Why do the Ghiblis worth 4 times less than Daytona, Iso Grifo, and Bizzarini ?

+++1

 

I assume you're talking about the used market after about 10 or more years because when new they certainly were not sold to people who couldn't afford a Ferrari of Lamborghini. Some of the models were in fact more expensive than either of those.

 

Correct - but most of the posters here forget that Maseratis image was at first based on competition cars and their successes ....and failures! And later with glorious GT-cars only like 3500GT, Sebring, Mexico and Ghibli. But those cars had nuttin`to do with race cars anymore while Ferraris were more or less all connected with the racers. And this is perhaps the major reason while they are so expensive today (incl. the Daytona).
With Ferrari you find on -almost- every $100,000-level a car for that money while with Maserati there is a lot between $0,0 up to $1.0m and then there is a huge gap and you are in again from $2.0m and going north!

 

You will be shocked with a Daytona on circuits.....!

 

Ivan,
The swinging 60s was another era when large manufacturers were buying boutique manufacturers. At that time Maserati was a much more attractive company to own than Ferrari. They had a full line up of models covering two door sporting GTs and a 4 door sedan, they had better build quality than their rivals with a racing heritage but without the cash drain of an ongoing racing program.

Even though their customer profile was different Maserati was a strong rival to Ferrari in the showrooms. At the time the purchase of Maserati by Citroen had to send a shiver up Enzo's spine. Think it was a coincidence that soon after Ferrari struck his deal with Fiat. (Incidentally Fiat were supposedly in talks with Maserati prior to the Citroen deal).

 

While there is some truth in this statement there is also a flip side to that coin. Maseratis are primarily a parts bin car, very few proprietary parts. It is understandable for owner to cry about a $50 part when that part was sourced from an Alfa, a Fiat, Girling etc. and at full retail is $10.

Part of that is on the owner for not doing his research and finding the source of the part on his own. Another part is on the shop that sees $$$$ because the car is a Maserati.

 

Ivan,

With the DeTomaso cars I do agree that the brand image was hurt. (Sorry, Bob). With these cars today, it's possible that the greater visibility may spark interest in the classic 50's-60's-70's GT's.

I truly believe that the greater threat of dilution of the brand is the association with Ferrari. It aggravates me to read a Maserati for sale advertisement that notes its Ferrari engine.

Carmine

 

And I don't suppose a bit of noise next year with the Centenury will do harm either...A few magazine covers should help raise awareness of brand that is living in the shadows still. Apart from the car guys, I believe the public is very often blissfully unaware of older Maserati product

 

Lots of deep insights on this thread, but I'll offer a different theory.

Obviously for many the early postwar era of racing and sports cars has deep resonance, and that drives what is fundamentally an aesthetic decision to buy a particular collector car. During this golden era, the character of Ferrari's racing and street cars were closely intermingled. But at Maserati, from the 3500 onward the connection between corsa and stradale became increasingly indiscernible . . . which, in my opinion, is why Maseratis now generally aren't worth that much more than 6-cylinder Lancias.

Don't wish to cause offense, but I've been reading threads like this about 3500s, Ghiblis, Sebrings, etc. expecting to generate enthusiasm to expand my collection in this direction. They're undeniably handsome, but it's just not happening. On the other hand, my older A6 hits all the right receptors and I will forever harbor the increasingly unattainable dream of a 250 SWB, 250 TDF, or a Lusso or 275GTB.

It seems to me that what draws the big money is the sense of connection to that incredibly beautiful era when great races were run on everyday roads, by guys in polo shirts, in cars that were just a single color. Even down to the present day, Ferrari still has that.

Don

 

I honestly think its the brakeing systems in some of these maseratis that keeps the prices deflated. It's a good system, but when it goes out, who is going to be able to fix it? I knew of only one guy in Ontario that had all the correct tools to test the accumulator balls, and brake pressures. He has since passed on, and there is know body around here to replace him. The tools are still around of course, but nobody that I know knows how to use them correctly. It's a big risk buying a car of any kind with a system such as this installed.

Just look at the rollers of he 80's. You can barely give them away, and in most cases it's because of the braking system.

 

Ha! those were the old days, now everyone knows what $$$ cars use those parts and they all charge more, the Fiat and Alfa guys get the real short end of the deal.

Maybe the brakes, e type window washer and a door handle or two otherwise it's Maserati proprietary.


I have also noticed much fewer Maserati cars at shows over the past 4 years

 

Yeah that's true for some parts but not all of them. Miura headlamps come to mind.


But what are you trying so say with that statement about less Maserati cars? Any decent club activity was killed here in the NE many years ago. I see a few at cars and coffee events and of course Pocono though not so many early or late GT cars. But what I did notice last year when I went Monterey for the first time in a very long time was that the quality of the cars was very good. Very few cars left that are just drivers. Most if not concours quality looked like they'd had a ton poured into them. Not all but most.

 

Don,
....++++++++1

 

This year at Monterey the turn out for Maserati was weak and as I travel on the west coast the numbers of vintage Maserati's at shows seems to have reduced. I think CI had 2-3 Ghibli's? a Indy and 5 Meraks. In the past the Maserati club would field 20-30 cars

 

Certainly a few of these cars may be victims of the weak Dollar which is sending many cars out of the States. There is a constant stream for sale in Europe which have been sourced over there. My Ghibli is ex USA and my brother in law just bought the red Bora from Gullwing for instance. Until the prices have more equality across the globe this trend will continue to thin out Maseratis in the States I would think


Julian

 

Funny comment, I am now certain all Modena cars of the 60's and early 70's used same suppliers.
came across this thread on another forum this morning, let's say it put a grin on my face
http://www.**********************/vbforum/f43/countach-parts-6798

ok link did not work, even the Countach has common parts to many other period cars (alfa, fiat, ......)

 

Very true. It seems Europeans (and Australians) value Maseratis more than in the USA. I hate saying this but it is true.

I just sold another Ghibli SS to Germany. This is the second Ghibli SS I've sold him this year. These cars are not being sold for anywhere near the auction prices, yet nobody in the USA is willing to step up to buy them. Of course, my preference is that they stay here.

I know in part it is due to currency exchange but I think a bigger reason is that in other parts of the world a Maserati is valued more than in the USA. A Khamsin is perhaps the best example of an unloved car in the USA for many years, and now most are gone from the USA. Sad but true.

I did my contribution to the inventory of Italian cars in the USA by importing a Fiat Dino spider from Italy last Fall

Ivan

 

I'd guess maybe only about forty are left here.

 

One problem that affects all sports cars is California smog laws, any cars after 1975 have to be smogged. the biggest demand for sports cars in the USA is California. So most post 75 get sold/dumped as the smog is just too much trouble.

 

Ivan,

well, not all Maseratis!!! The notorious Biturbo is here in ol`Europe the same junk as it is in the US of A!

 

Well, the market says you are full of sh*t. The Biturbo era survivors are leaving the States for Europe, and are doubling their price while crossing the atlantic.

 

There are a few romantics, who buy junk cars like those produced by De Tomaso (biturbo etc), but I wouldn't call them "the market".

The rest, are just people who we call: those holding the hot potato and want to get rid of it. So they try to influence the market in case they manage to sell their junk.

To be honest, I've never seen a single biturbo or ghibli GT sell for anything other than peanuts...


If we want to be totally honest, the best place (or market if you prefer) is Japan. That is probably the only place in the world that highly values these cars!! In addition to that, you have a really high chance of selling a Left hand-drive car there, because they see them as an exotic rarity, which are sought after a lot more than Right hand-drive cars.

 

^There are two posters on this board that seem to see it necessary to trash De Tomaso era Maseratis in pretty much every thread they post, no matter what the subject. I just wish they would give it a rest. We know you hate those cars. Quite few of us love those cars and would like to be able to frequent MASERATI section of the Ferrarichat.com without these two heroes moaning about De Tomaso this or Biturbo that on every single thread.

Start a "De Tomaso Maseratis are sh*t" thread and have it there. Both of you have at least one of them, so you should be well qualified for that discussion.

 

And we are sick and tired of reading about those junk cars and how they are supposed to be this or the other, or how "suddenly" their prices are going up...

We can agree that we disagree.

 

....thank you, Sir!