1968 Maserati Mexico 4200 “Classiche Certification of Authenticity”

The Maserati Mexico was unveiled to the public in 1966 and featured bodywork by Vignale. The concept was actually very appealing: a fast and comfortable Gran Turismo for someone who found the Quattroporte just a little too much like a limousine, yet still wanted to travel with four people and their luggage. And naturally, a V8 suited that idea perfectly.

The origins of the V8 could be traced back to the Maserati 450S racing car of the 1950s, after which the engine was further developed for road use. It found its way into models including the 5000 GT and later the first Quattroporte. For the Mexico, customers could ultimately choose between a 4.7-liter V8 and the 4.2-liter V8 found in this particular example.

According to factory figures, the 4.2 produced approximately 260 horsepower. More than enough, because the Mexico was never intended to be a nervous sports car that had something to prove at every stoplight. This was a car designed for high-speed, long-distance travel. A true Italian GT, in other words. It was equipped with a five-speed ZF manual transmission, disc brakes at all four wheels, and independent front suspension. At the rear, Maserati opted for a live axle. It was a configuration that suited the comfortable character Maserati had in mind.

And then there is the styling. Vignale did not create a car that screams for attention. The lines are understated, and that is precisely why you sometimes find yourself taking a second look. The low nose, generous glass area, and that long rear section. It looks beautiful in photographs, but it is only in person that the proportions truly stand out.

This example is a 1968 4200, finished in Celeste Blue with blue Connolly leather upholstery. That combination alone is reason enough to walk around the car and take it all in. This Maserati was restored, and fortunately, not everything old was automatically replaced. The original interior could be preserved, giving the cabin an atmosphere that simply cannot be recreated with an entirely new interior. Since the restoration, the car has been kept in exceptionally neat condition.

This is a matching-numbers example, and Maserati Classiche has issued a Certificate of Authenticity for it. The Certificate of Origin and an extensive historical file are also present. And it drives exactly the way you hope a good Mexico will. The V8 pulls beautifully from low revs, runs remarkably smoothly, and even the clutch is surprisingly light to operate.

Approximately 480 Mexicos were built between 1966 and 1973, of which, according to many commonly referenced model records, 305 were fitted with the 4.2-liter engine. A rare Maserati, then, although rarity alone is hardly the reason to buy it. Start that V8, look out over the long Celeste Blue hood, and you will understand immediately. Interested? Contact Gallery Aaldering today, active since 1975. We export our vehicles worldwide; please ask us about the possibilities.

* Matching Numbers with the Maserati "Classiche Certification of Authenticity"
* Accompanied by a Certificate of Origin and history file
* In Celeste Blue with Blue Connolly leather
* A restoration carried out in early 2000 in which the interior was professionally preserved
* "We have a bit of a weakness for Maserati Classiche and their certificates on parchment paper"