"Hi Enrico,

It’s been a while, but I am regulary visiting your website.

My Maserati Merak SS has recently been fully restored, and, now that it’s finished, it is once more for sale.

I would be really happy if you could put it in your For Sale section. Thank you!

I am selling my Euro Merak SS to be able to purchase another Maserati.

Alexander."

Here are the details of my Merak SS:

1977 Maserati Merak SS

Left-hand drive.

Chassis No: AM122/A*1556*.

Colour: Rame Metallizzato (copper matallic).

Interior: Beige leather.

The Maserati Merak SS has 220 bhp as opposed to the 190 bhp in the "normal" Merak 3000. The engine is a 3.0 V6 at 90 degrees, which gives a fantastic sound. Merak SS weighs between 150-190 kg less than her sister (the experts disagree about the exact weight difference).

The car does 0-100 in about 7 seconds and has a prescribed maximum speed of about 250 km/h. As an old car this may not be the most important, but it drives quite well, although it’s no race car.

The balance and weight distribution is absolutely wonderful.

The car in question was delivered new in the UAE in 1977. The original color was Oro Longchamps metallizzato (gold metallic), with beige leather and green carpets.

In 1985 it was exported to Austria, where it received a "Eighties make-over". Wide tires were mounted, and it was resprayed in Candy Red.

In 2005 the car was imported to Norway, where it was placed in a garage in anticipation of the 30-year rule (tax deductions). Unfortunately, the owner died in 2006.

I bought the car as a rolling project in 2007. The odometer showed around 69,000 km.

Since then, the car has rolled about 13,000 km. It has been driven from Oslo to the Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix three times with no problems, and last year we participated an event with the Norwegian Gran Turismo Union driving through the mountains between the Geirangerfjord and Sognefjord. Completely hassle free.

There has been invested a lot in the car in the form of spare parts, preventive and cosmetic work.

2008:

- New gel battery with high starting current
- Mounted main power switch
- Changed the air filter
- Changed the floor of the trunk (moisture had entered, no drainage)
- New carpet mats in the appropriate color (green with beige piping/logo)
- Changed the starter (new bought from Citroen SM Club)
- Changed "filler module" for the LHM tank

2009:

- Checked and replaced almost the entire electrical system
- Added new grounding points
- Replaced all bushings and suspension joints in the chassis (newer type poly bushings)
- Changed fuel filters
- Replaced fuel hoses
- Changed gear / diff oil
- Changed main brake accumulators (green spheres)
- Changed the spark plugs
- Replaced spark plug wires
- Changed cap and rotor

2010:

- Changed LHM oil
- Replaced coolant fluid
- Changed tires. New and fresh Michelin XWX attached to original 15 "Campognolo magnesium wheels (front: 205/70, rear: 225/70)
- Four wheel control

2011:

- Restored Body (removed antennas, repaired surface rust (three points), over 100 hours of work with the body before priming, primed and sealed with epoxy.
- Total respray in original, contemporary color; Rame Metalizato(Copper Metallic). Fantastic color (looks a little orange in the photos, but it comes alive in the flesh!)
- New bushings in transmission rods
- New (used) grilles for hood
- New (used) flying butresses
- New emblems
- New clutch master cylinder
- New speakers (hidden where the original speakers were)
- All of the weather seals for doors, hood and trunk new
- The entire interior sent to specialist for restoration and respray (looks new)
- All screws replaced when assembling the car after paint
- Both hydraulic headlight cylinders replaced (from NZ)
- New system for pressurized water from the radiator and back to tank
- New fuel pump
- New thermostat
- New temperature sensor for radiator fan
- All electrical mounting of lights, etc. are replaced
- NOS Vitaloni Californian mirror mounted
- Plus a lot of other detailing I have already forgotten!

Oil change with filter is made each year. About 3000 kilometers per oil change.

Most of the parts are have been sourced from MIE in the United States, or Bill McGrath in Britain.

Most of the work can be documented with photos.

The car is now stunning. Originality has been taken into account in all the work that has been performed.

Negative aspects: The car has air conditioning, but the compressor is “dead” and disconnected. There are replacement pumps of a more modern type available in the market, and these do not wear the cam chains as much as the old one.

The underside of the car is covered with flat metal sheets (the floor is in two layers), and there is rust in a few places in these sheets. Not a large job to fix.
The Merak is stored in a temperature controlled environment with optimal ventilation (parts of premises used to store the polar treasures of the Norwegian Polar Museum (Fram museet).

It was approved by (Norwegian MOT, EU rules ) without any errors or omissions in October 2011, and is approved through September 2013.

The owner is the President of the Norwegian Maserati Club.

Priced at 415.000 NOK.

For more details contact ALEXANDER direct at:

Email: maserati@hp.com