The affordable manual V8 feels like a great rite of passage for a PHer. Perhaps with a classic TVR, or an old Audi S car for those who need the space. Don’t forget the Vauxhall Monaro, either. There’s little to rival the sensation of eight thunderous cylinders with your hands and feet working the gears. So how’s this for a left-field choice in a space that the German and British makers seemed to have sewn up - the Maserati 3200 GT?
No, really. There are still low mileage, good 3200s with the six-speed available at dealers for around £15k. Even concours are only a little more than £20,000. So it’s possible to make an educated guess at ‘not very much in the grand scheme of things’ for this glorious PH Auctions lot, showing fewer than 65,000 miles and with plenty spent by its current keeper.
Probably it’s the maintenance factor that puts many off an old Maserati. Evidently owning a 3200 GT isn’t going to be like keeping a Toyota Celica. But look at what’s offered up in return: a design that still turns heads more than a quarter of a century later (one that the subsequent 4200 GT really didn’t improve on), the Maserati cachet, a six-speed manual gearbox and a twin-turbocharged 3.2-litre V8. Having to take proper care of such a machine, and prepare for a couple of big bills, seems like a fair trade.
Happily, a new clutch and master cylinder went in last year, so that’s one less thing to think about. There’s a wealth of service history in an ‘enormous’ folder, and an advisory-free MOT that runs until October. You’ll want to go into old Maser ownership with eyes open, of course, but some examples are definitely better than others. The last MOT fail for this one was 2022 because the screenwash wasn’t working (!), the last advisory in 2020. The tests in 2013, ‘14, ‘15, ‘16, ‘17, ‘18, ‘21, ‘22 and ‘24 were first time passes, without advisories. Which isn’t everything, sure, but it does suggest careful ownership.
And we’re not even onto the best bit of this 3200 yet, which must be the spec. Silver is a fairly common choice for these, and still looks very good indeed. Typically it’s paired with black leather, but not here because this Maserati gets an absolutely glorious shade of red upholstery. Complete with matching carpets for maximum glamour. All in really good nick, too. If ever a car deserves a red leather interior, it’s a manual Maserati V8.
That cabin condition extends to the outside, which is good and not a long way from great. All tyres are matching Pirellis, the wheels are smart, and the legendary lights - we really got this far without mentioning them - are as unmistakable as ever. So much glamour, so much style and what seems like a lot of TLC, available for supermini money. Maybe a 3200 GT is the bravest way into a manual V8 for not much money, but it’s undoubtedly also the most stylish as well. Which certainly counts for a lot. Bidding starts on Thursday…
1 / 4
