1975 Maserati Merak
The Maserati Merak debuted at the 1972 Paris Motor Show as a more accessible companion to the V8-powered Bora, sharing its mid-engine platform and Giugiaro-penned bodywork.
The original fastback coupe body features a distinctive flying buttress roof treatment over a glass rear section, with low, wide proportions characteristic of Italdesign’s work of the period.
Of the approximately 1,830 Meraks built before production ended in 1983, just one is known to have been fully rebodied by an outside coachbuilder, this car.
In 1984, Swiss coachbuilder Carrosserie Saurer stripped the original bodywork and replaced it entirely with hand-formed aluminum coachwork. The redesigned body channels a purposeful, Group 4-influenced aesthetic while preserving the fundamental proportions of the Merak.
Finished in silver over red leather, the car rides on three-piece Gotti split-rim wheels in staggered 15-inch fitments with ultra-wide rear tires. The original Maserati mechanical components were retained.
Those mechanicals center on Maserati’s 3.0-liter (2,965cc) quad-cam V6 (derived from the Citroën SM program) fed by triple Weber carburetors and rated at approximately 190 horsepower in early form, driving through a five-speed manual gearbox. Later Merak SS models produced more power.
The mid-mounted layout contributes to the balanced handling the Merak was noted for in standard form. Top speed in period was approximately 140 to 145 mph, depending on specification.
No other coachbuilt Merak is known to exist.
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