1991 222SR- My 1st Maserati.

[Glaze88]

After scouring the Carsales pages for the last few years on the lookout for a Gransport, I came across a rare piece of Italian History. A MINT 1991 222SR imported from Japan in LH Drive, with a genuine (Fully Documented) 46,000kms for sale in Brisbane. As luck would have it, I was up in Brisbane for a few days this week for work and went and viewed the car, it was as immaculate as the Ad stated. I took it for a drive for about 30mins and fell in love, even with the Auto transmission, this car just pulled at my heartstrings. I found myself thinking of nothing else the next 12hrs and knew I had to go back the next day to see it. About 24hrs later, I was back at the seller's property looking through the car thoroughly before taking it for another drive. You could say I was hooked.

Tomorrow the car arrives on the Gold Coast via Truck Transport as I don't want it driven until a new timing belt and full service get completed in a few weeks' time.

I couldn't be happier to start my journey of Italian motoring ownership and I have a lot of people in this Forum to thank for giving me the confidence to pull the trigger

I will journal my ownership experience in these forums and am lucky enough to have found a great Classic Car mechanic here in Burleigh to undertake all the maintenance of the car.

 

[Andyk]

Congratulations on your 1st Maserati and look forward to hearing about your journey with her.

 

[Glaze88]

Congratulations on your 1st Maserati and look forward to hearing about your journey with her.

Thanks Andy

 

[zagatoes30]

Congratulations, looks lovely always liked these 2 door Biturbo cars, remember Nick May driving one in the 1988 & 89 BTCC from memory the car was quick but unreliable hence the poor results overall

 

[Ewan]

A RHD manual 222SE sold at Historics Auction here yesterday at £20,500.

Biturbo’s may have finally found their place in the market. Not long ago they were the unloved Maserati. But now, a decent QP IV costs more than an equivalent QP V, and a smaller biturbo (such as 222, 430, etc) costs more than an equivalent 4200. And above that you then have the more special biturbo variants such as the Racing, Karif, Spyder, Ghibli II etc.

Still, it’s best to be wary of the very early biturbos. They were/are trouble.

 

[Glaze88]

A RHD manual 222SE sold at Historics Auction here yesterday at £20,500.

Biturbo’s may have finally found their place in the market. Not long ago they were the unloved Maserati. But now, a decent QP IV costs more than an equivalent QP V, and a smaller biturbo (such as 222, 430, etc) costs more than an equivalent 4200. And above that you then have the more special biturbo variants such as the Racing, Karif, Spyder, Ghibli II etc.

Still, it’s best to be wary of the very early biturbos. They were/are trouble.

When you say early Bi Turbo's are you talking 80's?

Have taken her out for a few drives and it is driving better and better with every run

 

[zagatoes30]

The issue with all Biturbos is condition, they have been unloved for years and hence have suffered with maintenance and condition so finding a good one is a challenge but if you do they are starting to appreciate purely on the fact that there are so few.

 

[Ewan]

When you say early Bi Turbo's are you talking 80's?

Have taken her out for a few drives and it is driving better and better every with every run

The ones from the mid eighties - i.e. from the first two or three years of production. These are the ones (generally) with issues relating to poor build quality and engine overheating and hot-start problems. But by about 1987, things had improved. Nothing for you to worry about with your 222 though.

 

[Nayf]

The ones from the mid eighties - i.e. from the first two or three years of production. These are the ones (generally) with issues relating to poor build quality and engine overheating and hot-start problems. But by about 1987, things had improved. Nothing for you to worry about with your 222 though.

I’d concur. Fuel injection solved most of the problems…

 

[williamsmix]

A RHD manual 222SE sold at Historics Auction here yesterday at £20,500.

Biturbo’s may have finally found their place in the market. Not long ago they were the unloved Maserati. But now, a decent QP IV costs more than an equivalent QP V, and a smaller biturbo (such as 222, 430, etc) costs more than an equivalent 4200. And above that you then have the more special biturbo variants such as the Racing, Karif, Spyder, Ghibli II etc.

Still, it’s best to be wary of the very early biturbos. They were/are trouble.

Hopefully, the 3200 - the last of the bi-turbos - will follow suit soon(?)! At least Hagerty thought it to be underrated by the Market in the review they did last year …

 

[Nayf]

Hopefully, the 3200 - the last of the bi-turbos - will follow suit soon(?)! At least Hagerty thought it to be underrated by the Market in the review they did last year …

I think there are just too many shoddy ones around £7k that create a negative vibe about the ones priced twice that (and beyond). Look for a Biturbo nowadays and other than the red ex-Bonhams car, there aren't many **** Biturbo/Ghiblis around at all, and the ones that survived are generally all cared for.
At the moment I can only think of a couple of perennial rustbuckets on Facebook marketplace and that Motor Hub car that will probably still be in Keighley when the earth is absorbed by the sun.
3200-wise I think it'll change in about five years, especially when all the ICE cars are withdrawn from sale.

It also doesn't help when some of my, er, esteemed colleagues in the classic motoring press parrot the line 'BUY A MASER FOR £7k!!!!!'

Well, you can buy a 'Maser' for £7k, but that'll be the cheapest part of the adventure. People think they can get a bargain, and then get upset when it isn't as cheap to run as their Mondeo. The cars degrade and then disappear.

 

[Oneball]

“that Motor Hub car that will probably still be in Keighley when the earth is absorbed by the sun.”

 

[Ewan]

I know the 3200 has two turbos. But I don’t call that a Biturbo. Just as I don’t call the Shamal, Karif, etc, a Biturbo.
By “Biturbo”, I mean the cars that were actually called that - i.e. had a badge that said “biturbo” on the boot.
I suppose at a stretch, the last car I would call a biturbo was produced in about 1993.

 

[Motorsport3]

I think there are just too many shoddy ones around £7k that create a negative vibe about the ones priced twice that (and beyond). Look for a Biturbo nowadays and other than the red ex-Bonhams car, there aren't many **** Biturbo/Ghiblis around at all, and the ones that survived are generally all cared for.
At the moment I can only think of a couple of perennial rustbuckets on Facebook marketplace and that Motor Hub car that will probably still be in Keighley when the earth is absorbed by the sun.
3200-wise I think it'll change in about five years, especially when all the ICE cars are withdrawn from sale.

It also doesn't help when some of my, er, esteemed colleagues in the classic motoring press parrot the line 'BUY A MASER FOR £7k!!!!!'

Well, you can buy a 'Maser' for £7k, but that'll be the cheapest part of the adventure. People think they can get a bargain, and then get upset when it isn't as cheap to run as their Mondeo. The cars degrade and then disappear.

While I agree with what you say, I find contradictory when people say a well sorted mk1 QPV with a pile of history and asking of say £15-20k is expensive, disregarding what that pile includes.

Classic car values generally vary on condition by 100+% or many thousands pounds but for QPVs it has to be either fire sale (regardless of condition) or a well maintain example has to be kept because it will otherwise be tagged as "too expensive".

 

[CatmanV2]

I’d concur. Fuel injection solved most of the problems…

Bah! Humbug! Another solution to a problem we didn't have etc etc etc </luddites>

C

 

[Glaze88]

I have been driving the beauty for 20mins each day since it arrived on Monday. Today, I took it our for a 90min drive on a very Hot/Humid day here on the Gold Coast Australia. Quite a bit of stop/start low-speed traffic mixed with a little country-style road. She performed beautifully again and even in an Auto, these cars are so much fun to drive when they have been well cared for and maintained.

Fingers crossed it stays this way for a long long time

 

[Nayf]

While I agree with what you say, I find contradictory when people say a well sorted mk1 QPV with a pile of history and asking of say £15-20k is expensive, disregarding what that pile includes.

Classic car values generally vary on condition by 100+% or many thousands pounds but for QPVs it has to be either fire sale (regardless of condition) or a well maintain example has to be kept because it will otherwise be tagged as "too expensive".

Speaking only for myself, because I’m often tempted and have come close to a ‘cheap’ V and 4200/3200 before, is it’s the suspension and the clutch (for the Cambiocorsa V). For the 3200 it’s the suspension and the engine. Compared to a Biturbo/Ghibli II sorting those are rather more challenging and expensive.
Admittedly the Koni adjustable suspension on my Cup is non functioning, but there are at least options - Passione Biturbo can refurb or AS Motorsport can come up with an aftermarket replacement. Sorting Skyhook is somewhat more expensive, IIRC.