WITH its 4.2-litre V8 borrowed from Ferrari, the Maserati Coupe has all the credentials for a true supercar - including the incredible soundtrack.

The engine is at the front and drive is to the rear wheels through a six-speed gearbox mounted on the rear axle for best weight distribution.

Secondhand prices are surprisingly affordable considering that new, these wonderful sportscars were upwards of £50,000.

As well as the Coupe, there was also a drophead called the Spyder that came without the closed model's reasonably-sized rear seats.

Wind it up towards the red line - where most of the power is - and it will reel in the horizon like a fish on a hook.

It is well-balanced and easy to drive quickly, with excellent body control and a comfortable ride over most surfaces.

Front and side airbags are standard and there is a wide range of electronic aids to ensure you should never leave the straight and narrow.

The Coupé hails from a time when reliability did not seem to be too important to Maserati, with trim and electrics causing some of the problems.

They all have electric leather seats, a large colour screen for climate and stereo control, but sat nav, cruise, heated seats and a CD changer were all options.