If brute force could be expressed in sedan form, the Maserati Quattroporte would be on my short list of cars that fit the definition to the proverbial T. This stately sedan is an Italian Buick, a car capable of serious speed with little regard for fuel economy. Strange, then, that it didn’t achieve more commercial success, except for the fact that it achieved a paltry 8 miles per gallon at a time in our history when those things mattered a little more than usual. Find this nicely preserved Quattroporte listed here on eBay for $17,500.
Obviously, we don’t need to go head-long into Maserati’s reputation for quality control issues, but that was also a significant factor for its lack of popularity. I suppose the styling left a lot to be desired, too, as it’s about as aerodynamic as a piece of hard cheese. And really, Americans want to be wowed when it comes to luxury vehicles and sports cars, so this design likely left a few folks cold when they heard Maserati had a brand-new flagship. The seller’s car looks decent going down the sides with no major rust but a fair share of paint blemishes.
The interior, however, is where things got kicked up a notch. The orange leather (I suspect there’s a more Italian-appropriate name for the color) and corresponding dash/carpets are all stunning, and seeing the leather-trimmed armrest in excellent condition is encouraging. Now, these Maserati interiors are still prone to breaking down over time, and given the ornate nature of the trimmings, I’d look awfully close to see if any rips or tears are present (there don’t appear to be.) The seller notes a crack in the windshield.
Under the hood is a DOHC 16-valve V-8, featuring an aluminum block and heads that generates a healthy 276 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque through a lazy shifting 3-speed automatic. The seller claims it still runs and drives, which is a bit shocking given the original 46,000 miles suggests it’s been sitting a while. When new, 0-60 took a hair under 10 seconds, so it wasn’t exactly quick, but I’m sure it sounded better than most every other sedan on the road. While the condition is respectable and the miles are low, the asking price does seem slightly optimistic.
Low sales were due to high retail price. I got a chance to drive one in 1985. The factory exhaust has a great rumble to it. Almost like headers!
I dunno. They were interesting at the time when there weren’t very many interesting cars being sold.
The body lines and posture of this didn’t age well, nor did this specific example.