1990 Maserati Shamal Coupe

The Maserati Shamal was in production from 1990 to 1996. It was a two-door coupe that was named after a hot summer wind that blows in large areas of Mesopotamia. It wore a design by Marcello Gandin and powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine. It had 326 horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission, a rigid chassis, and an electronically adjustable suspension.

The all-aluminum V8 engine had an 80mm bore and stroke, dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, a twin water cooled IHI turbochargers, and a Weber/Marelli electronic fuel injection and ignition system.

The suspension employs a system of interacting levers to ensure that the wheels always remain completely square relative to the road surface. This high-tech system was developed in direct partnership with Koni.

A newly developed 'Ranger' differential was also installed, and was capable of sending all available power to just one half-shaft, leaving zero torque on the other, allowing the power to be utilized where it was needed most. Maserati claimed that the system was comparable to that of a four-wheel drive system with similar traction.

The Shamal was designed by the Maserati Design Center in collaboration with ex-Bertone stylist Marcello Gandini. The interior was well appointed with leather upholstery and plentiful wood veneer trim, among many other modern amenities.

By the time production came to a close, just 369 examples had been produced. The Shamal was never sold in the United States.

This particular example is finished in Dazing Black over Pella Nera. It is believed to have been sold new in Switzerland, possessing Swiss smog check certificates from the earliest days. The current caretaker acquired the car in 1994. Currently it shows 6,200 kilometers on the odometer.

It appears that a Dinitrol rust protection coating was applied in the 1990s, aiding to the preservation of the car.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2017