UNUSUAL CARS BRAND GUIDE
Maserati Ghibli II. Photograph by Rutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; locally hosted.
Maserati model guides
Maserati’s history links the original Ghibli, mid-engined Bora and Merak, glass-tailed Khamsin, landmark 3500 GT, compact twin-turbo Biturbos, V8 Shamal, elegant sports saloons and Ferrari-linked grand tourers. These guides trace that development from the 1950s to the modern-classic era.
Each guide explains the versions, engineering, UK-market context and practical inspection points without treating all cars or factory claims as interchangeable.
Start here
Start with the Ghibli I for the classic V8 grand-tourer era, the Bora and Merak for mid-engined engineering, the Khamsin for Gandini’s hydraulic GT, or the 3500 GT for Maserati’s post-war road-car breakthrough, the Biturbo and Shamal for the turbocharged era, the 3200 GT and Coupé for successive V8 generations, or the Quattroporte V for Pininfarina’s four-door flagship.
Detailed Maserati guides
Maserati 3200 GT
Giugiaro’s four-seat twin-turbo V8 coupé with distinctive boomerang LED rear lights.
Maserati 3500 GT and GTI
The Touring-bodied grand tourer that established Maserati as a serious road-car manufacturer.
Maserati Biturbo and Spyder
The twin-turbo V6 family that expanded Maserati into coupés, saloons and a Zagato Spyder.
Maserati Bora
Maserati’s first mid-engined production road car, with V8 power and Citroën hydraulics.
Maserati Coupé and Spyder
The naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 M138 in four-seat Coupé and two-seat Spyder form.
Maserati Ghibli I
Giugiaro’s original V8 grand tourer, including the 4.9 SS and rare factory Spyder.
Maserati Ghibli II
The muscular final evolution of the Biturbo coupé, including GT, Cup and Open Cup versions.
Maserati GranSport
The focused 400hp V8 development of the 4200 Coupé with Cambiocorsa transmission.
Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio
Pininfarina’s four-seat V8 coupé and convertible, covering the 4.2, 4.7, ZF and MC Shift versions.
Maserati Indy
Vignale’s practical V8 fastback GT in 4.2, 4.7 and 4.9-litre forms.
Maserati Khamsin
Gandini’s glass-tailed 4.9-litre V8 2+2 with distinctive hydraulic controls.
Maserati Kyalami
Frua’s rare four-seat V8 coupé from the early De Tomaso era.
Maserati MC12 Stradale
The 50-car V12 homologation special behind Maserati’s successful GT1 return.
Maserati Merak
The V6 mid-engined 2+2 in original, SS and two-litre 2000 GT forms.
Maserati Quattroporte V
Pininfarina’s V8 sports saloon, from rear-transaxle Duoselect to the later ZF automatic.
Maserati Shamal
Gandini’s 326hp twin-turbo V8 halo car, with only 369 examples built.
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From the 3500 GT to the Quattroporte V
The collection now spans Maserati’s first successful series-production grand tourer, the Biturbo-derived performance family, successive V8 coupés and the Pininfarina-designed Quattroporte V. Together they show how racing-derived engineering, turbocharging and grand-touring comfort repeatedly reshaped the marque.
Frequently asked questions
Which Maserati is the best place to start?
The 3200 GT is the most recognisable twin-turbo choice, while the GranSport offers a later naturally aspirated V8. Condition and specialist history matter more than model alone.
Was the Maserati Biturbo sold in the UK?
Yes. Right-hand-drive export versions of the Biturbo family, including coupés, saloons and the Zagato Spyder, were sold in the UK.
What is the Maserati Ghibli Cup?
It is the focused 330hp two-litre version of the second-generation Ghibli, related to the Open Cup competition car.
Which Maserati has boomerang rear lights?
The 1998–2002 Maserati 3200 GT has the curved LED rear lights commonly called boomerangs.
Is the Maserati GranSport automatic?
Its Cambiocorsa transmission is a six-speed automated manual, using an electro-hydraulically operated clutch rather than a torque converter.
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