Description
1978 Maserati Merak SS
AM122/ A* 525*
BPF 966T
– Just two owners and 28, 700 miles from new
– Sold by the well-known dealership Bell & Colvill to both the first and second (current) owners
– Large history file contains original hand book, service book, dealership guide and brochure
– Copious invoices and previous MOT certificates, including the sale invoice to the current owner
– Thorough body restoration by established specialist in 1991/ 1992 and just 5, 000 miles since
– Engine overhaul by McGrath Maserati in 2015 (we fitted new valves in 2008)
McGrath Maserati are pleased to offer for sale this 1978 Maserati Merak SS, arguably one of the finest examples available.
A letter to the current owner from Maserati S. p. A. in January 1992 states that chassis AM112/ A* 525* left the production line on December 16th 1978 with silver paint and trimmed in black Connolly leather. Despatched just before the end of the year to Modena Concessionaires in London, the car was sold through the well-known dealership Bell & Colvill of West Horsley in Surrey on March 9th 1979 to its first owner, a gentleman in Ham, near Richmond, Surrey.
The current owner was an existing client of Bell & Colvill as he lived relatively locally and had a Lotus Elan S4, and upon visiting the Lotus, Saab, and Alfa Romeo dealership in December 1982 to look at a Lotus Esprit, he spied the silver Merak in the showroom that Bell & Colvill had recently reacquired. A deal was agreed and the 12, 800 mile car was collected on Christmas Eve, surely making the Christmas of 1982 one to remember.
The car was pressed into regular and certainly enjoyable use as by the second MOT certificate on file from February 1985 the odometer recorded 21, 200 miles. However, usage diminished greatly soon afterwards and just a few hundred miles a year were covered from then on, but at least the car continued to be driven occasionally rather than enduring years of idleness in the garage.
By the early 1990’s the body was showing a few signs of age despite the care given to the car, and the owner decided to undertake a repaint. As is often the way with such work, things escalated and within a short time an in-depth body restoration was underway at a recognised specialist (still operating today), which included the fitting of a new windscreen. When it came to paint the car, it was decided an attractive dark red colour would be preferable to the previous silver, and the work was finished in the Spring of 1992. However, prior to completion the rear bulkhead and centre console were retrimmed in black leather, but fortunately the seats were allowed to retain their original black leather which has since aged in an appealing way.
During the current owners forty years custodianship they were thankfully methodical in retaining paperwork concerning the car, and the large history file contains many invoices detailing the regular maintenance undertaken, plus the original sale invoice to them from Bell & Colvill and many previous MOT certificates and tax discs (and the Bell & Colvill key ring). Also with the car and in superb condition are the original service book, hand book, and dealership guide, as well as a model brochure.
McGrath Maserati have known this Merak since February 1993 when we supplied an exhaust manifold for the car, but the first time it visited our workshops was in October 2007 and we have maintained the car ever since. Significant works carried out in addition to the 1990’s body restoration and the fitting of a new clutch in August 1993 (at 23, 300 miles), have been when we replaced the sodium filled valves in late 2008 (at 24, 300 miles) and carried out an engine overhaul in 2015 (at 25, 800 miles).
This wonderful Merak has covered only 28, 700 miles from new, with just 5, 000 miles of those since the body was restored. The work was clearly done to an excellent standard as after thirty years of careful storage and minimal use the car is in very good condition. Additionally, with its long-term ownership and large history file with original documentation, this is a truly special example. Rarely are Meraks to this quality offered for sale and McGrath Maserati are delighted to have been tasked with finding this one a new home.
Please see our website or contact us for further information.
