The Maserati Merak is by no means the best Italian sports car nor is it the most desirable Maserati either. There is something about it that still catches our attention though. It has a certain flair about it that makes it special. Sure it is powered by a V6 engine, but in its day it was by all rights a super car. While Ferraris and Lamboghinis of this vintage now fetch big money at auction, the Merak is still a budget super car. This one was recently pulled from a Californian barn and is in need of a complete restoration. The seller has listed it here on eBay and is asking $7,200.

The seller’s asking price might seem like a bargain for a super car, but we know there is no such thing as a cheap super car. Like we said earlier this Maserati is powered by a V6, the same one found in the Citroen SM. While it is cheaper to work on than an Italian V12 or V8, it still isn’t for the budget minded enthusiast. If you have a working knowledge of Maserati engines or a mechanic that does, you might be able to get the original motor running again, but it will still need to be reinstalled in the engine bay. Finding any missing parts could get expensive, so lets hope everything is still with the car.

Being in pieces is never a good sign for a super car. It typically means one thing, mechanical failure. The seller doesn’t state why the motor was pulled out, but claims all the major parts are with it. We would be very cautious buying this project and would want to bring an expert with us to take a look at the motor. For all we know the motor was pulled out for a service and never put back in. A closer inspection should reveal what exactly happened and whether it is salvageable.

Buying any of the so called “budget” super cars is a gamble and should always be taken on out of love for the car, not profit. We see lots of issues with this particular car, but if it is solid enough we might contemplate buying it and seeing if we can source a more reliable motor to install in it. This might sound like sacrilege to purists, but perhaps a Fiero drivetrain could be made to fit in this gorgeous body? What do you think? Would you save this one from the barn or should it be left in there?

Source: Maserati