Sold for $77,000 at 2016 Motostalgia : Amelia Island Auction.The Maserati Merak was introduced in 1972 and came equipped with a new four-cam V-6 engine. The engine was designed for the company's current owner, Citroen, to be used in their flagship MS model. Citroen also had aspirations that the small displacement engine would help Maserati compete i this growing market.
Maserati was sold to De Tomaso in 1977, and the Merak was given several updates. The Bora was dropped and the Merak SS 3.0-liter V6 received increased output of 190 horsepower in the US versions; the rest of the world received a 220 HP version. Another change to the Merak was the removal of the Citroen hydraulic system and was replaced by a more traditional setup.
Production of the Merak lasted from 1972 to 1983, with a total of 1,830 examples built. About 970 of those were the Merak SS.
This particular example is an original survivor, with just 14,145 miles on the odometer. It is finished in the factory original color of Rosso Fuoco. The car has its original Blaupunkt Radio, tool kit, owner's manual, window sticker, and parts catalog.
Only 314 Merak SS models were produced with the Bora style interior dash.
By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2016 The Maserati Merak was essential a study in the art of producing a super-car on a budget. The Merak shared many design similarities to the Bora, Maserati's other super-car during this time. The engine and gearbox were supplied by Citroen, a French automobile manufacturer and major stakeholder of Maserati.
The interior of the car was also influenced by Citroen. However, in 1975 the interior dash was redesigned to eliminate some of the frustations caused by the hard-to-read gauges and too many warning lights. A new engine was introduced which increased the displacement to 3.0 liters. Weber 44DCNF were now used.
In 1977 the Bora production ceased. The Merak was now the only super-car being produced by Maserati. The interior was once again updated and a new badge, the Merak SS, adorned the car. Due to US introduction of the Merak, an electric motor was used in-place of the hydraulic system that controled the headlight raising.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2007
