Maserati 3200 timeline

1998

Maserati 3200GT is launched at the Paris Motor Show. Styling is by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who conjured a shape that harked back to the original Ghibli (such as the C-pillar detailing), but also pointed very much to the future. Opinion-polarising ‘boomerang’ rear lights are the first use of LEDs in a production car. The first batch of cars is only available with a six-speed manual transmission.

1999

March sees the first batch of 3200GTs reaching their lcuky new customers, but this is also the month of the Geneva Motor Show, at which Maserati announces the 3200GTA (A for ‘automatica’). It adds a BTR four-speed torque converter automatic gearbox to the mix. These cars are popular, but slightly rarer than the manuals (2106 versus 2689 manuals).

2001

A run-out special called the Assetto Corsa is launched as production winds down in antipication of the new Ferrari-engined Maserati Coupé (otherwise known as the 4200). This features 15mm lower suspension, BBS alloy wheels, a larger anti-roll bar, stiffer springs, and a bespoke Connolly leather interior with red stitching, plus ‘Assetto Corsa’ script on on the sills. Just 259 examples are built (of which 75 come to the UK) in both manual and automatic forms.

2002

The new 4200 coupé finally replaces the 3200 after a production run totalling some 5054 cars.