The Maserati Shamal is a V8-powered Italian muscle car that is often overlooked and misunderstood in the classic car world. Designed by the legendary Marcello Gandini, responsible for the gorgeous Lamborghini Miura and the iconic Countach, this radical evolution of the long-running Biturbo range became the marque's range-topping Coupe in the early ’90s, developed to take on Germany’s finest and turn the company’s fortunes around.

Released in late 1989, the Shamal represented Maserati’s final model under the ownership of De Tomaso before Fiat's takeover the following year. Although the silhouette resembled the Biturbo, most of the body panels, the engine, and the running gear were all new to the Shamal.

Many think of the Maserati Shamal as just another dressed-up Biturbo. However, the Shamal was a much more potent car with a muscular appearance and ferocious power, that distinguished itself from the lackluster Biturbo of the mid-eighties.

It’s true to say, the Biturbo era was a low point for Maserati. Indeed, for an Italian carmaker with a rich history in motor racing and that has developed many gorgeous sports cars over the years, the Biturbo tainted the image of the marque with the inferior build quality and poor reliability.

Moreover, it’s a car that would be totally excluded from Maserati’s greatest hits compilation. Although the Shamal was a vast improvement, it was very much maligned, as a result of the Biturbo’s reputation. Furthermore, Maserati only produced 369 examples of the Shamal between 1990 and 1996, eventually replaced by the 3200 GT.

The Shamal was the pinnacle of the Biturbo era and, it appears, is finally receiving the respect it deserves. Love it or loathe it, the Shamal is a sports car that sparks curiosity. What’s more, perceptions of this forgotten Coupe are changing and are now reflected in the classic car market with prices appreciating.

Related: 8 Reasons The Maserati Biturbo Was Cool (2 Reasons Why We'd Never Buy One)

The Outrageous Shamal Was Designed By Gandini

Maserati Shamal Rear Quarter Image
Via: Maserati

Aesthetically, the Shamal looks like a Biturbo on Steroids with those butch wide wheel arches which give the car a unique profile. Featuring an all-steel construction, the Shamal had a shorter wheelbase shared with the Biturbo Spyder.

The angular lines are very much of the early 90s. Although the view of the front quarter looks rather aggressive, the rear end, with the raised trunk lid, doesn’t appear harmonious with the rest of the car's design. Moreover, the lairy details further included an air deflector on the lower portion of the windshield and a center roll bar which also enhanced the car's torsional rigidity.

The Countach style slanted rear wheel arches became Gandini’s styling signature. The 16-inch, seven-spoke OZ alloy wheels looked stunning, and the chrome quad exhaust gave the brutish rear end some appeal.

Related: A Detailed Look At The Lamborghini Countach From The Cannonball Run

Maserati Shamal Interior Was Luxurious

Maserati Shamal Interior View
Via: Maserati

Maserati cabins of this era have always been luxurious, if somewhat fragile. The Shamal is no exception, adorned with leather, polished wood, and Alcantara, with most of the interior carried over from the Biturbo. The Shamal is by no way a true four-seater, more of 2 plus 2 with rear seats just for show.

The deeply bolstered front sports seats are, however, very comfortable, should you wish to travel long distances, with full electrics including air conditioning. Indeed, the classic cabin would not be complete without the famous oval Maserati clock in the center of the dashboard.

Related: A Peak Inside The Maserati Quattroporte's Interior

The Shamal Had A Thumping V8 Under The Hood

Maserati Shamal Engine View
Via: Maserati

The Shamal featured a 3.2 Liter V8 twin-turbo under the hood, churning out 322 horsepower and 318 lb-ft of torque. A Getrag six-speed manual gearbox sends power to the rear wheels which include a limited-slip differential.

With the engine positioned directly on the front axle, the Shamal's handling is not as nose-heavy as one might expect. What's more, with its brutal acceleration, the Shamal could sprint to 60 mph in a mere 5.3 seconds and topped almost 170 mph, still fast even by today’s standards. The ride is, somewhat, on the firm side but controlled with plenty of pulling power from the V8 up front with minimal turbo lag.

That said, the Italian does not encourage you to push it to its limits. It’s true to say, the aggressive driving character of the Shamal weakened the enthusiasm of many buyers. Indeed, earlier Biturbos developed a prolific reputation for wayward handling, sharing the same cornering characteristics as a shopping cart.

To tame the wild Italian coupe, Maserati engineers fitted the Shamal with electronically controlled, driver-adjustable active suspension developed in conjunction with Koni. Although a vast improvement with better road manners, the Shamal was still somewhat temperamental and needed respect, particularly in the wet.

Related: Here's What We Know About Maserati's New V8-Powered MC Edition

How Much Is The Maserati Shamal Worth Today?

Maserati Shamal Front Quarter Image
Via: Bring a Trailer

This true exotic is now a rare collector’s item and seldom appears in the classifieds. Not only was the Maserati Shamal penned by legendary designer Gandini, but it was also limited to 369 units, none of which came to the US. Today, the values of this outrageous Italian Coupe are rising fast.

In 1990, this rare Maserati would have set you back approximately $65,000. According to classic.com, the average price of a Shamal today is around the $72,000 mark.

Sources: Maserati, Classic Cars