Footnotes

• Maserati revived the ‘Quattroporte’ name in 1994, applying it to the fourth series of luxury sports saloons that had begun as far back as 1963. The newcomer was intended to compete at the top of its market sector with the likes of the BMW 540i and Jaguar XJR, the first model released being powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.0-litre V6, with 2.8-litre V6 and 3.2-litre V8-engined versions following, both of which retained Maserati’s trademark forced induction. The latter unit produced 335bhp, good enough to endow the aerodynamically efficient Quattroporte with a top speed approaching 170mph. Based on the BiTurbo platform, the Quattroporte IV offered spacious accommodation equipped to a standard that would not have shamed a limousine, featuring burl elm embellishment, Connolly leather trim, air conditioning, pre-tensioned seat belts, powered seat adjustment and much more besides.
  This V8-engined Quattroporte IV was imported by Meridien Modena when that company was Maserati’s sole UK importer, and was owned from new by Meridien proprietor John Butt’s wife. A rare right-hand drive example, the car is finished in dark blue metallic with dove grey leather/Alcantara interior and has the four-speed automatic transmission with ‘sport’ mode. The car was purchased directly from the Butts by the current owner in 1998, by which time it had recorded 11,000 miles. Servicing was undertaken by Meridien initially and subsequently by one of its ex-employees when he moved to Emblem Ferrari/Maserati. In 2006 at 84,000 miles a full engine rebuild was carried out by Myles Aldous at Emblem, and the suspension overhauled at the same time. More recently the brake discs and pads have been replaced and the car has to date covered circa 97,000 miles. A (part) stainless-steel exhaust system is the only listed deviation from factory specification. Presented in exceptionally tidy condition, ‘OSK 136’ is offered with restoration invoices, current road fund licence, MoT to May 2009 and Swansea V5 registration document. No reserve.
  

Auction Notices

• Following is some additional information given to us by the vendor: Maserati designed this car for the Italian Government to usse as an official car and as such the design allows al four doors to open at 90 degrees. When Maserati put the V8 engine in this body shell in 1997 it was the fastest production 4-door car in the world. This car is still capable of a sub-six-second zero-sixty time and the design top speed is 170mph. Most of this car's mileage has been done on Continental motorways, where it has consistently returned 24 mpg at an average speed of over 80mph. This Ottocilindri variant was manufactured in V8 form for 2 years and 417 were produced in both LHD and RHD. As near as possible there were originally about 70 RHD cars. In this body shell a total of 2500+/- were produced in 2lt, 2.8lt, 3.2lt Ottocilindri and 3.2lt Evoluzione.

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Category: Motoring / Motor Cars

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