1999 Ghilbli at auction

Phil H

Member
Messages
4,107
A lovely looking car, but I'm not convinced by the history:

The history file is in 2 parts, first part is the service book which has 15 stamps, all Maserati Main Agents and the second part is a folder from Meridian Madonna – who are Ferrari and Maserati Main Agents based in Lyndhurst.

PH
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,757
I chatted with the owner a couple of weeks back. It’s now gone back from the auction house to Meridien so they can patch it up to get it through its MOT before the auction.

The history does stack up. But it needs cosmetic work.
 

Lavazza

Member
Messages
1,060
My comment in post #3 was a joke by the way - too subtle?

Reference to misspelling of Modena...

Madonna...Borderline?
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
I chatted with the owner a couple of weeks back. It’s now gone back from the auction house to Meridien so they can patch it up to get it through its MOT before the auction.

The history does stack up. But it needs cosmetic work.

Any idea what it will go for?
With bodywork issues isn't £7,500 a bit generous?

Although I can't see Meridien doing a 'patch up' job.
 

del mar

Junior Member
Messages
257
I am always surprised that these appear to worth so little, but without an MOT and electrical issues maybe...

I note that the MOT is now in place, and the auction price is a guide.

I am not that hung up about Service History, things either work or they don't, i would be worried about big expensive jobs that had been missed, but whether the car did 3000 miles or 5000 miles between oil changes or 12 months vs 36 months does it really matter ? As long as it is not excessive,

The Chains are due at that mileage, but whether they need doing is another matter.
 

dickygrace

www.richardgracecars.co.uk
Messages
7,309
Any idea what it will go for?
With bodywork issues isn't £7,500 a bit generous?

Although I can't see Meridien doing a 'patch up' job.

I think it’s a decent car from what I’ve been told. £3k or so on bodywork so long as it’s not rotten and it’s a >£20k car. I reckon it’ll reach about £12-13k.
 

Contigo

Sponsor
Messages
18,376
I think prices for these are Crazy for you! And with the recent Holiday should turn the corner? Prices do seem Frozen though! Once these engines spin up they are Borderline Erotica and Music to my ears! Not sure I need to Justify My Love for them really because my Papa Don't preach about Italian cars but I don't want to get Hung Up. My max bid shouldn't be Miles Away and I hope that the result will be a Celebration. By the way South West Auctions... This used to be my playground!
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
some people might say that would be a bonus;), the wife has threatened to divorce many a time after spending kids inheritance on motors

My wife would definitely divorce me as I promised not to buy a toy until we have bought a new house.
We've only just put ours up for sale!
 

lifes2short

Member
Messages
5,821
My wife would definitely divorce me as I promised not to buy a toy until we have bought a new house.
We've only just put ours up for sale!
on a serious note totally agree, bricks and mortar first and foremost, then toys, best of luck with house move
 

Raz

New Member
Messages
3
I think prices for these are Crazy for you! And with the recent Holiday should turn the corner? Prices do seem Frozen though! Once these engines spin up they are Borderline Erotica and Music to my ears! Not sure I need to Justify My Love for them really because my Papa Don't preach about Italian cars but I don't want to get Hung Up. My max bid shouldn't be Miles Away and I hope that the result will be a Celebration. By the way South West Auctions... This used to be my playground!
How the bidding go?
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,757
Well, including commission and VAT the Ghibli went for £15k. Far too much for a car that's lived outside on a Chelsea street every day for the last 20 years and is in a very poor state of cosmetic condition. If the new owner (who was next to me in the bidding room) takes it down the road to Emblem I suspect he's in for a rude financial awakening!

Anyway, fingers crossed it gets saved before it rots away any further. With something like a £10k spend on bodywork, paint, leather and wood trim it could be a nice example.
 
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Raz

New Member
Messages
3
Well, including commission and VAT the Ghibli went for £15k. Far too much for a car that's lived outside on a Chelsea street every day for the last 20 years and is in a very poor state of cosmetic condition. If the new owner (who was next to me in the bidding room) takes it down the road to Emblem I suspect he's in for a rude financial awakening!

Anyway, fingers crossed it gets saved before it rots away any further. With something like a £10k spend on bodywork, paint, leather and wood trim it could be a nice example.
Thanks Ewan, I went down to see it last week and had a really good looks at the history, amazing spend by previous owner.

For what it’s worth I felt from what I had researched that the 1999 model was built from the left overs in the factory so maybe this one had a few short cuts to get it out the doors, but what a wonderful green colour but it had a lot of bodywork required.
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,757
The 1999 cars are actually the best built, with the best bits. When Ferrari finally took full ownership of Maserati in 1997 they closed the factory when seeing how antiquated it was. They then updated it and prepared it for the 3200 production (and the QP IV Evo). When it re-opened, they had enough bodies, engines etc for a few more cars, and the UK ended up with 14. You can tell these not only by their 1998/9 registrations, but more importantly by the high level brake light (in the roof lining).

This green car is the model to buy, and had perfect history. But the fact that it had lived outside its entire life, and had already required two bouts of welding, played against it. But if it goes to the right specialists and a decent budget is set, it could be a lovely car once again. Will the new owner make that commitment I wonder?
 
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Raz

New Member
Messages
3
The 1999 cars are actually the best built, with the best bits. When Ferrari finally took full ownership of Maserati in 1997 they closed the factory when seeing how antiquated it was. They then updated it and prepared it for the 3200 production (and the QP IV Evo). When it re-opened, they had enough bodies, engines etc for a few more cars, and the UK ended up with 14. You can tell these not only by their 1998/9 registrations, but more importantly by the high level brake light (in the roof lining).

This green car is the model to buy, and had perfect history. But the fact that it had lived outside its entire life, and had already required two bouts of welding, played against it. But if it goes to right specialists and a decent budget is set, it could be a lovely car once again. Will the new owner make that commitment I wonder?
Thanks for the detail Ewan, great insites, am new to the classic car world so learning lots as I go.
 

urquattrogus

Member
Messages
838
I was one of the many dreamers; the estimate was quite low, I planned to buy if it was circa £10k and the spend another £10k on getting it right.

I was spurred on by seeing this lovely orange Ghibli cup at a visit to the Dallara Academy near Parma last month.

Also saw another nice Green GT.

58717

58718

Recommend the Dallara academy if you are in the area, fantastic pace to visit! Took my 1966 Alfa on a 2500 mile trip in a heatwave, quite an adventure!!