Other countries have this too. Japan has it, that is why their Z-car originally had 2.0L engines. I found it interesting to find cases where the USA ended up with a better car or less bad car because of this.
Always loved the Bi Turbo models. The Shamal is my favourite of the era. Looked like nothing back in day. 326bhp showed plenty the way home if they could keep up.👍👍👍
They’re lovely cars - I like the Gandini designed Quattroporte from roughly the same era. They’re a bit like a more grown up, more luxurious Integrale. With a boot. And RWD (so nothing like - but they have a similar feel about them). Great wood and leather interiors! No compromise Italian cars.
Actually the Ghibli is also a Gandini designed car, although more like a Gandini designed extended facelift of the original Biturbo design. The Quattroporte must have been closer to a from scratch design, although mechanically it must be the same car with the Ghibli.
Thank you thank you thank you for giving the Maserati Biturbo its day in the sun. This Ghibli and the Shamal are the ultimate examples of de Tomaso's original dream. I had an '85 Biturbo E coupe (liquid intercooler and better springs) and I loved it. They took me back to the days of the A6G2000. If only we had models like this in the US. If you get one, you have to pay the money and get a good one...then spend more time driving it than fixing it. Its all about being behind the wheel, not on your back under the car.
I had the Italian market 2.0 V6 Ghibli with 306bhp on which this was based for a few years when I was 22. It would only ever go anywhere sideways. It was wonderful fun and totally reliable. In the wet it would scare you to death but you couldn’t stop driving it. Great cars and very charismatic.
Get one jack! I can't right now and I need to live through you. Really like these and the spec this owner has is my full dream mode. Hats off to this. Love it
I owned the predecessor of this Ghibli Cup. A Maserati 2.24v with the 5 speed dogleg ZF transmission, 4 exhaust pipes, real wood trim, white leather/grey alcantara interior and a Ghost black/Silver grey bicolor exterior. The same Koni electronic suspension and also the 2 liter “tax breaker special” enigine as is the basis for this Ghibli. Btw the bbp output and oil pressure of the 2 liter engines was superior to the 2.8L export versions. But I can tell you, if you don’t notice any difference in the 4 settings of the electronic Koni suspension they’re obviously stuck or broken. As you should definitely feel the difference between each of the 4 settings. Having said that, these cars are fast and exciting to drive, quite a handful to control as the rear end tends to break out when the turbos kick in. Because the IHI race turbos have a huge lag. But these cars just have a way to distribute their power to the tarmac and “bad boy” stunning looks with mouth watering interior trim and their oval 18 karat golden Cartier clocks in the dash. Quite rare, of mine were ever 1245 made, and who knows how little the number is in the specific trim and color I owned or how little have survived? But they weren’t very reliable especially the wiring and connectors are rubbish. The double cam chains need adjustments every 5-15k km and renewal every 55k km so that’s very often considered they are steel double chains. Also you need steel cables for leg muscles to keep the clutch pedal down. They are thirsty, meaning they love to sink a lot of (leaded) fuel. On average 1L each 4,5 km. But when the enigine is running cold I suspect 1 on 1 and they are unforgiving to drive the first 20 minutes or so until everything is fully lubricated and warmed up. In general they suffer just like any other Italian super car from many little issues often. But boy they are fun to drive and to own. Even when you discovered after many years of ownership that in Italian the name MASERATI actually means “always broken”.. But there’s a more profound problem with Maserati’s from this era. No (new) parts can be found. For example the specific cam chains or a clutch kit is hard to impossible to find. Ferrari seems to want to forget these cars are also part of the brand’s legacy. Therefore they are hugely undervalued in the current market. Especially considering the fact they are fully hand built and super rare. Which is quite strange as they are full-bred sports cars designed by no less names than the other Italian supercar brands as Ferrari or Lamborghini.
I have a Ghibli '94 with 58.000 km and it is absolutely fantastic. Reliable and so much fun to drive. Difficult to explain but when driving long distances I forget about time. Drivers position is super for me. The seats are crazy but they give you great relaxation. You never see them on the road and so many people give thumbs up or make pictures. Very special. Very good airconditioning. Buy one. With complete history.
It's so nice to hear some positivity about this era of Maser, well done Jack and I hope you do manage to find a good one soon, they are about if you look hard enough and as I'm sure you're aware the Sportsmaserati forum is well worth looking at for some guidance. I almost bought one last year but was gazumped, then a Biturbo 430 four door with the 2.8 V6 dropped into my lap so I bought that instead and despite not being 100% on form (yet) I absolutely love everything about it. These DeTomaso era cars are so beguiling in their own way and deserve far more recognition.
Clarkson did a lot of damage to the Biturbo era, Ian Fraser of Car Magazine gave the Ghibli II rave reviews in a 94 article. Other journos who gave these cars a lot of praise were Gavin Green, L.J.K. Setright and of course the magnificent Harry Metcalfe.
@@marlonsorken1707 Clarkson might be a Ferrari man, so I doubt if he had a gripe about all things Italian on the automotive side. But his egotism probably ruined most of what was supposed to be unbiased impartial review of cars. His media star counted for more than the sum of his reviews. He would make a joke or phrase about some annoying thing about a car, then care more about his pop stakes in comedy than any potential damage done to a car brand by his grumbles and mumbles. Besides he probably got paid to say certain things about certain brands.
I agree with the assessment, it really is a very underrated car. I had a '95 2.8L Ghibli with the 5 speed and i also found it to be reliable and surprisingly easy to work on as well. It's just such a nice size, surprisingly quick too, i put an aftermarket electronic boost controller on it which woke it up. A good party trick (admittedly with older rear tyres), was to drive in second gear, then left foot brake to build the up the boost... it would light up the tyres!
My mate had one of these back in the day. Spent ALOT of time on the back of a low loader up to the dealership in the North West for a 2k fix. Glorious when it was going though.
When I was a college student I had a 87 Biturbo Si that was my daily driver. It was super reliable. Only left me stranded once due to a weak alternator, but I got a jump and was able to still drive it home. The problems started once I parked it for 3 years and then it started having reliability issues due to problematic fuse box. I think these cars just need to be driven and they will reward you. By the way a project Maserati will ALWAYS be more expensive than a well sorted one.
Well it's easy to make more reliable the fuse box. I did it 15 years ago and it's still not failing. And yes it's better to replace the alternator with a more powerfull, this is what Maserati starting from Ghibli
Such a gorgeous car! I had a Biturbo back in the day - a heap of expensive trouble and dangerously skittish on anything but a bone-dry road, but I always hankered for a Ghibli, which is the car the Biturbo really wanted to be.
When you were testing the Ferrari 400, i did think at the time, what about a Maserati, but I couldn't decide on which one. This a great option, lovely looking and the engine seems like it could be a bit of a gem, all it needs is a sports exhaust soooo Italian love it !
Ghibli is pretty well developed and reliable. Fuse box is the electrical weak spot of most of the Biturbo based cars , but an Italian company is now making a far better engineered replacement. We have a 222Se. Currently off the road as the dashboard is out to replace the heater motor. Which is shared with the Mk3 Escort!
Costs £500 called Bitorbox from Italy. Alleviates all electrical problems and easy to install behind glovebox. The Biturbo fuse box is from a Fiat Strada!
@@bnipmnaa ours is rhd auto. We bought it when we needed an auto and wanted one with a reasonable amount of go. I am nit a fan of automatics, but to be honest it works well with the turbos.
Ive always had a soft spot for Maserati, the beautiful Bora, Merak then the sawn off shotgun looking Shamal in particular. The stereotype of Italian build quality, rust box, and electrical issues took a while to die away. This review of a gorgeous vintage Ghibli has got me all excited again 🙂🏆
A friend of mine has a standard ghibli and also has a db9 volante,Rover p5b and a tvr tuscan and he maintains its the best car to drive despite its issues .lovely cars and looks integrale aggressive
Had 3 of them (GT's) Not a big difference at all - Still my dream car , never had any issues! always scared me to bits thou . The highest you go on the suspension - nr. 4 - It's the hardest setting ;-)
Blimey jack, I've always liked that era of Maserati they looked so good with the blister arches etc, I'd have that and the 400i you drove recently in my garage any day, great interesting car review, I really enjoyed watching. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🇬🇧
Concur completely, the little Zagato built convertible is also lovely, most people can't tell it apart from a BMW E30. Very discreet "sleeper" car. My perfect Italian house garage, Ferrari 400i, Maserati Biturbo spider, Lancia Flaminia berlina, Fiat 130 Mamarena (shooting break), Lancia Delta Integrale 16v, Alfa 6c 1750, Alfa 1600 Junior Zagato.
Love Ghiblis and Biturbos! I owned an '86 420 Biturbo sedan. A carburated 2 liter 18 valve V6 with basically this same interior. I owned it for 8 years as a summer car (with a working A/C!) and found it greatly reliable and fun to drive. With just 180 hp it was easily as faster as the Lancia Thema turbos or 164 V6's I was used to before it. Negatives were the extremely damage prone (skai, not real leather) interior and fuel consumption. Apart from that it was great. This was the least special version, but it was very special none the less. The fact that it had only a single exhaust, no electronic dampers, intercoolers and rather normal size tyres made it relatively cheap to run.
When it looks like Monica Bellucci on four wheels..who gives a S..t I am on my 6 TH Maserati ( two coupes , one Gran sport , and I am now on my third Gran Turismo GTS ) and apart from very expensive routine servicing they have all been stellar cars. I’m hooked . Buy one and love it and it will love you back. Great channel Jack.
Absolute dream car for me, I've always loved these. Sports car with a wood and leather interior? Why not! If I ever get rid of my Turbo R... and it goes up in value a lot... then who knows? ;)
Not to mention he is having a play in Harry's back garden if I am not mistaken. Some very familiar roads there. It was also Harry's gateway into automotive publishing as every time a magazine wanted to test one they called Harry's farm.
Always loved these and the design of then. They monster Shamal which is loosely based on this is something I listed after for years. Similar design angles to the Alfa 155 with its creases and form with the high boot etc.
These style of car are just beautiful. This front end looks kinda like a Lancia as well. Beta Coupe Montecarlo, this GT, the Shamal, 155, Thema, Delta, the Delta ECV 1, they all look amazing.
Beautiful inside and outside, thanks for sharing your experiences of this car Jack. Love your channel, even watching some dumb adverts to help you out is worth it. Regards, Bob M
Love it Jack. Getting a slightly ropey 2.8 auto, bringing it back to health and doing a manual conversion would sure as hell make for some good YT content (a challenge for sure!)
What an awesome video. Didn't know about these and now thanks to you Jack I do. As far as looks go I was always a huge fan of the BiTurbo but new ownership would not end well.
excellent car. perfectly finished interior... leather and alcantara absolutely everywhere. the engine is a work of art and sounds great. very sporty design. one of the most beautiful auts of that time.
I just love Maserati’s from the Biturbo era. Especially the latter ones: Shamal, Ghibli and Quattroporte IV. Almost 4 years ago, I bought a 1997 Ghibli GT 2.0 V6. And I love it. What is almost never mentioned in reviews is how old the Ghibli feels. You clearly feel this car is based on a much older car. I also own a 1998 Alfa GTV 2.0 V6 TB and although that car is just one year younger, it feels like 20 years younger. And the driving position is indeed really bad, including a seat back rest that is way too low. I am always amazed that Maserati was able to sell (although not that much) such antique low quality (e.g. used knobs in the interior, hardly any (safety) equipment,…) car for such high price. My GTV is better in every aspect (except for performance) but when new it cost less than half of that of a Ghibli. Another great thing is that it is so restrained. Despite the widened fenders, the 4 exhausts, the cooling grills on the bonnet, the rarity,… almost nobody is noticing the car when I drive it around or park it somewhere. In comparison, I also have a Fiat X1/9 and people are talking to me all the time about it and I get thumbs up very often when driving it. While it is a less special car (but also great) in every way. Might have something to do with the colour: discrete Blu Spaziale Vs. flashy metallic green, but that can’t explain it all. Another point is value. Although prices have increased in recent years, it remains an affordable car. My other dream cars, an Alfa Romeo SZ and Lancia Delta Integrale (yes I am a kid from the very late seventies) went up so much more in value that these are unfortunately out of my reach now. (I know that the UK is a very different market for cars than mainland Europe. E.g, you will not find a good Ghibli GT for £15000 in Europe, while you can find a good fiat 130 coupé for half the price of what you have to pay in the UK)
Another satisfied owner here - crazy underrated car - yes it takes time to 'learn' them and get the bugs out. The fusebox should be removed and replaced with bitubox, or disassembled and re-solder any loose pins - I did it so not that hard. Engine is a gem but spares are hard to find (bearings...). Standard suspension on early cars was very soft on the front adding to the grounding and tail happy nature. Getting engine out is not so bad - remove front clip and roll it forward with gearbox attached (done it a few times:). Mine is a 1994 RHD 2.8 static pre-ABS car, but modded a little.
Strange that these get such a bad wrap in all the magazine's of the time and yet thankfully there are a silent few who love these. Such an awesome shape and a glorious interior. For the individual not the masses. Truely a number 27 car.
DeTomasso's factory was just off Modena Nord, on the Via Emilia. Later used to build the MG Coposite hot rod with the Ford Engine. Last time I was by there, the place was falling down (3 yrs ago). Hope to get to the area in a month.
Same as Paul N, Ive allways loved the Bi Turbos, and owned quiet a few including 222s, 430s and a Ghibli, and currently own a very rare Quattroporte evo with the Shamal engine and gearbox, The Shamal was allways my Dream car from when it first launched till now and almost got my hands on one years back but got let down!!! I still think these cars are amazing and one of the nicest interiors, I mean apart from the buttons, indicator stalks and seat belts everything else is covered in leather and alcantara and an interesting thing with regards to Quality, most luxurious cars such as jags and merc etc all have wood vaneers but in these the bur walnut panels are actually a thick slab of wood not vaneer so its the real deal!
My father has a Maserati Ghibli from 1994 , it is pretty similar, the steering wheel is different, red with black inside and a 306 hp. but I just love this car and the similars , so much more then the contemporary ones. Cheers ! The same clock 11:11
You drive a Ghibli or a Shamal and you look like an elegant enthusiast. You drive a huge current supercar, all electronic with space shapes, and you look like an enriched person
Yes! Drive the car the way it’s intended! Keep the rpm at 4,000 and up and the engine will love you! I’ve owned a 1989 Zagato Spyder and never had a problem.
I like cars like this and thank you for reviewing thie unique machine.The Italian 'arms out legs bent' driving position, just like my '75 124 Sport Coupe, not withstanding, they build great driving vehicles and more reliable than people think, when they aren't beaten and mistreated. Hats off .Thanks. Tom, Syracuse, NY, USA
My Fiat, like any Italian car, is prone to rusting easily, so it's important to not let these cars get wet much, especially if you want it to last a long time, remembering to get it outside on dry days soon to 'dry off', if it does get wet. Any special car, like these, should never be exposed much to moisture. Keep them as dry as possible. Protect your special car, to keep rust away. Peace.
Oh Jack…. You’re driving my “one that got away”! I went down to Meridian Maserati in Lyndhurst to drive one and even flew to Scotland to drive one at (forgotten the name) a dealership, I had the money, I loved the car, not just a bit, but it did for me what it’s just done for you! So back in ‘99/00 the two cars were around the £30k mark, and although I loved the 993 (it was more money) I preferred the Ghibli Cup for its sheer fun factor and the fact no one knew what it was. The engine had the most bhp per litre of ANY production car at the time and the cabin made you feel a million dollars compared to the Porsche. So why didn’t I buy it? Well I had two young kids and I’d had a succession of Alfa’s and a 20v Turbo Fiat coupe and I was scared of the bills, once I started digging. Front discs and pads were more than my current C7 RS6 are now and that 48k service was crippling. So I played it safe and bought a B5 S4 Avant, thinking it’s a biturbo and it’s got similar performance. I was happy with the car but it wasn’t the Ghibli by a long chalk, but I did get close, when I sought help from Quattro Sport who changed the cars character completely by fitting coil overs, Porsche brakes, exhaust and remap. I still wish I bought the Ghibli Cup, almost as much as I wish I’d kept my Alfa 75 that Autodelta made so awesome!
mate, I have been with this channel since the beginning , great to pop in and see you have 10x the subs you used to. I need to make more vids lol. Love this car.
What I really like about your channel is your way of sharing with us the pleasure you have of testing exceptional cars, however I regret that you do not devote more time to the interior of the vehicles , especially this one. This one has such a beautiful interior. For example, I would have liked you to sit in the back to see the space available and focus on the quality and design of the seats. Anyway, merci very much for the quality of your videos!
I had a 1994 Biturbo Spyder for 8 years as a daily driver. Dead reliable once sorted out. It had the older 3-valve engine cranked to 280whp (~340 at the crank) and stainless exhaust system with set of Borla cans for sound. So essentially very similar performance to the Ghibli Cup. More modern turbos (or custom impellers) can bring the boost threshold down by 1000 rpm, and there are still wizards out there that can burn a custom map into the (Hitachi?) ECU. The _really_ essential thing is to get the suspension balance just right. A set of adjustable Konis, custom anti-roll bars, and a set of Michelin Pilot Sports worked for me. New bushings too, but no polyurethane.
@@alexispavlov5170 In the final edition there was 2 selectable boost levels, 1.2 bar and 1.4 bar (because on a hot day the ECU would back off the boost on high setting). It was a two liter engine and the camshafts were NOT changed, but the timing was adjusted to optimum (can't remember how many degrees). Due to the built-in boost limit the ECU was flashed in UK (and then 2 more times based on the dyno runs for A/F ratios). Turbos were new IHI RB5s (from Honda City Turbo), with custom compressors good from 3500 rpm up (max limit set to 6500). More modern ones would have been a better choice for the same price. Heads, intake, and exhaust manifolds were "touched up", but no major porting and no big valves. Custom exhaust from turbo down. The intercoolers were rebuilt with better cores (Bell Racing) and slightly bigger. All-in-all I was very happy with the results. The Spyder is actually pretty stiff for a convertible, but it certainly didn't need any more power than that.
@@lippenserver5583 it was a 2 liter ? Wow. I'm convinced the 18v engines have the same potential power as the 24v because 24v head valves are too small. 300hp at 1 bar of boost on such a good 2.0 24v engine is not a good result, you get more on jap or vw engines of the same period. I guess on your engine they retarded the cams by few degrees Where is the car now ?
@@alexispavlov5170 The 2 liter engines (Italian "tax editions" and all late convertibles) were always very close to the 2.8L as far as peak power goes. It makes sense, as airflow-wise all else WAS same. The smaller engine was just more peaky (which was somewhat negated by the custom compressor, but I really should have gotten small ball bearing Garretts). I think most the 2L 18v gave from factory was 245hp at 0.8 bar. The 24v (and for sure the 2.8L) are more civilized, but my thinking was that if it ends up too raw for the Spyder, I'll put it in a coupe. The car is in Thailand in my friends possession, but I get to use it when I visit (or buy it back if I end up in that part of the world again). I still drive a twin turbo Maserati, just not an original Biturbo series.
@@lippenserver5583 given the messy injection mapping style I don't think 2.0 18v could make 245 at 0.8 stock. There are more problems like a low CR, partially hidden valves. I built a modified 2.8 18v engine, still breaking it in. With std turbos. Will see what I can get. I made some slight mods like a light work on intake ports, stiffer intake springs, 6mm slightly bigger intake valves (same seats), custom pistons with slightly more CR (next time will do at least 8:1). Exhaust, cooling and all the rest.
I've always liked thus model Ghibli. This one is special. Lots of power from 2 liters! This one in particular is very desirable. Good show, mate. Cheers from New Zealand
Great review. Loved these also, love how they look, how they go and the interiors....plus the rarity. Came so close to buying the 2.8 GT back in the day I even put deposits on 2......reality check of a probable divorce brought me back to earth with a bump. Moved to Canada over 10 years ago....& you know what? A GT same colour I spotted in a garage only last week......dare I check on $$$??
If you ever have the opportunity to try out thr original Ghibli from 1969 onwards, do so. It's glorious. Even better if you can avail yourself of some time with the Spyder version, which was a sublime work of art on wheels. A car from the era when Maserati was a genuine, *serious* rival to Ferrari.
When I was with the UN in Cyprus in 1993/1995 there was a Maserati dealer in Nicosia where new models like this and the other models were displayed in the showroom. Unbelievably the cars were open and you could sit in them and fiddle about without getting thrown out. So on my days off I would always pay a visit to the dealer and sit in a few Maserati's. The smell of all that sumptuous leather was overpowering and addictive. I have never experienced the same in any new car since and I still scan the classified now and again to see if there are any opportunities to acquire one.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
This car is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. The body is insane!
Maserati knew how to make curvy cars sexy ... and boxy cars badass and elegant at same time.
In Italy, cars with a displacement over 2 liters were considered luxury goods, and paid 36% VAT instead 18%. I remember a 1990cc V8 Ferrari engine.
That two-litre V8 was in the Ferrari 308.
@@12345rpm The 208 GTB and GTS were sold mainly in Italy.
@@MarcoMenozziPro I think it was turbocharged too.
@@MarcoMenozziPro and in Portugal, due to the same tax reasons
Other countries have this too. Japan has it, that is why their Z-car originally had 2.0L engines.
I found it interesting to find cases where the USA ended up with a better car or less bad car because of this.
It's like a group A rally car that's been fitted out by a coach builder. A lovely thing
Always had a soft spot for these. It's unusual to hear such a positive review.
Thanks for the comment on reliability, I've owned 4 Maseratis and none were troublesome. Three of mine are V8s and the 4th is a motorbike!
Maserati motorbike? Please tell
Always loved the Bi Turbo models. The Shamal is my favourite of the era. Looked like nothing back in day. 326bhp showed plenty the way home if they could keep up.👍👍👍
the Shamal is just gorgeous. These cars back then were just something different
@@slowkr4v890 It's the A pillars. They're so huge now, everything looks like a Fischer Price buggy..
I came within a whisker of buying the Shamal, ended up with an RX7 Turbo II Convertible - and loved it!!!
I love Bis too!
Something about these that has always got under my skin. I love the angular aggression of the thing. It's like a motoring bull terrier.
Yep it's that angular Integrale stance, love it
70s heritage
I truly appreciated your italian pronunciation of Ghibli and Biturbo!
They’re lovely cars - I like the Gandini designed Quattroporte from roughly the same era. They’re a bit like a more grown up, more luxurious Integrale. With a boot. And RWD (so nothing like - but they have a similar feel about them). Great wood and leather interiors! No compromise Italian cars.
Yeah, that Quattroporte IV … 🤤
Actually the Ghibli is also a Gandini designed car, although more like a Gandini designed extended facelift of the original Biturbo design. The Quattroporte must have been closer to a from scratch design, although mechanically it must be the same car with the Ghibli.
There’s something about the rear wheel arch on the most IV quottroporte. Very early Countach. And the rest is just plain Italian restrained cool.
The only compromises are serviceability, quality of wiring and electronic components, and availability of parts
@@Zero1O6 As far as service ability and parts availability go, the same can be said for a Passat W8 or Audi S6 V10
Thank you thank you thank you for giving the Maserati Biturbo its day in the sun. This Ghibli and the Shamal are the ultimate examples of de Tomaso's original dream. I had an '85 Biturbo E coupe (liquid intercooler and better springs) and I loved it. They took me back to the days of the A6G2000. If only we had models like this in the US. If you get one, you have to pay the money and get a good one...then spend more time driving it than fixing it. Its all about being behind the wheel, not on your back under the car.
I had the Italian market 2.0 V6 Ghibli with 306bhp on which this was based for a few years when I was 22. It would only ever go anywhere sideways. It was wonderful fun and totally reliable. In the wet it would scare you to death but you couldn’t stop driving it. Great cars and very charismatic.
Busso engine?
@@phrodendekia nothing in common with Busso
Get one jack! I can't right now and I need to live through you. Really like these and the spec this owner has is my full dream mode. Hats off to this. Love it
Now you’re talking. One of my all time dream cars. I think it looks absolutely incredible and now more than ever.
I owned the predecessor of this Ghibli Cup. A Maserati 2.24v with the 5 speed dogleg ZF transmission, 4 exhaust pipes, real wood trim, white leather/grey alcantara interior and a Ghost black/Silver grey bicolor exterior. The same Koni electronic suspension and also the 2 liter “tax breaker special” enigine as is the basis for this Ghibli. Btw the bbp output and oil pressure of the 2 liter engines was superior to the 2.8L export versions. But I can tell you, if you don’t notice any difference in the 4 settings of the electronic Koni suspension they’re obviously stuck or broken. As you should definitely feel the difference between each of the 4 settings. Having said that, these cars are fast and exciting to drive, quite a handful to control as the rear end tends to break out when the turbos kick in. Because the IHI race turbos have a huge lag. But these cars just have a way to distribute their power to the tarmac and “bad boy” stunning looks with mouth watering interior trim and their oval 18 karat golden Cartier clocks in the dash. Quite rare, of mine were ever 1245 made, and who knows how little the number is in the specific trim and color I owned or how little have survived? But they weren’t very reliable especially the wiring and connectors are rubbish. The double cam chains need adjustments every 5-15k km and renewal every 55k km so that’s very often considered they are steel double chains. Also you need steel cables for leg muscles to keep the clutch pedal down. They are thirsty, meaning they love to sink a lot of (leaded) fuel. On average 1L each 4,5 km. But when the enigine is running cold I suspect 1 on 1 and they are unforgiving to drive the first 20 minutes or so until everything is fully lubricated and warmed up. In general they suffer just like any other Italian super car from many little issues often. But boy they are fun to drive and to own. Even when you discovered after many years of ownership that in Italian the name MASERATI actually means “always broken”.. But there’s a more profound problem with Maserati’s from this era. No (new) parts can be found. For example the specific cam chains or a clutch kit is hard to impossible to find. Ferrari seems to want to forget these cars are also part of the brand’s legacy. Therefore they are hugely undervalued in the current market. Especially considering the fact they are fully hand built and super rare. Which is quite strange as they are full-bred sports cars designed by no less names than the other Italian supercar brands as Ferrari or Lamborghini.
Amazing engine, and fine craftsmanship on those interior details. Highly underrated car, here in Portugal there were some of those in our roads.
Yeah, the golden clock, the Momo Corse steering wheel and Connolly leather. What more you need? Drop by man. You may like it.
I have a Ghibli '94 with 58.000 km and it is absolutely fantastic. Reliable and so much fun to drive. Difficult to explain but when driving long distances I forget about time. Drivers position is super for me. The seats are crazy but they give you great relaxation. You never see them on the road and so many people give thumbs up or make pictures. Very special. Very good airconditioning. Buy one. With complete history.
@@kimholland3727 our neighbor had Ghibli but self went on fire on some parking
It's so nice to hear some positivity about this era of Maser, well done Jack and I hope you do manage to find a good one soon, they are about if you look hard enough and as I'm sure you're aware the Sportsmaserati forum is well worth looking at for some guidance. I almost bought one last year but was gazumped, then a Biturbo 430 four door with the 2.8 V6 dropped into my lap so I bought that instead and despite not being 100% on form (yet) I absolutely love everything about it. These DeTomaso era cars are so beguiling in their own way and deserve far more recognition.
Totally agree Nigel.. super interesting cars!
@@Number27 Mine went away to Migliore in Bromsgrove today for some fettling, just driving it into the trailer was an event!
Clarkson did a lot of damage to the Biturbo era, Ian Fraser of Car Magazine gave the Ghibli II rave reviews in a 94 article. Other journos who gave these cars a lot of praise were Gavin Green, L.J.K. Setright and of course the magnificent Harry Metcalfe.
@@marlonsorken1707 Clarkson might be a Ferrari man, so I doubt if he had a gripe about all things Italian on the automotive side. But his egotism probably ruined most of what was supposed to be unbiased impartial review of cars. His media star counted for more than the sum of his reviews. He would make a joke or phrase about some annoying thing about a car, then care more about his pop stakes in comedy than any potential damage done to a car brand by his grumbles and mumbles. Besides he probably got paid to say certain things about certain brands.
@@Pulsonar He dropped a piano on one Biturbo, and launched another into a harbor.
I agree with the assessment, it really is a very underrated car. I had a '95 2.8L Ghibli with the 5 speed and i also found it to be reliable and surprisingly easy to work on as well. It's just such a nice size, surprisingly quick too, i put an aftermarket electronic boost controller on it which woke it up. A good party trick (admittedly with older rear tyres), was to drive in second gear, then left foot brake to build the up the boost... it would light up the tyres!
The right size for a sport car!
Nowadays sports cars are huge, out of scale, heavy.
.. Man I say vulgar?
My mate had one of these back in the day. Spent ALOT of time on the back of a low loader up to the dealership in the North West for a 2k fix. Glorious when it was going though.
I also always wanted one, beautifully designed. Thanks Jack and Will.
Owned a 430se 18v from new in 1994, it has never let me down in 28 years!
Lovely bit of car history here.
When I was a college student I had a 87 Biturbo Si that was my daily driver. It was super reliable. Only left me stranded once due to a weak alternator, but I got a jump and was able to still drive it home. The problems started once I parked it for 3 years and then it started having reliability issues due to problematic fuse box. I think these cars just need to be driven and they will reward you. By the way a project Maserati will ALWAYS be more expensive than a well sorted one.
lucky you...in college!
Well it's easy to make more reliable the fuse box. I did it 15 years ago and it's still not failing. And yes it's better to replace the alternator with a more powerfull, this is what Maserati starting from Ghibli
Smashing interior and good looks..and it's a Maserati!
That's some serious cred right there.
Thumbs up from me.
I loved all from that era 200s, 400s, Karif, Ghibli and Shamal, so sharp in style
Sooo glad you’ve made a video about this bat-poop crazy creation! This was on my wall as a little nipper! ❤️
Such a gorgeous car! I had a Biturbo back in the day - a heap of expensive trouble and dangerously skittish on anything but a bone-dry road, but I always hankered for a Ghibli, which is the car the Biturbo really wanted to be.
The power of positive thinking. And actually doing all the maintenance correctly and on time.
I believe this won a popular race in Australia,
When you were testing the Ferrari 400, i did think at the time, what about a Maserati, but I couldn't decide on which one. This a great option, lovely looking and the engine seems like it could be a bit of a gem, all it needs is a sports exhaust soooo Italian love it !
Ghibli is pretty well developed and reliable.
Fuse box is the electrical weak spot of most of the Biturbo based cars , but an Italian company is now making a far better engineered replacement.
We have a 222Se. Currently off the road as the dashboard is out to replace the heater motor. Which is shared with the Mk3 Escort!
Costs £500 called Bitorbox from Italy. Alleviates all electrical problems and easy to install behind glovebox. The Biturbo fuse box is from a Fiat Strada!
@@clonmore819 thanks 👍🏻
There aren't many 222 SEs around, I've got one of the others (RHD manual, originally from Jersey) 🙂
@@bnipmnaa ours is rhd auto. We bought it when we needed an auto and wanted one with a reasonable amount of go. I am nit a fan of automatics, but to be honest it works well with the turbos.
Ive always had a soft spot for Maserati, the beautiful Bora, Merak then the sawn off shotgun looking Shamal in particular. The stereotype of Italian build quality, rust box, and electrical issues took a while to die away. This review of a gorgeous vintage Ghibli has got me all excited again 🙂🏆
A friend of mine has a standard ghibli and also has a db9 volante,Rover p5b and a tvr tuscan and he maintains its the best car to drive despite its issues .lovely cars and looks integrale aggressive
Had 3 of them (GT's) Not a big difference at all - Still my dream car , never had any issues! always scared me to bits thou . The highest you go on the suspension - nr. 4 - It's the hardest setting ;-)
Oh the 80s ghibli.
Saw this on a car magazine when I was little and it stuck to me to date!
Another absolutely stunning car, proper muscular design with performance to match. The colour and interior on this example is perfection. Gorgeous!
Blimey jack, I've always liked that era of Maserati they looked so good with the blister arches etc, I'd have that and the 400i you drove recently in my garage any day, great interesting car review, I really enjoyed watching. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🇬🇧
Concur completely, the little Zagato built convertible is also lovely, most people can't tell it apart from a BMW E30. Very discreet "sleeper" car.
My perfect Italian house garage, Ferrari 400i, Maserati Biturbo spider, Lancia Flaminia berlina, Fiat 130 Mamarena (shooting break), Lancia Delta Integrale 16v, Alfa 6c 1750, Alfa 1600 Junior Zagato.
Love Ghiblis and Biturbos! I owned an '86 420 Biturbo sedan. A carburated 2 liter 18 valve V6 with basically this same interior.
I owned it for 8 years as a summer car (with a working A/C!) and found it greatly reliable and fun to drive. With just 180 hp it was easily as faster as the Lancia Thema turbos or 164 V6's I was used to before it.
Negatives were the extremely damage prone (skai, not real leather) interior and fuel consumption. Apart from that it was great. This was the least special version, but it was very special none the less. The fact that it had only a single exhaust, no electronic dampers, intercoolers and rather normal size tyres made it relatively cheap to run.
Absolutely brilliant video full of heart .I just love Italian cars and would welcome a rusty Alfasud in my living room.
When it looks like Monica Bellucci on four wheels..who gives a S..t
I am on my 6 TH Maserati ( two coupes , one Gran sport , and I am now on my third Gran Turismo GTS ) and apart from very expensive routine servicing they have all been stellar cars.
I’m hooked .
Buy one and love it and it will love you back.
Great channel Jack.
Monica Bellucci 😈😄
Absolute dream car for me, I've always loved these. Sports car with a wood and leather interior? Why not! If I ever get rid of my Turbo R... and it goes up in value a lot... then who knows? ;)
Have the same taste. Shamal was also nice, but would go fot the latest Quattroporte 3.2 V8 Evoluzione. :)
Harry Metcalfe owned one in the very early *evo* days if I'm not mistaken. Unique noise.
Not to mention he is having a play in Harry's back garden if I am not mistaken. Some very familiar roads there. It was also Harry's gateway into automotive publishing as every time a magazine wanted to test one they called Harry's farm.
Harry’s car M4SER was the main reason I nearly bought one, so wish I had.
@@Gorbyrev Yeah, I’ve suspected that for some time. That dipping to the right, rising to the left corner has always looked very familiar.
What a lovely interior!
I absolutely love these, truly unique, individual styling. One day I will have one.
Thats a beautiful car and goes very well too!
Always loved these and the design of then. They monster Shamal which is loosely based on this is something I listed after for years. Similar design angles to the Alfa 155 with its creases and form with the high boot etc.
These style of car are just beautiful.
This front end looks kinda like a Lancia as well.
Beta Coupe Montecarlo, this GT, the Shamal, 155, Thema, Delta, the Delta ECV 1, they all look amazing.
My father had an RHD Ghibli Cup when I was a bit younger. Fantastic car. Always had an itch for a shamal since.
Beautiful inside and outside, thanks for sharing your experiences of this car Jack. Love your channel, even watching some dumb adverts to help you out is worth it. Regards, Bob M
I love the look of that era Maserati, the lines are fantastic.
Wonderful car. My childhood dream car. The engine in this one is red and that tells a lot. :) Keep up.
Amazing car and amazing engine, the engine sound is easy to sort it out with a nice x pipe exhaust will scream
Love it Jack. Getting a slightly ropey 2.8 auto, bringing it back to health and doing a manual conversion would sure as hell make for some good YT content (a challenge for sure!)
What an awesome video. Didn't know about these and now thanks to you Jack I do. As far as looks go I was always a huge fan of the BiTurbo but new ownership would not end well.
excellent car. perfectly finished interior... leather and alcantara absolutely everywhere. the engine is a work of art and sounds great. very sporty design. one of the most beautiful auts of that time.
Buy one! I had mine for 8 years. Never gave me any trouble. Look after it, it'll look after you 👌
I just love Maserati’s from the Biturbo era. Especially the latter ones: Shamal, Ghibli and Quattroporte IV.
Almost 4 years ago, I bought a 1997 Ghibli GT 2.0 V6. And I love it.
What is almost never mentioned in reviews is how old the Ghibli feels. You clearly feel this car is based on a much older car. I also own a 1998 Alfa GTV 2.0 V6 TB and although that car is just one year younger, it feels like 20 years younger. And the driving position is indeed really bad, including a seat back rest that is way too low.
I am always amazed that Maserati was able to sell (although not that much) such antique low quality (e.g. used knobs in the interior, hardly any (safety) equipment,…) car for such high price. My GTV is better in every aspect (except for performance) but when new it cost less than half of that of a Ghibli.
Another great thing is that it is so restrained. Despite the widened fenders, the 4 exhausts, the cooling grills on the bonnet, the rarity,… almost nobody is noticing the car when I drive it around or park it somewhere. In comparison, I also have a Fiat X1/9 and people are talking to me all the time about it and I get thumbs up very often when driving it. While it is a less special car (but also great) in every way. Might have something to do with the colour: discrete Blu Spaziale Vs. flashy metallic green, but that can’t explain it all.
Another point is value. Although prices have increased in recent years, it remains an affordable car. My other dream cars, an Alfa Romeo SZ and Lancia Delta Integrale (yes I am a kid from the very late seventies) went up so much more in value that these are unfortunately out of my reach now.
(I know that the UK is a very different market for cars than mainland Europe. E.g, you will not find a good Ghibli GT for £15000 in Europe, while you can find a good fiat 130 coupé for half the price of what you have to pay in the UK)
I owned a bi turbo for 2 years ,loved it, the only thing that went wrong was the ac belt.
Very fast and beautiful!
Another satisfied owner here - crazy underrated car - yes it takes time to 'learn' them and get the bugs out. The fusebox should be removed and replaced with bitubox, or disassembled and re-solder any loose pins - I did it so not that hard. Engine is a gem but spares are hard to find (bearings...). Standard suspension on early cars was very soft on the front adding to the grounding and tail happy nature. Getting engine out is not so bad - remove front clip and roll it forward with gearbox attached (done it a few times:). Mine is a 1994 RHD 2.8 static pre-ABS car, but modded a little.
Strange that these get such a bad wrap in all the magazine's of the time and yet thankfully there are a silent few who love these. Such an awesome shape and a glorious interior. For the individual not the masses. Truely a number 27 car.
DeTomasso's factory was just off Modena Nord, on the Via Emilia. Later used to build the MG Coposite hot rod with the Ford Engine. Last time I was by there, the place was falling down (3 yrs ago). Hope to get to the area in a month.
I loved these and the Quattroporte at the time. Still looks great to me. And the Alfa Romeo SZ. Was another stunner from a few years earlier.
Absolutely love all biturbos ❤️🇮🇹
Same as Paul N, Ive allways loved the Bi Turbos, and owned quiet a few including 222s, 430s and a Ghibli, and currently own a very rare Quattroporte evo with the Shamal engine and gearbox, The Shamal was allways my Dream car from when it first launched till now and almost got my hands on one years back but got let down!!!
I still think these cars are amazing and one of the nicest interiors, I mean apart from the buttons, indicator stalks and seat belts everything else is covered in leather and alcantara and an interesting thing with regards to Quality, most luxurious cars such as jags and merc etc all have wood vaneers but in these the bur walnut panels are actually a thick slab of wood not vaneer so its the real deal!
Great video ! Great car! Bonkers!!
“Nothing doesn’t work!....” 🤣
LOL - poor Jack - that makes both no sense and complete sense all at once. Just love your enthusiasm.
My father has a Maserati Ghibli from 1994 , it is pretty similar, the steering wheel is different, red with black inside and a 306 hp. but I just love this car and the similars , so much more then the contemporary ones. Cheers ! The same clock 11:11
You drive a Ghibli or a Shamal and you look like an elegant enthusiast. You drive a huge current supercar, all electronic with space shapes, and you look like an enriched person
Yes! Drive the car the way it’s intended! Keep the rpm at 4,000 and up and the engine will love you!
I’ve owned a 1989 Zagato Spyder and never had a problem.
Always loved the look of these - especially in yellow
i just love that car, has so many character, and presence... it is a gentlemans car.
Lovely car, great review!
One of my favourite brands !!!
I’ve always been so curious about this car. Thanks for the tour!
I like cars like this and thank you for reviewing thie unique machine.The Italian 'arms out legs bent' driving position, just like my '75 124 Sport Coupe, not withstanding, they build great driving vehicles and more reliable than people think, when they aren't beaten and mistreated. Hats off .Thanks. Tom, Syracuse, NY, USA
My Fiat, like any Italian car, is prone to rusting easily, so it's important to not let these cars get wet much, especially if you want it to last a long time, remembering to get it outside on dry days soon to 'dry off', if it does get wet. Any special car, like these, should never be exposed much to moisture. Keep them as dry as possible. Protect your special car, to keep rust away. Peace.
It looks beautiful 🤩
One of my favourite cars, nearly bought a 430 about 20 years ago...so quirky.
Now there is a man who is smitten!
The interior is so beautiful. Simple, practical yet stylish and luxurious.
I’d still rather the ‘66 but that would be a gas to own.
Monstrous car, fabolous interiors. Reliability issues were mostly electronic, the engine was always a masterpiece. Cheers
Oh Jack…. You’re driving my “one that got away”! I went down to Meridian Maserati in Lyndhurst to drive one and even flew to Scotland to drive one at (forgotten the name) a dealership, I had the money, I loved the car, not just a bit, but it did for me what it’s just done for you! So back in ‘99/00 the two cars were around the £30k mark, and although I loved the 993 (it was more money) I preferred the Ghibli Cup for its sheer fun factor and the fact no one knew what it was. The engine had the most bhp per litre of ANY production car at the time and the cabin made you feel a million dollars compared to the Porsche. So why didn’t I buy it? Well I had two young kids and I’d had a succession of Alfa’s and a 20v Turbo Fiat coupe and I was scared of the bills, once I started digging. Front discs and pads were more than my current C7 RS6 are now and that 48k service was crippling. So I played it safe and bought a B5 S4 Avant, thinking it’s a biturbo and it’s got similar performance. I was happy with the car but it wasn’t the Ghibli by a long chalk, but I did get close, when I sought help from Quattro Sport who changed the cars character completely by fitting coil overs, Porsche brakes, exhaust and remap. I still wish I bought the Ghibli Cup, almost as much as I wish I’d kept my Alfa 75 that Autodelta made so awesome!
Yep, I absolutely love it. So unusual but also (driving position aside) rather good!
mate, I have been with this channel since the beginning , great to pop in and see you have 10x the subs you used to. I need to make more vids lol. Love this car.
Thanks Tim!! Good luck!
My favorite Maserati of all time
Such a beautiful machine
What i do everytime inwatch your vids is then look up how much it is to buy one! Lol. Always enjoyable jack 💯
Another great video Jack! Your enthusiasm and passion always shines through. Imagine having a GT next to the 308 in the garage, pwoar!
Thanks chap.. would love one of these but driving position is a real issue
really loved the designs of Maseratis in this period. Not sure I would want to own one, but love the understated design.
What I really like about your channel is your way of sharing with us the pleasure you have of testing exceptional cars, however I regret that you do not devote more time to the interior of the vehicles , especially this one. This one has such a beautiful interior.
For example, I would have liked you to sit in the back to see the space available and focus on the quality and design of the seats.
Anyway, merci very much for the quality of your videos!
That’s my favourite road, just near where I live, such a great road to test cars out. Harry’s Garage is always up there too.
I had a 1994 Biturbo Spyder for 8 years as a daily driver. Dead reliable once sorted out. It had the older 3-valve engine cranked to 280whp (~340 at the crank) and stainless exhaust system with set of Borla cans for sound. So essentially very similar performance to the Ghibli Cup. More modern turbos (or custom impellers) can bring the boost threshold down by 1000 rpm, and there are still wizards out there that can burn a custom map into the (Hitachi?) ECU. The _really_ essential thing is to get the suspension balance just right. A set of adjustable Konis, custom anti-roll bars, and a set of Michelin Pilot Sports worked for me. New bushings too, but no polyurethane.
What was the boost level to get to 340hp ? Did you modify the engine internals ?
These are not hitachi but Marelli ECUs
@@alexispavlov5170 In the final edition there was 2 selectable boost levels, 1.2 bar and 1.4 bar (because on a hot day the ECU would back off the boost on high setting). It was a two liter engine and the camshafts were NOT changed, but the timing was adjusted to optimum (can't remember how many degrees).
Due to the built-in boost limit the ECU was flashed in UK (and then 2 more times based on the dyno runs for A/F ratios). Turbos were new IHI RB5s (from Honda City Turbo), with custom compressors good from 3500 rpm up (max limit set to 6500). More modern ones would have been a better choice for the same price.
Heads, intake, and exhaust manifolds were "touched up", but no major porting and no big valves. Custom exhaust from turbo down. The intercoolers were rebuilt with better cores (Bell Racing) and slightly bigger.
All-in-all I was very happy with the results. The Spyder is actually pretty stiff for a convertible, but it certainly didn't need any more power than that.
@@lippenserver5583 it was a 2 liter ? Wow. I'm convinced the 18v engines have the same potential power as the 24v because 24v head valves are too small. 300hp at 1 bar of boost on such a good 2.0 24v engine is not a good result, you get more on jap or vw engines of the same period.
I guess on your engine they retarded the cams by few degrees
Where is the car now ?
@@alexispavlov5170 The 2 liter engines (Italian "tax editions" and all late convertibles) were always very close to the 2.8L as far as peak power goes. It makes sense, as airflow-wise all else WAS same. The smaller engine was just more peaky (which was somewhat negated by the custom compressor, but I really should have gotten small ball bearing Garretts). I think most the 2L 18v gave from factory was 245hp at 0.8 bar. The 24v (and for sure the 2.8L) are more civilized, but my thinking was that if it ends up too raw for the Spyder, I'll put it in a coupe.
The car is in Thailand in my friends possession, but I get to use it when I visit (or buy it back if I end up in that part of the world again). I still drive a twin turbo Maserati, just not an original Biturbo series.
@@lippenserver5583 given the messy injection mapping style I don't think 2.0 18v could make 245 at 0.8 stock. There are more problems like a low CR, partially hidden valves.
I built a modified 2.8 18v engine, still breaking it in. With std turbos. Will see what I can get. I made some slight mods like a light work on intake ports, stiffer intake springs, 6mm slightly bigger intake valves (same seats), custom pistons with slightly more CR (next time will do at least 8:1). Exhaust, cooling and all the rest.
What a stunning car , I’ve always loved them , it reminds me of a 155 wide body .
One of the best. The Biturbo had nothing to do with the Kyalami/Longchamp.
I've always liked thus model Ghibli. This one is special. Lots of power from 2 liters! This one in particular is very desirable. Good show, mate. Cheers from New Zealand
Great review. Loved these also, love how they look, how they go and the interiors....plus the rarity. Came so close to buying the 2.8 GT back in the day I even put deposits on 2......reality check of a probable divorce brought me back to earth with a bump.
Moved to Canada over 10 years ago....& you know what? A GT same colour I spotted in a garage only last week......dare I check on $$$??
If you ever have the opportunity to try out thr original Ghibli from 1969 onwards, do so. It's glorious. Even better if you can avail yourself of some time with the Spyder version, which was a sublime work of art on wheels. A car from the era when Maserati was a genuine, *serious* rival to Ferrari.
When I was with the UN in Cyprus in 1993/1995 there was a Maserati dealer in Nicosia where new models like this and the other models were displayed in the showroom. Unbelievably the cars were open and you could sit in them and fiddle about without getting thrown out. So on my days off I would always pay a visit to the dealer and sit in a few Maserati's. The smell of all that sumptuous leather was overpowering and addictive. I have never experienced the same in any new car since and I still scan the classified now and again to see if there are any opportunities to acquire one.
wow the Longchamps at 1:38 is gorgeous
I love this era of Maserati, would love me a Quattoporte for a daily, no joke.
Have a 2.24v a very similar car. Covered 100 000 kmtr in it. Actually a very good car. You should def buy one!
Agree. Fab car
Still looks awesome! Good video very enjoyable!
What a fantastic car. Thank you for the video.