This 1977 Maserati Merak SS is one of 787 produced between 1976 and 1983. It was registered with a friend of the seller for more than 30 years, and it shows just 39k miles. Approximately $22k in services were completed in 2005, and the seller acquired the car in 2011. Its 2,965cc V6 later began producing smoke, and an engine-out rebuild was commissioned, followed by a repaint, after which the vehicle was placed in storage. The seller tells us that the engine block has been overhauled, although the engine has not yet been reassembled, and it remains out of the car, as do its five-speed manual transaxle and additional components. The black interior is intact, and it has 2+2 seating, power windows, air conditioning, and an Alpine stereo. This non-running Tipo AM122/A Merak project is offered at no reserve with removed parts, service records, and a California title in the seller’s name.
Styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign, the Merak was first revealed at the 1972 Paris Motor Show as a lower-cost alternative to the contemporary Bora, with which it shared its front styling. The Merak is differentiated by a vertical rear window and a louvered horizontal engine cover, which is flanked by flying buttresses. An updated Merak SS model followed in 1975, which featured a revised front hood with a black grille. This one was refinished in red under current ownership.
The 15″ Campagnolo light alloy wheels are mounted with 185/70 Michelin XWX tires. The Merak SS rides on a 102.4″ wheelbase and features a fully independent suspension. Stopping power is provided by ventilated discs at all four corners.
The black 2+2 cabin has a Bora-specification dashboard, a lockable glovebox, power windows, and air conditioning. An Alpine head unit is wired to a 1,600-watt amplifier and a Bazooka tube speaker.
The leather-wrapped steering wheel fronts Veglia Borletti instruments. The 200-mph speedometer has a five-digit odometer showing 39k miles.
The mid-mounted 2,965cc V6 features an aluminum block with a 90° angle between cylinder banks, and its aluminum cylinder heads are equipped with dual overhead camshafts. The SS variant’s powerplant was updated with triple 44mm Weber carburetors and a 9.0:1 compression ratio for a factory-rated output of 220 horsepower at 6,500 rpm.
A removed five-speed manual transaxle is also included in the sale. More than 50 photos of parts that accompany the car are shown at the end of the gallery below.
The VIN on the California title is AM122US2208. The dashboard tag lists a VIN of AM122A-US2208.