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We’ve featured a Quattroporte at Rare Rides on two prior occasions: a beautiful first-generation model, and one in its more modern form which was reworked into a slinky wagon.
Today’s Nineties model is … neither of those things.
After the initial Quattroporte’s run as a legitimate and very early example of a super sedan, the model (like its parent company) fell on hard times. After the first generation wrapped up production in 1969, Maserati built a couple of special one-off examples for some dignitaries, then threw in the towel on sedans.
Quattroporte did not return until 1976, and when it did it was a very different sort of vehicle. The large sedan was front-drive and shared a platform with the decidedly non-sporty Citroën SM. It also borrowed its V6 engine from the Maserati Merak. Citroën was sort of out of money at the time, and the Quattroporte’s second album was around for just three model years and sold in very limited markets.
Maserati gave Quattroporte another try in 1979; a new generation developed with Alejandro de Tomaso now at the helm. The sedan was once again large, rear-drive, and V8 powered. It also shared a platform with a similar DeTomaso, the Deauville. Gen three lived for a ridiculously long time and continued in production through 1990. By that point, it was entirely outdated, and Maserati was poor again. They gave up on offering a large sedan until 1994.
The fourth-gen Quattroporte debuted that year. The new car was developed under Fiat ownership after De Tomaso sold off his stake in 1992. Fresh and modern-ish, the Quattroporte was much smaller than it had been before: a full 23 inches shorter than its predecessor. The shrinkage was down to its BiTurbo platform, which underpinned almost all Maseratis of the Nineties. The styling was penned by the legendary Gandini, which showed in its wheel arches.
At introduction, it was available with a 2.0-liter twin-turbo V6 from the BiTurbo, which was later joined by a 2.8-liter V6. A range-topping 3.2-liter twin-turbo V8 arrived as an option in 1996. Available as manual or automatic, the manual was a six-speed Getrag unit, and automatics were four-speed and sourced from ZF or BorgWarner.
Mister Clarkson on Old Old Top Gear test drove the Quattroporte in 1996 and absolutely lambasted its driving dynamics, interior, build quality, cost, and the washed-up nature of the brand itself. Well worth a watch.
More ownership changes at Maserati occurred midway through the Quattroporte’s run, as in 1997 Ferrari acquired a 50 percent stake in the brand. The folks at the prancing horse thought Maserati was a bit crap and started on a project to update their production facilities, manufacturing, and quality control. This netted a reworked Evoluzione version of the Quattroporte, which had 800 revised parts and arrived midway through 1998.
The Quattroporte lived on in its freshened form through 2001, but was never brought to North America, and sold very slowly in the markets where it was on offer. In eight years, Maserati shifted just 2,400 examples. It was replaced by the much more competitive fifth generation in 2003.
Today’s Rare Ride is a lovely pink example from later in the run. With a V8 engine and automatic, it was one of just fifty or so completed in right-hand drive. It sold in 2017 for around $12,000.
[Images: seller]
One of fifty hand built Italian luxury sedans and probably no miles… 12K.
Could it perhaps be haunted or something?
Dude…it looks like a bigger Suzuki Esteem. And it’s pink. Mystery solved!
“In eight years, Maserati shifted just 2,400 examples.”
Not every car can be a Corolla, but mfrs who fail to do market research end up producing very unprofitable unicorns that the press praises and the banks hate.
As for this car, I like the period shape and the novelty of it, but its owner certainly tired of dealing with it.
48k miles, and it’s already received new head gaskets 5 years ago, plus this gem:
“He reports that the air bag light is currently illuminated and the ventilation system does not function.”
I wonder… can it be swapped? LSx fixes all.
I believe that 3.2 probably has decent parts availability as it became the 3200 GT later and then turned into the 4.2 they used for a while. It may also be the basis of their current 4.7.
I’m thinking the climate control probably came from a lower end Alfa Romeo or Fiat, and then they paired it to their complicated brand-specific control panel.
“Not every car can be a Corolla”
No, but it doesn’t have to look like an old Camry with none of the Camry’s value or dependability. Mr. Clarkson was right, if memory serves me correctly these were one step above a Lagonda for problem free happy motoring
That said, the interior is gorgeous
I think some of the interior ***materials*** are gorgeous. The styling? Not so much. Take away the leather and wood, and you have a mid-’90s Japanese sedan. I bet it smells nice in there, though.
That interior seems like a huge downgrade from the 3rd generation.
I think they only sold the III with that overstuffed camel color, also found in the TC, LaForza, and the Bitters.
Well, let’s see…
1) It’s based on the Biturbo per Wikipedia.
2) They cribbed the styling off a ’97 Camry
3) It’s PINK
Burn it at the stake!!!
(Well, maybe save the engine first. Maserati engines are gorgeous to look at.)
I see a lot of Alfa Romeo 156/159 in the styling and proportions but those are more attractive and easier to live with.
This reminds me of a late 90s Seville, only worse.
It also hearkens back to the Oldsmobile Achieva in the rear quarter view.
I like it, from the lower molding line up sort of an Italian Volvo, especially the greenhouse. Nice interior too.
It last sold for $12,000 in 2017. The original price was $218,500 in 1999. Now THAT’S depreciation!
I don’t think that original price is correct, per Clarkson’s figure from 1996 of 57,000GBP, which at exchange rates of the day was $88,920 before inflation adjustment. Adjusted, it was $149,867.
Nice Chrysler.
From the back is anyone else reminded of an Acura?
That, and about a thousand other Japanese cars of that era.
Would love to know the story behind the orientation of that ignition key cylinder.