Another Monday Money, and yet another Giugiaro design… We swear this is not on purpose, we just owe the man so many classic shapes and iconic cars over his long career that it is hard to not mention any of his creations. Especially at Maserati where Italdesign took care of the Ghibli, the Merak or the original Quattroporte.
Produced from 1998 to 2002, the Maserati 3200 GT was the logical replacement to the dated and rather boxy Ghibli and Shamal. The shape is much more modern and the car seemed in line with its contemporaries of the same era. The 3200 was conceived as a proper 2+2 seater Grand Tourer and offered a very luxurious and cosy interior as well. The name was an homage to Maserati’s first GT car, the 3500 GT and referred to the 3.2L displacement of the twin-turbo V8. The engine was based on the Quattroporte Evoluzione unit and produced 365hp, allowing the GT to reach 280km/h. From 1999, an automatic gearbox became available and is probably a better option for a GT car.
Now for the design, some love it and some hate it, but no one is indifferent to the boomerang shaped tail-lights which are a big part of the 3200 appeal. I personally quite like the look of the 3200 for its round shapes, compact body and of course the boomerang lights!
From 2001 to 2007, the Maserati Coupé AKA 4200 GT came to replace the aging 3200. The look was not really outdated, so the cosmetic changes are very minimal while the powerplant based on a 90’s model had to be revised. According to owners, the 4200 is a worthy upgrade as the much more modern all aluminium 4.2L V8 offers better reliability, performance (385hp) and maintenance costs than its predecessor. For the first time, it was also available as a Spyder and also entered the US market.
With less than 5000 units produced, the 3200 GT is becoming rare on our roads. However, with prices starting around £10K for a high miler to over £20K for special editions, it is still quite a bargain! Previous owners will warn you of the maintenance costs, as well as reliability issues that can hit your wallet quite badly. Buyers looking for a more modern touch and increased reliability should look at the 4200, for which you should find a decent one in the same price bracket.
