Five Classic Trials
Maserati 3200GT
Two turbochargers? Okay so they might not be huge, but they’re strapped to a 32-valve V8 – and like any good Italian car, it’s the engine that dominates the driving experience.
Maserati had traded on this alone for a long time. Some weirdos (ourselves included) adore the BiTurbo-era cars, but Maserati’s slide-rule styling was a turn-off for many. In fact, sales of Maseratis in the UK were so bad during the Nineties that they occasionally dropped into double figures.
That all changed at a new car launch at the Paris Motor Show in September 1998. Gone were the straight lines and in came Giorgetto Giugiaro’s voluptuous curves cloaking a stylish interior by Enrico Fumia and the aforementioned 370bhp engine. It was a hit – Maserati sold around 2000 cars in the previous decade, but managed to shift more than 5000 3200GTs in the four years it was on sale.
Launched to take on the Jaguar XKR and Aston Martin DB7, it was just as pretty and luxurious, but a complete animal by comparison. Roberto Corradi, the chief engineer, wanted to create a car that had enhanced driveability compared to Maseratis of the past, yet one that was flexible enough to be put into Sport mode with the traction control turned off to ‘reach the true limits of the car. Then you can drive it like a Ghibli Cup.’
The Ghibli Cup was a barely tamed road racer with a 330bhp V6, more power and much lighter steering. The combination of an on/ off power delivery and light, yet sharp steering made the 3200GT a tricky proposition to drive when it was new – but that’s exactly its appeal.
Where a Jaguar XKR’s acceleration is unflappably smooth, the 3200’s is hair-trigger. The power comes in a big lump at 4500rpm, and you’d better be ready because this is a tricky car to drive fast – it demands respect.
Respect is due elsewhere, too – the voluptuous shape is absolutely gorgeous and those boomerang rear lights are classier than anything Jaguar managed at the same time. Inside, everything feels and smells premium. Okay, so some of the switches might not have Porsche-style solidity, but it’s a cohesive place to be, and makes you feel special. The ride is comforting, too – smooth and compliant over anything but the most offensive corrugations.
Nothing’s more special than that engine, though. Acceleration is absolutely eye-popping and the sound is incredible – full-on rasping Italian V8 blare overlaid with the huffs and pops of a Lancia Delta Integrale. It’s exciting, full-blooded and utterly engaging.
But be warned… this is not a car to buy on a whim. It’s neither easy nor cheap to look after and there are parts shortages and far fewer specialists around the country than there are for Jaguars, Aston Martins and Porsches.
But few other cars can deliver the absorbing sound, fury and pure animalistic accelerative thrust of a 3200GT. It’s an animal, one that needs to be tamed. And for 3200 enthusiasts, that makes everything worth it.
3 ON THE SHOW CIRCUIT
The 3200GT would be welcome at any supercar event and happily waved on to the hallowed grass at classic events unless there’s an age limit on entries. The Maserati Owners’ Club (maseraticlub.co.uk) has a magazine and usually a packed diary of events and tours, while the Sports Maserati forum is an essential resource for help and social activities. Sports Maserati also runs tours and appears at events. Some in the Maserati enthusiast community revere the 3200 as the last ‘proper’ Maserati because its replacement used an engine from one of the Trident’s longest enemies, Ferrari. That’s some kudos if that’s your bag, though…
4 THE LONG WEEKEND
This is the 3200GT’s forte. There’s plenty of space in the car for humans, though if you’re taking a dog it’s worth noting that the rear seats are individual buckets. There is a slight price to pay for this interior space though, and that’s the boot. That said, there’s certainly enough room for a week-long trip to Europe if you’re staying in hotels. As stated, fuel economy isn’t the greatest but it’s pretty much comparable with the Jaguar XKR. The interior is wellequipped, with a CD player, air conditioning and adjustable seats all present and correct. And, because it’s a Maserati, there’s a rather lovely clock, too…
5 THE B-ROAD BLAST
This is a serious performance car, one that was famously faster around Ferrari’s Fiorano test track than the Prancing Horse’s very own 550 Maranello. The steering is very sharp, yet very light – something that can feel quite disconcerting for the uninitiated because precisely plotting the boost rush is absolutely critical. Take the time to learn its ways and you can pedal this car with the aplomb of a sports car, but be warned – it doesn’t forgive fists of ham or feet of lead, especially in the wet. For some this might sound utterly terrifying, but this knife-edge experience is what makes owners fall in love with their 3200s.