Maserati Merak

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The Maserati Merak, introduced in 1974, was essentially a junior version of the Maserati Bora. Designed during the Citroen era (1968-1975), the Merak featured a 3 litre Maserati V-6 (190 hp), also used in the Citroen SM.

Other Citroen parts used for the Merak included the SM's dramatic dashboard and the hydraulic brake system. In 1977 these parts were supplanted by more conventional units.

In 1976 Maserati introduced the slightly more powerful Merak SS. Its engine produced 220 hp (164 kW) and weight was reduced by 336 lbs to 3,086 lb (by 152 kg to 1,400 kg), resulting in a top speed of 152 mph (245 km/h).

In 1977 Maserati introduced another version of the Merak called Merak 2000, which featured a 2-litre V6 with 170 hp (127 kW). This version was built for the Italian market where a newly introduced tax law penalized cars with an engine capacity of more than 2000 cm³ (122 in³).

Aesthetically, the Merak differed from the otherwise identical Bora mainly in sporting glassless flying buttresses instead of the Bora´s fully glassed rear.

The Merak went out of production in 1982.

Television Appearances

Jeremy Clarkson purchased a Maserati Merak on the BBC television show Top Gear for £7000 in a challenge. The challenge was to buy Italian cars for less than £10,000; unfortunately for Jeremy Clarkson, he was the first to retire because of a major engine malfunction.

His car was badged as an SS edition, though when he looked at the service records, he found out that the previous owner had just applied the badge to the car.

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