Description
1982 – Maserati Quattroporte III 4. 9L The embodiment of the Italian luxury sports sedan of the 1980s French registration certificate - Developed under the De Tomaso era on the basis of the Kyalami derived from the Longchamp - Designed by Giugiaro and powered by the house V8 inherited from competition - 4. 9L version the most powerful and a very rare manual gearbox example! - Dark Golden Beryl paint and cuoio leather interior with a Nardi aluminium and wood steering wheel - 31, 500 km on the odometer since the top-end rebuild by Franco Tralli - A single owner for almost 25 years and preservation state exceptional When you think of a luxurious limousine, most of us picture Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Jaguar; or BMW or Mercedes. Fewer people imagine themselves at the wheel of a Maserati. Yet the Quattroporte, whose first series dates back to 1963, is an institution, a real dynasty even among Italians. Each has marked its era, whether dressed in Frua’s design for the first, or Bertone for the second, though it was produced in only 13 examples. Maserati Quattroporte are simply the Italian limousines that are both the most luxurious and dynamic of their era. Despite a somewhat erratic gestation by Citroën in the 1970s – which had the merit of saving Modena’s brand from bankruptcy – After the takeover by Alejandro De Tomaso, a third iteration was launched in 1979. It was at that moment the most expensive model in the catalogue, which, following the second-generation V6, relaunched the brand in this niche of sporty limousines, with the return of the V8, displacement of 4. 2L or 4. 9L. Designed by the master Giugiaro, the Quattroporte III is fitted with the famous V8 “Alfieri” with 4 overhead camshafts and developing 280 horsepower, whose origins go back to the 450S competition cars. The chassis, inherited from the De Tomaso Deauville, is a model of rigidity and was designed by Dallara. The result is a limousine almost 5 metres long, with baroque beauty and a dynamic character, all hand-assembled. The third generation of Quattroporte is also equipped with uncommon features for the time, such as centralized locking, electric seats and air conditioning, paired with leather and abundant wood trim. The finish is indeed particularly plush. After a final send-off with the Royale version, a total of 2, 141 Quattroporte IIIs left the line, making it a rather rare bird. It is the last Maserati fitted with one of the most prestigious Italian engines of the post-war era, before the dominance of twin-turbo V6s. Our Quattroporte III is the most exclusive as it is a powerful 4. 9L and a very rare version with a five-speed ZF manual gearbox. According to our information, barely 150 examples were equipped with this transmission. It wears a metallic brown colour (Dark Golden Beryl) paired with natural cuoio leather interior, i. e. the same livery as the press car of the era. The only deviation from original is the leather steering wheel replaced by a Nardi-branded aluminium and wood accessory. It has known only a few owners, one of whom held it for nearly 25 years, giving it a stable history and a sign of quality. This is all the more true as it appears to have been sparingly used and well maintained. Perhaps this explains its simply exceptional condition for this model. The odometer reads just under 31, 500 kilometres, which, according to one former owner, is the mileage since the top-end rebuild by the Modena specialist Franco Tralli. The car has also benefited from regular servicing with parts from the renowned Giuseppe Candini in Modena as well. Important facts for these cars: its bodywork is very sound and all instruments were functioning at the time of our test. The interior is also miraculously preserved, displaying a patina particularly flattering, which is one of the big strengths of this car. Recall that this series of Quattroporte was largely neglected for many years, with many having suffered from owners not respecting their prestigious lineage. Finding a specimen in such a state of originality is therefore an achievement. This one will also allow you to enjoy a fantastic engine, paired with a rare yet enjoyable five-speed manual gearbox, in a warm atmosphere symbolising Italian luxury. All for more than a reasonable price. Pavarotti, aesthete, had adopted it. Another way to experience music… More information on...
