Maserati GranSport MC Victory | Spotted

It’s been just over 25 years since Maserati abandoned the blocky design language of the old Shamal, Ghibli and Quattroporte in favor of the sleeker, more curved silhouette of the radically different 3200 GT. The Italian brand had pinned its hopes on the 3200 GT to take on the popular Aston Martin DB7 and Jaguar XLR, and while it didn’t live up to those ambitions, it was by far the best-selling Maserati for a long time. After being in the doldrums for decades, the manufacturer was finally back in the game.

However, despite its boomerang taillight charm, the 3200 GT also had some flaws. The chassis couldn’t keep up with the powerful 370hp of the 3.2-litre twin-turbo V8, and power delivery was notoriously top-notch – which apparently made it quite a challenge in the wet. With the successor 4200 GT came revisions, led by the introduction of the naturally aspirated 4.2 liter V8 engine co-developed by Ferrari and, unfortunately, the innovative taillights (the first LEDs used in a production car) that gave way to one more conventional cluster. The engine was a big step forward from the old turbocharged engine, but was still hampered by a wayward chassis and a stupid automated manual transmission.

It wasn’t until the GranSport came onto the market that Maserati was able to get the coupe’s early problems under control. New software for the Cambiocorsa car meant quicker shift times and a longer sixth gear was fitted for better driving performance, while tweaks to the Skyhook adaptive suspension improved handling and eliminated some of the steering numbness that suffered from its predecessors. This made the GranSport much more focused than the older cars, which in turn is said to have significantly increased driving pleasure.

Additionally, there was a little more grunt from the part-Maserati, part-Ferrari V8, which developed an additional 10 horsepower in the GranSport for a nice all-round output of 400 horsepower. The soundtrack also received a boost thanks to a new exhaust system that featured a set of valves that opened above 4,000 rpm to enhance the rumble of the cross-plane crank V8. Considering the revised styling, which not only gave the coupe a welcome edge but was also said to produce more downforce, the GranSport is the one of the three you’d best spend your hard-earned money on.

Unless, of course, an MC Victory like we have here comes along. This extremely rare special edition was launched in 2006 to celebrate the success of the beautiful MC12 GT1 racing car – Maserati’s icon had won the FIA ​​GT Manufacturers’ Cup in 2005. The Victory featured a number of delicious improvements inside and out, most notably a new front splitter made from blue-tinted carbon fiber. There’s more blue carbon on the inside of the paddle shifters, steering wheel and center console, while the standard car’s plush seats have been ditched in favor of sportier shells from the MC12. A faster steering rack was also reportedly installed, and each of the 181 cars was fitted with Italian flags on the fenders and a builder’s plaque in the center console.

Admittedly, it’s not that different from a standard GranSport, but all the parts that were changed (particularly the MC12 seats) contributed to a car that felt like more than the sum of its parts. This is even more true since most of these parts were painted in Blu Victory, while this example is clearly black. At £42,595 it’s not far from double what you’d expect for a decent GranSport like this 2004 car at £22,950. But the MC Victory is a car that will amaze those in the know once they notice all the little details that set it apart from the standard model. For some of us, that’s worth its weight in gold.

Engine: 4,244 cc V8
Transmission: Six-speed automatic manual transmission, rear-wheel drive
Horsepower): 400 at 7,000 rpm
Torque (lb ft): 333 at 4,500 rpm
MPG: 15.2
CO2: 430g/km
Year registered: 2006
Mileage recorded: 59,000
Price new: N/A
Kind regards for: £42,595