1980 Maserati Quattroporte

#151 1980 Maserati Quattroporte Series III
VIN: AM330US0276
Odometer: 72178+
Engine: 4.9L V-8
Transmission: 3-spd Auto

In the early 1960's, the success of Maserati's Gran Turismo line inspired Giulio Alfieri to create a sedan to match the elegance, refinement and power, of the spyders and coupes, for which the marque had become famous. The Maserati Quattroporte, translated as "four doors," first emerged in 1963 as a revolutionary blend of high-performance sports car and luxury sedan. This fusion placed the Quattroporte as the pioneering vehicle in the luxury sport sedan segment.

The first Quattroporte series had a top speed of 143 mph, and it was the fastest four-door production car at the time. An early change included a more traditional rigid rear axle and suspension layout derived from the Mistral. At highway speeds, this revision reduced interior noise level by about 20 dB and made the Quattroporte Series I not just fast, but luxuriously quiet inside.

A short-lived, second-generation Quattroporte was developed when Maserati was owned by Citroën. However, the agreement with Citroën came to an end in 1975, hampering the launch of the Quattroporte II. Only 12 units were produced during three years of production.

In the hands of Alejandro De Tomaso, the third generation Quattroporte more than made up for the Citroën SM based, front-wheel drive Series II. No fan of Citroën, De Tomaso discarded all Citroën technology and started fresh with Kyalami mechanical parts, a Maserati V8 engine, and rear-wheel drive. ItalDesign's, Giorgetto Giugiaro designed the impressive body of the Quattroporte III. When the car went on sale in 1979, it was an instant commercial success. Production of the Quattroporte III continued until 1990, with a total of 2,145 made.

This 1980 Maserati Quattroporte Series III remains in fabulous cosmetic condition, rarely seen as nice for this model. This car came from a Ferrari and Italian rare car collection in Tacoma. It has been well maintained and comprehensive services, totaling over $10,000, have been performed in the last 24 months to make it a spirited driver. This is a spectacular version of a Series III Quattroporte.

The Giugiaro-designed body is finished in Blu Malago over a beautiful tan leather interior. Interior comfort features include power-adjustable front seats, wood trim, power windows, and an AM/FM/CD Radio.

This vehicle is powered by the 4.9-Liter DOHC V8 engine that is equipped with four weber downdraft carburetors, providing a lovely symphony through the dual exhaust. The power is delivered to the rear wheels through a 3-speed automatic transmission.