Maserati Kyalami Overview: Generations, Specs, and Which One to Buy
Overview of the Maserati Kyalami coupe (1976–1983): its single generation, 265–290 hp modifications, and which versions to choose.
The Maserati Kyalami is a coupe built from 1976 to 1983, with power outputs ranging from 265 to 290 hp across its modifications. A rear-wheel-drive grand tourer offered with both manual and automatic gearboxes, it suits buyers who want a classic Italian V8 coupe from a single, clearly defined production run rather than a model with many generations to compare.
Maserati Kyalami generations
1 generation (1976–1983)
The first and only generation of the Maserati Kyalami was produced from 1976 to 1983, exclusively as a coupe with rear-wheel drive. Four modifications were offered, spanning 265 to 290 hp, with a choice of Manual and Automatic transmissions. The top versions were the 4.9-litre models: the Maserati Kyalami 4.9 MT and the Maserati Kyalami 4.9 AT, both rated at 290 hp from a 4930 cc engine and listed for 1976–1985. The 4.9 MT is the most widespread version of the model, while the 4.9 AT delivers the same peak 290 hp output with an automatic gearbox.
Which Maserati Kyalami to buy
- 4.9 MT (1 generation): the most common version of the model, with 290 hp from its 4930 cc engine and a manual gearbox — the widest choice on the used market comes from this modification.
- 4.9 AT (1 generation): the same 290 hp and 4930 cc displacement paired with an Automatic transmission, for those who prefer two-pedal driving without giving up any peak power.
Buying used is simplified by the model's structure: there is only one generation, so there are no cross-generation differences to untangle — the main decision is transmission type and where a given car sits in the 265–290 hp range. All examples date from the 1976–1983 production run, so every car on the market is a classic of similar age.
Which Maserati Kyalami to avoid
The data shows no dominated version among the notable modifications: the Maserati Kyalami 4.9 MT and 4.9 AT both produce 290 hp from the same 4930 cc engine and differ only in gearbox. Lower-output versions in the 265 hp part of the range simply offer less power, but no listed modification is worse than another on every measured figure, so there is no clear version to rule out on the numbers alone.