The seller of today’s Nice Price or No Dice Biturbo Spyder claims the car “needs nothing.” We know that ALL Maseratis eventually need something, so let’s decide if this one needs to be cheaper.
One of the historical inaccuracies in the movie Ford v Ferrari is the scene in which racer Ken Miles disparages the Mustang to Ford exec Leo Beebe, calling it a “secretary’s car,” thus setting up the friction between them that would be central to the plot. As we all probably know by now, it was Carroll Shelby who described the six-cylinder Mustang in that fashion, and that was most likely to egg his buddy Lee Iacocca into letting him turn the ’Stang into the GT350 performance car. While not a GT350, the 2009 Ford Mustang GT we looked at yesterday still had performance creds. As a homage to the 1969 film Bullitt, it had a Hollywood connection, too. At $10,499, it didn’t come at too dear a cost for all that horseplay, at least according to the 63 percent Nice Price win you all awarded it.
While the Mustang has long been associated with V8 engines—most notably, perhaps, the 5.0—the model has also had a number of turbocharged four-cylinder editions that have earned their place in automotive lore. The Mustang, however, has never rocked more than one factory turbo. One-upping Ford’s pony, this 1989 Maserati Biturbo Spyder, as befitting its name, sports one IHI snail on each of its V6 engine’s banks.
Upon its introduction in 1981, the Biturbo was, in fact, the first production automotive twin-turbo engine the world had ever seen. Reliability issues and the fact that the Biturbo was Maserati’s attempt to emulate the success of BMW’s 3 Series rather than a pure sports car or grand tourer, as were the marque’s earlier offerings, have left the model with a seriously tainted reputation. Perhaps it’s undeserved?
This Spyder, for instance, is a very handsome car. Zagato designer Giuseppe Mittino penned its design and compact proportions based on the original Pierangelo Andreani-designed coupe. Maserati also contracted Zagato for the car’s build, with the coachbuilder producing over 3,000 Spyders over the model’s 10-year production run.
Power comes from a 2.8-liter 90° V6 with—wait for it—a single turbo on each of the banks. Early editions of the engine were carbureted, but Maserati introduced Weber Marelli fuel injection in 1987, improving reliability and bumping horsepower across the model’s various displacements. In this U.S. 2.8 model, the DOHC intercooled engine offers 225 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque. That’s routed through a five-speed ZF manual driving the rear wheels.
According to the seller, this clean-title Spyder rocks a mere 20,732 miles on the odo and is in excellent condition for its age.
Finished in Maserati Red with a black canvas top and wearing its factory alloys, the car presents in the photos as being in as-new condition. Befitting a car of this class and stature when built, the interior is luxuriously appointed, upholstered in a mix of sand-colored beige microsuede and leather upholstery, and accented by burlwood trim and a gold-plated analog clock. Like the exterior, the interior appears to be in amazing condition. It even rocks its Maserati-branded factory stereo.
It’s a similar story under the hood where the twin-turbo V6 is as lovely to look at as it likely is to hear. No word is given on the car’s maintenance history or even when the timing belts on the interference engine were last changed, so some due diligence will be required of any interested party prior to purchase to ensure a safe trip home. Of course, we’ll need to discuss the Maser’s $24,500 asking price before considering that scenario.
That’s a lot of cabbage for any Biturbo. The earlier editions are so unloved, in fact, that maintaining or restoring any less-than-perfect model is financially untenable. This one, however, seems to be that rare, perfect example. Plus, the open-topped edition is better looking and more enjoyable for some. Could those factors add up to that $24,500 price tag?
What do you say? Could this Biturbo command that kind of cash? Or is that twice what you might be willing to pay for this twin-turbo car?
You decide!
San Francisco Bay Area, California, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
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