| 1979 Maserati Merak SS |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pireli P5 tires,. Space saver
spare tire
spare tire
Surprisingly large trunk area for a
mid-engine car. You can see the 6 Cd
changer inside the trunk. Includes
manual and receipts.
mid-engine car. You can see the 6 Cd
changer inside the trunk. Includes
manual and receipts.
Notice original logoed carpeting
Attractive Bora style interior.
Notice passenger foot rest.
Notice passenger foot rest.
Stainless steel Euro bumpers make
the car look sleeker and less heavy.
the car look sleeker and less heavy.
Flying buttress is a unique design
feature of the Merak
feature of the Merak
Odometer: 51K miles
This is a late model Merak SS in nice driver condition. It is a US model that has been retrofitted with the stainless steel Euro bumpers, which gives it a
much more attractive look. The US bumpers are big and rather ugly black rubber things.
This car still has its original interior, which is in good condition. Paint is good but not show condition. The car has always been red. Overall this is a very
nice and unmolested car.
Mechanically this Merak is superb! I have owned several Merak and the engine on this car revs as good as the best of them. Engine is very responsive
and has no hesitation. The 5-speed transmission shifts very smoothly. A new clutch was installed last year. All gauges, including the clock, in working
condition. Power windows, power antenna, power mirror, wiper delay, air conditioner, radio with 6 CD changer.
On February 27 an engine compression and leak down test were done ... results were excellent
Cylinder Compression (psi) Leak down %
1 168 9
2 165 11
3 168 16
4 160 10
5 165 7
6 165 12
On a compression test you are looking for all cylinders to be within 10% of each other, on this Merak they are within 5%. On a leak down test; 0-40%
Excellent: 40-70% Moderate-good: 70-100% Bad.
It is important to note that this is the more desirable "SS" model. The Merak was initially conceived as the baby brother (ie: less expensive) of the
Maserati Bora. The Merak shares many external body panels with the Bora ... everything from the doors forward is the same, including the front
suspension. Where the cars differed was mainly in the engine, rear suspension and interior design. The Bora got the Maserati V8 while the Merak
received a V6 which was essentially derived by eliminating 2 cylinders from the V8 engine. This same engine was used on the Citroen SM. Both the
Bora and early Merak relied on the Citroen high pressure hydraulic system for brakes and to operate some of the accessories, such as the headlight lift.
To keep costs down the dash layout from a Citroen SM was used on the Merak, as was ample use of plastics and even velour seats on some cars. The
SM interior may look proper on a Citroen but was totally out of place on this sleek Italian exotic.
By 1977 the Bora and Khamsin, which represented the two Maserati flagship products, were coming to the end of their production run. This left Maserati
with a big gap for a sports car, especially for the USA market. The Merak SS was created to fill this gap. The "SS" got a major upgrade since it had big
shoes to fill. The most noticeable change was in the interior which essentially was replaced with that from a Bora. Other significant changes were an
increase in engine power and the elimination of the Citroen hydraulic system. All and all, the SS model was a big improvement. Being an SS model and
having already been converted to the Euro bumpers, make this Merak unique. Merak prices have yet to increase significantly, making them one of the
best buys available. You just can't find a better looking and more fun to drive exotic at this price!
This car comes with owner's manual, space saver spare tire, and maintenance/repair receipts.
Click here to view some of the maintenance/repair receipts (this file is 4.5MB). Note that the cost for the Euro bumpers was $4400, not including
installation.
SOLD
You can send me an e-mail if you are interested at ivan@thecarnut.com
Click on any of the thumbnails to enlarge.
This is a late model Merak SS in nice driver condition. It is a US model that has been retrofitted with the stainless steel Euro bumpers, which gives it a
much more attractive look. The US bumpers are big and rather ugly black rubber things.
This car still has its original interior, which is in good condition. Paint is good but not show condition. The car has always been red. Overall this is a very
nice and unmolested car.
Mechanically this Merak is superb! I have owned several Merak and the engine on this car revs as good as the best of them. Engine is very responsive
and has no hesitation. The 5-speed transmission shifts very smoothly. A new clutch was installed last year. All gauges, including the clock, in working
condition. Power windows, power antenna, power mirror, wiper delay, air conditioner, radio with 6 CD changer.
On February 27 an engine compression and leak down test were done ... results were excellent
Cylinder Compression (psi) Leak down %
1 168 9
2 165 11
3 168 16
4 160 10
5 165 7
6 165 12
On a compression test you are looking for all cylinders to be within 10% of each other, on this Merak they are within 5%. On a leak down test; 0-40%
Excellent: 40-70% Moderate-good: 70-100% Bad.
It is important to note that this is the more desirable "SS" model. The Merak was initially conceived as the baby brother (ie: less expensive) of the
Maserati Bora. The Merak shares many external body panels with the Bora ... everything from the doors forward is the same, including the front
suspension. Where the cars differed was mainly in the engine, rear suspension and interior design. The Bora got the Maserati V8 while the Merak
received a V6 which was essentially derived by eliminating 2 cylinders from the V8 engine. This same engine was used on the Citroen SM. Both the
Bora and early Merak relied on the Citroen high pressure hydraulic system for brakes and to operate some of the accessories, such as the headlight lift.
To keep costs down the dash layout from a Citroen SM was used on the Merak, as was ample use of plastics and even velour seats on some cars. The
SM interior may look proper on a Citroen but was totally out of place on this sleek Italian exotic.
By 1977 the Bora and Khamsin, which represented the two Maserati flagship products, were coming to the end of their production run. This left Maserati
with a big gap for a sports car, especially for the USA market. The Merak SS was created to fill this gap. The "SS" got a major upgrade since it had big
shoes to fill. The most noticeable change was in the interior which essentially was replaced with that from a Bora. Other significant changes were an
increase in engine power and the elimination of the Citroen hydraulic system. All and all, the SS model was a big improvement. Being an SS model and
having already been converted to the Euro bumpers, make this Merak unique. Merak prices have yet to increase significantly, making them one of the
best buys available. You just can't find a better looking and more fun to drive exotic at this price!
This car comes with owner's manual, space saver spare tire, and maintenance/repair receipts.
Click here to view some of the maintenance/repair receipts (this file is 4.5MB). Note that the cost for the Euro bumpers was $4400, not including
installation.
SOLD
You can send me an e-mail if you are interested at ivan@thecarnut.com
Click on any of the thumbnails to enlarge.