Maserati Quattroporte

3.2 V8 - Rebuilt engine with only 49.000km Read on

To those who have kept this advert as a favorite: the car has been stored for the wintertime and the advertisement will be removed by the end of this week. See you next spring!
Anyone seriously looking for an excellent Maserati QP IV 3.2 V8 to enjoy for many years to come should read on.
This Quattroporte IV "Ottocilindri" in black with a black leather interior is in excellent technical and cosmetic condition and drives fantastically. As the name suggests, the car is equipped with the 3.2-liter, 8-cylinder engine with two turbochargers, the engine you'd want in this car. It looks quite nice in the photos—Marcello Gandini's design really shines in this color. However, only when you drive it do you realize just how good this car is. Thanks to the flawlessly running engine and modified chassis, it drives better than almost all other QP IVs—with the possible exception of those with a chassis from the German tuner "Modena Performance." The car was last appraised in November 2024 – the report is available for review. The appraised value is €27,500.
The car originated in Germany and came to the Netherlands in 2008. In 2014, the car suffered engine damage, which is why the previous Dutch owner sold it. I bought the car in 2015 and had it completely rebuilt, including an engine overhaul. Many other parts were replaced along with the engine overhaul. The odometer reading was 177,985 when I bought it. It now reads 226,700 km – the fresh engine has less than 49,000 km on the clock.
During the overhaul, new, custom-made pistons from JE Pistons were installed with matching heavy-duty (!!) piston rings. In addition, two new cylinder liners were installed, and the crankshaft, valves and valve seats, gaskets, and all bearings were replaced. All eight pistons and connecting rods were weighed and balanced. The cylinder liners were honed after installing a custom-made torque plate to simulate the cylinder head's stress. The factory didn't even do it that way! The overhaul was carried out by a Dutch specialist, and a list of work performed, signed by him, is available for review.
ALL other rotating parts in the car—such as both turbos (!), the clutch, propshaft, differential, driveshafts, wheel bearings, brake discs, alternator, starter motor, etc.—were overhauled or replaced in 2015 or later and therefore have 49,000 kilometers or less on the clock. A complete list of all work performed can be sent on request. In fact, only the gearbox is as old as the car. This is a very reliable Getrag 6-speed manual transmission also used in, for example, the BMW M3 from the 1990s.
The car has been meticulously maintained by workshops specializing in Maserati, such as Auto Forza and AS Motorsport. A comprehensive set of invoices, dating back to 2015, is available for inspection. The leather interior has recently been professionally prepared and repaired where necessary. The leather looks new. Recently, some emerging rust was addressed and thoroughly repaired. The timing belt was replaced in 2024 and now has 3,000 km. With the timing belt and tensioners, the hard-to-find and expensive hydraulic belt tensioner was also replaced, as was the water pump. The MOT is valid until May 2026.
So, the car is no longer original, it's much better than that. After driving these cars for many years, the weaknesses become apparent, as do the opportunities for improvement.
A brief overview of the most important improvements:

• Custom-made coilover kit from AS Motorsport – adjustable ride height and suspension

NB: The original Koni shock absorbers are still with the car and can be supplied, but they do require reconditioning.

• Large cross section anti-roll bars from the "Kit Sportivo" – an original Maserati upgrade designed for the Ghibli II but also a perfect fit for the QPIV – the front and rear axles of the QPIV and Ghibli II are virtually identical.
• Steering rack from the Ghibli II – this is visually identical to the QPIV steering rack but has a shorter ratio. It provides more direct steering.
• Stainless steel rear mufflers for a deep, dark, but never aggressive rumble
• Steering wheel hub extension from English specialist David Askew – so people over 1.70m can also find a good driving position
• Tarox brake discs on the front axle
• Custom-made radiator block with 50% more cooling capacity
• Oil temperature meter
• Becker Mexico Pro radio-CD player with – I know, old-fashioned – a Becker CD changer

There are also some minor issues that keep it from being totally perfect. Apart from the signs of use that are normal for a car of this age, at low speed and large steering angles, a hydraulic hose for the power steering is sweating a bit, the radio antenna no longer fully extends, the fan for the heater motor resonates occasionally, and the left-right adjustment of the right-hand exterior mirror no longer works – up and down is still possible. Paintwork is generally very nice with some hairlines and a slight discoloration on the roof.
So, there's always something to do – some tolerance for minor defects is essential when choosing this type of car 😉.
Due to personal circumstances, after 10 years – and 25 years of enjoyment with Maserati bi-turbos – I have to say goodbye to this car with great regret. I would prefer to sell it to an enthusiast who, like me, likes to drive it and takes pride in keeping the car on the road in the best possible condition.
Let's make the most of our time – so please only respond if you are seriously interested.
NB: I own an extensive collection of spare parts for this car, with a condition ranging from "used/reasonable" to "brand new." A list is available. The total value is approximately € 6,000. These parts are offered for sale separately. For someone who wishes to buy everything at once, a special price is possible.