Description
1971 Maserati Mexico 4. 7
- One of only nine cars manufactured with RHD steering
- Built in May 1971 with a 4. 7 engine and manual transmission, and sold new in the UK
- Excellent history file containing many invoices and period photographs
- Engine overhauled by McGrath Maserati in 1999 and cylinder heads overhauled in 2016
- Bodywork repairs and paintwork refresh undertaken in 2017
- A very good example of a rare car with a documented history
Maserati’s wonderful Mexico will always be a rare car as only 485 were manufactured in both 4. 2 and 4. 7 engined configurations, but only nine of those cars were Guida Destra; right hand drive. Of those nine cars, two were powered by the 4. 2 litre engine and seven had the 4. 7 engine, with the UK market receiving all of the 4. 7 engined cars when new. Two of the UK cars had automatic transmission whereas this wonderful example is one of the five UK supplied 4. 7 RHD cars with manual transmission.
A letter from Maserati SpA in Modena from 1990 states this Mexico was manufactured in May 1971, sold new in England, and originally had blue paint with a white interior. A previous owner has suggested the car was displayed at the 1971 London Motor Show at Earls Court, although we have no proof of this.
The history file is detailed and of a generous size, and commences with a 1987 MOT certificate which is attached to an October 1989 sales invoice for the car from Nigel Cooper Classic Cars of West London. The invoice states the Mexico had previously resided with an owner in South Ayrshire, Scotland and details the purchaser as someone from Moray, Scotland. It appears the Mexico was an additional Maserati as they already owned a blue 1969 Ghibli (AM115* 1074, sold new in France but acquired in the USA in 1989).
It is expected the Mexico saw little use during this ownership but the owner was methodical at retaining paperwork, some of which details the restoration and repaint the car benefitted from during the early 1990’s by way of many invoices, photographs, and correspondence on file detailing the nature of the work carried out.
With the assistance of McGrath Maserati, in 1997 the Mexico was acquired by another Scottish resident and latterly Maserati Club Chairman, who sent the car straight to our Hertfordshire workshop for recommissioning. While it was here we overhauled the engine and carried out a considerable amount of work to make the car reliable for its intended long journeys around the UK and abroad for Maserati Club events, although this dream was short-lived and the car was soon sold and replaced by a Quattroporte I.
After residing elsewhere in the UK for a number of years, in 2007 the car moved to West Sussex in the south of England. The new owner was also a stalwart of the Maserati Club who was keen to improve the Mexico further still, and during the next few years they had McGrath Maserati carry out some body restoration and paint repairs (2007/ 2008), retrim the interior (2008), and refurbish the dashboard wood (2009).
In late 2015 and after much enjoyment, the car came to McGrath Maserati to be sold where we soon found it a new home in West London with a Maserati Bora owner who wished to share his classic car enthusiasm with his young children. Significant works they have commissioned during their ownership include a cylinder head overhaul by us in 2016 and a re-paint during 2017.
With an expected move over seas the owner has now decided to part with the Mexico and we are delighted to offer this wonderful and rare car for sale. Within the aforementioned history file, in addition to the copious paperwork already mentioned are some charming period photographs of the car in its far younger days (believed to be 1970’s or 80’s), a large quantity of previous MOT certificates (from 1997) and tax discs, and a copy of an advertisement from the November 1979 edition of Thoroughbred & Classic Cars Magazine which is believed to show the car for sale at The Italian Car Centre in West London.
