It takes a special kind of car to be specifically named after the purpose it serves. Of course, Maserati have always been the masters of this sort of forthright logic (just look at the Quattroporte – it may sound like a fanciful and aspirational name, but it literally just means ‘four-door’). When it came time to develop a grand tourer in the traditional style for the 2007 model-year, the result was something elegant and spacious with desirable styling, a powerful and torque-rich eight-cylinder engine, and the long-leggedness to waft its occupants across continents in style. The name for this quintessential gran turismo? Why, they named it Maserati GranTurismo. But of course.

And when they came to offer a cabriolet variant in 2010? The obvious name suggested itself – it was to be the GranCabrio. And that’s the car you see here: a launch-year GranCabrio in tasteful Grigio Granito. This is a desirable example of Maserati’s first ever four-seat convertible – and with a strong history file and a lovely spec, we expect interest in this car to be very keen. 

Having been developed as a grand tourer, the interior is a very comfortable place to find yourself. The seats are tastefully trimmed and generously padded, with electric operation in numerous directions. The car is factory-fitted with premium Bose audio; the multi-function screen all appears to be in proper working order, and the gauges and dials are working correctly, including the distinctive and all-important Maserati clock in the centre of the dash. There are no warning lights illuminated.

The leather trim on the dash, glovebox and centre console is generally in good condition, although it’s a characteristic of Maseratis of this era that the hide can wear off on the corners of some surfaces, and there’s evidence of that here and there throughout the cabin.

The interior lights work, the electric windows are functioning correctly, and the electric soft-top lowers, raises and latches properly.

Grigio Granito is a sublime shade that looks sober and elegant in low light, but comes alive with sparkles in the sunshine. The paintwork is all in great order here (we can see from the history file that the rear bumper has been repainted), and the bodywork appears free from dings or scuffs, and has nice even panel gaps.

The alloy wheels are in good order with no evidence of kerbing, and wear matching Pirelli tyres with good tread. All of the light lenses and window glass are good, and the correct trim and badging is present. The taillight clusters have a smoked finish, and there’s a carbon fibre lip spoiler on the bootlid.

The GranCabrio shares its running gear with the GranTurismo S Auto – which means the venerable Ferrari-Maserati 4.7-litre V8 engine serving up a handy 434bhp and 361lb.ft, mated to a 6-speed auto with paddle-shift.

We can see from the history file and service book that this Maserati has been correctly maintained by specialists at the appropriate intervals, and today it presents as an eminently usable machine that drives like a dream. The engine fires up eagerly and settles into a characteristic burbly idle, pulling keenly through the revs with the transmission shifting smoothly. Everything appears to be equally peachy with the steering, brakes and suspension; with no evident issues here, this is a performance machine that’s ready to enjoy.

This Maserati has a very fine spec, along with a comprehensive and reassuring history file. With its evocative and big-hearted V8, a beautifully trimmed and well equipped interior, all wrapped up in effortlessly stylish Pininfarina design, this sharply-suited Maser suavely cuts a dash on the high street, loves carving up country roads and mountain passes, devours motorways with aplomb, and does so while serving up a heavenly engine sound. It’s wonderfully comfortable, achingly pretty, always entertaining – and if you’ve ever idly wondered about buying one of these cars, now is surely the time to make that dream come true. 

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