1984 - 1987 Maserati Biturbo Pre-Owned

Out on the street the exhaust didn't sound quite as overwhelming, and even less so when the saleslady and I climbed inside. Whew!

To a guy who'd bought nothing but German and Swedish cars up to this point, the little Biturbo seemed as opulent as a Rolls-Royce. (Photo: Maserati)

To a guy who'd bought nothing but German and Swedish cars up to this point, the little Biturbo seemed as opulent as a Rolls-Royce. Most everything was covered in leather or suede, even the roofliner. What wasn't made of hides was constructed out of wood, or at least I thought it was wood. I didn't really notice such details as my eyes were transfixed on what was the most enchanting analog clock that I'd ever seen integrated into a dashboard. Shaped like the automaker's logo, it sat dead center sparkling in gold plate.

The saleswoman made sure to inform me that the 5-speed shifter, incidentally made by ZF, featured an odd pattern. There was an "H" layout, which I was already used to, but rather than the convention of 1st at the top left and 5th at the top right, the Maser featured 1st at the bottom left and 5th at the bottom right.

My eyes were transfixed on what was the most enchanting analog clock that I'd ever seen integrated into a dashboard. (Photo: Maserati)

Reverse was where 1st should have been, after a little notch to the left.

Whatever, I had already lived with a Saab 900 and its myriad of quirks, dealt with Audi's weird internal disc brakes and BMW's trunk mounted battery and hopelessly ill-fated power windows, I could handle this. Besides, it kind of made sense at the time - yes there's some Italian blood in me, from way back in the 1600s I'm told.

I depressed the clutch and fired up the 2.5-liter SOHC engine, which had been shut off due to a fairly dry gasoline tank I might add. "No worries," said my accomplice, "we'll fill it up when we get out on the road." Sounded good to me.