hunting around!

 

[jasst]

Looks very nice and I like your plan, If I may make one suggestion, don't bother with the bmc air filter and instead do an induction kit, there is a thread on here about it somewhere, and I have done it to my Gransport, nice induction noise and lessens the risk of hydro locking if you drive through a deep puddle.

 

[general_piffle]

Looks very nice and I like your plan, If I may make one suggestion, don't bother with the bmc air filter and instead do an induction kit, there is a thread on here about it somewhere, and I have done it to my Gransport, nice induction noise and lessens the risk of hydro locking if you drive through a deep puddle.

Interesting! I've just read a bit about it. Are there any off the shelf induction kits for the 4200?

 

[zagatoes30]

Looks great, one of the best colour combinations,

Hopefully you will post updates on the improvements as they happen

 

[Ewan]

Lovely colour combination. Nice choice.

It’ll be interesting for you to learn what mods it already has, as there may well be more than the visually obvious ones was as the hi-fi, exhaust, smoked lights and glass, wing vents and cills.

In spite of you going to view some U.K. cars, I always thought you’d end up buying something from Japan, sight unseen. Fingers crossed that fortune favours the brave. (Though you’ve got Myles to the rescue if required.)

 

[general_piffle]

Looks great, one of the best colour combinations,

Hopefully you will post updates on the improvements as they happen

Thank you! I certainly will be posting updates.

 

[general_piffle]

Lovely colour combination. Nice choice.

It’ll be interesting for you to learn what mods it already has, as there may well be more than the visually obvious ones was as the hi-fi, exhaust, smoked lights and glass, wing vents and cills.

In spite of you going to view some U.K. cars, I always thought you’d end up buying something from Japan, sight unseen. Fingers crossed that fortune favours the brave. (Though you’ve got Myles to the rescue if required.)

Thanks Ewan. Yes, I'm curious to know if it still has the original suspension or not. I'll be getting Emblem to carry out an assessment when it arrives. It's a one owner car with full service and mechanical history, I suspect it may have been doted on, the docs are all in Japanese but it's a doddle to translate these days with ChatGPT or Gemini. Myles is indeed the man!

 

[DLax69]

Well done!

 

[general_piffle]

Well, that's the new reg secured for when it arrives. Little things...

 

[general_piffle]

Does anyone have any idea how I can find out how many facelift 4200s Maserati made in 2005 in blu nettuno with cuioi interior?

 

[safrane]

Write to Maserati UK. This is one area they are pretty good at responding to.

 

[MarkMas]

Does anyone have any idea how I can find out how many facelift 4200s Maserati made in 2005 in blu nettuno with cuioi interior?

Years ago I found a database that listed UK car sales by model and colour and I hacked about with the data and produced this chart for Quattroportes. But I now can't find what that database was.

 

[Ricardo Ofenrohr]

Imho you miss out on one major upgrade which would be KW V3 coilovers. Have those & the FD anti roll bars - 300% upgrade in comfort & performance.

 

[safrane]

Interested in your import experience as I have scanned the adds for a low miles and non rusty QP5

 

[general_piffle]

Imho you miss out on one major upgrade which would be KW V3 coilovers. Have those & the FD anti roll bars - 300% upgrade in comfort & performance.

I had actually been thinking about these, to lose the Skyhook. In fact, it KW V3 coilovers might even make the FD anti-roll bars redundant.

 

[general_piffle]

Interested in your import experience as I have scanned the adds for a low miles and non rusty QP5

I actually looked at a couple, well browsed and had inspected—QP GT S. But they were both in black and after seeing lots of black cars I decided I didn't really want one. I've imported two cars from Japan, a motorcycle from The Netherlands and a motorcycle from South Africa. If you have any specific queries feel free to DM me, it's actually quite straightforward. Depending on what it is there are ways to get your VAT back as well, which can make it even more cost effective.

 

[general_piffle]

Well that's a few parts just secured and ordered, in preparation for the project. Managed to find a NOS (new old stock) beige original Maserati 4200 mat set, and NOS transmission tunnel covers both sides LHD with the plastic still on the metal plate that sits next to the pedals, these were being sold by McGrath.

Also, a NOS 4200 carbonio steering wheel (the slimline one, not GS) and a set of NOS sill plates, from Eurospares. The sill plates I'll get covered with a thin layer of PPF to protect against any scuffs or scratches. Unless the set in the car currently are immaculate, if not then I'll set them aside until the technology is in place to bring them back to factory as a spare set. The way finishing techniques are evolving it might only be a few years.

 

[Mr.Cambio]

Nice combo, and what nice bright weather.
If you need to talk about the FD ecm, please send me a pm.

 

[general_piffle]

Does anyone have an email address of contact for Maserati UK they'd be willing to share, via DM if preferred? I've written to the Classiche Programme and tried the 'info@' email address for the UK - as it was the only one I could find online. This was a couple of weeks ago for both but just radio silence so far. Thanks in advance.

 

[philw696]

Does anyone have an email address of contact for Maserati UK they'd be willing to share, via DM if preferred? I've written to the Classiche Programme and tried the 'info@' email address for the UK - as it was the only one I could find online. This was a couple of weeks ago for both but just radio silence so far. Thanks in advance.

Ewan is probably the man to message.
@Ewan