MASERATIMerak 1974 - 1982

　　Developed under Citroen's ownership during the early '70s, the Merak was Maserati's second mid-engine sportscar, and it stood on the market for over a decade.

　　Introduced in 1972 at the Paris Auto Show, this car was more of a spin-off from the Bora. However, unlike its bigger sibling, this Giugiaro-designed sportscar was aimed at wealthier customers.

　　Giorgetto Giugiaro was hired to pen the car's lines based on the Bora. Citroen had a good idea when it did that since, by using the same platform, it could create two different vehicles. Thus, the Merak came on the market with a restyled front fascia that sported a rubber bumper and a chromed trim adorned it. From its sides, the mid-engined sports car showed a low profile with a short greenhouse. The rear windscreen was vertical and short. But the designer imagined two opened flying buttresses that visually extended the car's roof. At the back, the engine cover featured two rows of vents that helped to cool the engine.

　　The Merak's interior was offered with various trim levels. While the base models featured cloth upholstery, the higher grades were leather-wrapped. Regardless of the version, all were fitted with bolstered seats that provided good lateral support. In addition, a rear seat was placed behind the driver for tax reasons. The owners couldn't place anything larger than a purse in there. The dashboard was filled with gauges and dials, which told everything about the engine's status. As for the trunk, that was at the front and could fit just a couple of overnight bags.

　　The V6 engine behind the seats was not exactly something to brag about. The base version had only two liters of displacement. It was made to comply with strict European regulations from Italy, Greece, and Portugal. At the other end of the scale, the three-liter version provided better performance. But still, not enough to call the Merak a supercar.