Highlights

Meticulously maintained throughout the current ownership
Low mileage example in all original condition
Extremely knowledgeable enthusiast owned

The Appeal

As far as pub brags go, having the world's first twin-turbo powered production vehicle is indeed quite a good one, and a belter of a way to get the conversation flowing. Growing up in the ’70s or ’80s, you were more than likely surrounded by, and admired wedge-shaped sports cars or anything that had “turbo” in the name. The Biturbo meets both of those criteria admirably - not only was it the first car to ever be mass produced with a twin turbocharged engine, but also the first production car to have three valves per cylinder, twin inlet and one exhaust.

Developed under the watchful eye of the company owner, Alejandro De Tomaso, to be a more affordable car that would function both as a three-box daily driver as well as a sports car when the driver was feeling in the mood for it. Sure, it might not have been given the generically “sexy” body shape that is the norm, but nothing really was in the 80s. Fast and door-stop shaped was the aim of the game, and the Biturbo ticked both of these boxes.

This lovely example has been owned by a caring and loving custodian since 2014, where he has taken the utmost care to ensure the vehicles mechanical wellbeing as well as the meticulous preservation of originality through cleaning and dry storage with proper methods. The owner of the vehicle was also an uphill racing driver for the best part of 20 years with Osella, piloting the Delta S4, and informs us that it is important to understand how to drive these Biturbos as it’s quite a delicate vehicle. But we’ll dive into that later.

The History and Paperwork

Produced and registered in 1987
Original keys present with the vehicle
Users manual present and in lovely condition
ASI (Automoclub Storico Italiano) certification
ACI (Automobile Club D’Italia) certification
Italian registration documents present
Only two previous owners before the current custodian
Current owner has kept the vehicle since 2014
Very well mechanically maintained with the greatest of care
Tested in February of 2023 and serviced with new tyres

The Interior

Completely original upholstery with gentle patina and signs of use, however no signs of worrying damage
Drivers seat shows signs of wear like any leather seat of this age, no rips or tears are present and the stitching looks to be intact.
Front passenger seat is also in well kept condition with little signs of use, again no damage or rips with well maintained stitching
Floor carpets still present and well kept with no apparent damage or holes
Original steering wheel present, wooden rim kept in lovely shape retaining a high level of shine
Gauge cluster all remains functional with no unwelcome warning lights present upon startup
Dashboard leather in nice condition with small signs of patina along the stitched seams
Centre console controls all functional and easily readable, with the Maserati clock till sitting proud and central between the upper air vents
Wooden veneer across the passenger side of the dashboard shows some light signs of delamination, easily fixable
Door cards in original condition with no signs of damage
Original roof lining with no sagging, and the leather around the sun visors appears to be in very well kept condition too
Rear seats show signs of use however are well kept overall, no rips or tears and no broken seams to be seen here
Boot lining in lovely condition, and the original Maserati toolkit remains present on the hatch

The Exterior

Paintwork and bodywork in seemingly excellent condition
Panel gaps all appear to be of original position
Front bumper shows no signs of damage just some light stone chips as to be expected here
Headlamps are well kept and remain haze-free, no signs of nay water ingress
Wire grill is still complete with Maserati logo sitting proud and central
Original SI bonnet with vents still in great condition
All four original wheels well kept with no signs of kerb markings, all shod in tyres which appear to have a good amount of meat left
Brightwork trim around the windows appears in well maintained condition
Door handles have signs of age with the brightwork being scratched and faded over the years, small paint bubble above the passenger side handle
Aggressive quad exit exhaust reminds you you’re in the presence of something special
Original badging designations on the rear hatch
Paintwork on the rear appears to be in good condition with no signs of damage
Overall, this is a very well maintained car both inside and out - the owner takes great care to ensure the car isn’t driven on rainy days and is properly dried and stored away after any use or wash - his efforts have certainly paid off in keeping this lovely example as charming as can be.

The Mechanics

1,996cc V6 Twin-Turbocharged engine
Fuel injection engine
223bhp output
Manual 5-speed transmission
Rear-wheel drive configuration
Battery disconnect fitted
Distribution and injection pump replaced in 2019
Brake pump and clutch pump both replaced in 2019 with brand new fluids
All gasoline hoses, injectors, spark plugs and caps, coolant hoses replaced for new ones
Engine oil, gearbox oil, differential oil all replaced
Front and rear pads replaced
Fuel tank emptied and properly cleaned out
The owner states these vehicles can be very delicate and require the correct attention under certain driving conditions. When the vehicle reaches a temperature of 70 degrees, you must keep the RPM low for at least one kilometre so that the turbines take in oil and never seize up.

Summary

A true Italian underdog, the sports car that didn’t get the recognition it deserved from undertaking such a huge gamble with the first twin-turbocharged production engine.

An example in such lovely original condition as this would suit any avid Maserati enthusiast or collector, it would sit as a stunning piece to anyone’s garage and certainly a gorgeous piece of eye-candy, too. Examples like this are only becoming harder and harder to find, don’t let this be the one that got away.

Notice to bidders

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.

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