Maserati Barchetta in Australia


My sincere thanks to George and Enzo Piazza of Berlina Body Works for allowing me to publish the photos of the restoration of their Maserati Barchetta.

THE BARCHETTA: A Chapter from History by Ermanno Cozza The terms used to describe the various types of bodystyles that have "adorned" automobiles over time has never been precise and, as a result, has generated some confusion. The same term has been applied, through the years, to various types of body design. Things have been further complicated by the use of universally accepted terms borrowed from a variety of languages (first French, then English and Italian) that have created a linguistic potpourri. The term Barchetta has suffered a similar fate. This word came into vogue after the war to describe a sporty, fast car with rather Spartan accouterments and a body covering both frame and wheels. It was with the barchettas that the road races resumed in Italy in 1946: on 29 September of that year, a Barchetta driven by its owner, Guido Barbieri, debuted in the "Coppa Mercanti". The car was the result of profuse ideas and technical content from Ernesto Maserati and hard work and know-how from designer Massimino, starting practically from scratch. The engine was an updated version of the 6CM of 1939: with three carburettors and single camshaft timing system, this naturally aspirated 1.5-litre powerplant cranked out 90 bhp at 5000 rpm. The innovative tubular frame had independent front suspensions and a rigid rear axle with cantilevered half-leaf springs. The two-seater body was handsomely profiled and offered a truly low drag coefficient. Thanks to its light weight (750 kg), the car was extremely pleasurable to drive, enabling even non-professional drivers to reach 150 kph. The debut in Milan was followed by other victories: Mantova, Voghera ... on this occasion it was driven by Gigi Villoresi, who was owner of the engine. When the the A6GCS appeared, with a completely different bodystyle designed by Medardo Fantuzzi, the original Barchetta was momentarily set aside. On the A6GCS, the engine displacement was raised to 2 litres and the power leaped to 120 bhp. This model collected numerous victories, especially in hillclimbing. The need to provide better protection for both crew and car, and particularly to improve the aerodynamics, led to the design of the Barchetta 1946. Other constructors followed Maserati's example, and racing in the sportscar category soon captivated not only the public but also the private "gentlemen drivers". This led to participation in international competition, where Maserati was able to grow and develop experience. In 1953 the Sport 2000 A6GCS/53 came along, fathered by Gioacchino Colombo, who reproduced the image of the earlier version and equipped it with a 6-cylinder dohc engine that turned out 170 bhp at 7500 rpm. The frame and suspensions were improvements of the former design. Despite its particularly accentuated lines, the car preserved a characteristic lightness of form. The medium-displacement sports cars of the '50s were a mandatory apprenticeship for drivers aspiring to Fl, and Maserati can boast of having nurtured many promising young contenders such as Mantovani, Musso, Giletti, Salvadori, Scarlatti, .... While the sports-car formula was becoming more important in international professional terms, the barchettas continued to race, to the satisfaction of the private drivers who participated in the events with great competitive enthusiasm. - Excerpt from Il Tridente March 1992

BARCHETTA 1991 When Alessandro DeTomaso launched the Biturbo back in 1981, Maserati established a traditional get-together to coincide with the birth date of the "Officine Alfieri Maserati Automobili": 14 December 1914. The purpose of this meeting was to offer the press, friends, Maserati Club members and concessionaires an advance look at Maserati's programmes for the coming year and the near future. In keeping with this commitment, in the past the company presented models already in production, models about to go into production and prototypes for mechanical or bodywork studies which, regardless of their end use, served to refine technological and aesthetic research or just to pursue experimentation to understand to what extent theories are applicable to reality. Back then, the objective was to put Maserati back on the road and breathe new vitality and credibility into an historic marque with a glorious past: a source of company pride but certainly not enough. Today we may say that Maserati is once again appealing to prestige car enthusiasts with products worthy of its name and tradition, with models such as the GranSprort, Coupé, Spyder, Quattroporte and the stunningly beautiful MC12. So in 1992, to feel truly reborn, it returned to the track with the MASERATI Barchetta, a 2-litre race car rated at over 310 bhp and weighing only 775lb. A track car posessing a level of driveability that offered speed enthusiasts a pure form of pleasure that was competitive without becoming confrontational.

The Rens Biesma illustration of the Maserati Barchetta from the Dr. George Lipperts Collection




MASERATI BARCHETTA #THB CMSLLH

"Dearest Enrico, It has been a while since we last, had contact, but the business has kept me very busy as well as trying to buld a website and so on! The website is now up and running at www.berlinabodyworks.com.au, and there is a rather comprehensive photo file on the Barchetta ! The PIAZZA MOTORI showroom in Leichhardt, New South Wales! Please have a look through and see if you have enough information to create a story on your fantastic website ! You can use whatever you need off the site or use the site as hyperlinks to our family history, photos etc. With the Barchetta, the car was originally imported into Australia in around 1993 by Maserati Australia, for promotional purposes. Before not so long car was purchased by two Maserati enthusiasts Craig Brown and Alex Danillo. The two gentlemen are very good friends of the Piazza Family, so from the very early days, when the car first arrived in Australia the boys at Berlina Bodyworks would always take care of touch ups to the car, etc. One of the Barchetta’s first outings was at the famous Northern Territory Cannonball Run, held from 22 May to the 27 in 1994. The six-day race, from Darwin to Ayers Rock and back, a distance of some 3,800 kilometres, which attracted 118 racing enthusiasts from all over the world with their expensive machines. The Barchetta finished first in the Exotic Car class. Maserati Barchetta - Winner of Category One, "Exotic Supercar", in 1994 Cannonball Run driven by Alex Danilo and Craig Brown. After this the Barchetta was a special guest at the opening of the Albert Park Grand prix circuit, where it performed a few parade laps. Soon after, the two gents thought that it was time to give Barchetta LLH a complete overhaul. The Barchetta's last appearance, before its full rebuild, was at the gathering here in Australia to celebrate Maserati's 90th Anniversary in 2004. The car then came off the road for the major rebuild. Whilst the car was going through such a comprehensive, and what appeared to be a never ending restoration, Craig and Alex got tied up with their businesses, having their children, and new family commitments, the Barchetta soon lost its priority and was slowly being put on the back burner. By this stage George and Enzo Piazza contacted the owners, and made them an offer for the car. The car was still an unfinished project, and far from completion. The Piazza’s finally concluded the deal, and in around 2008 commenced their journey to the completion of the project. The rebuild was done with white gloves from start to finish, which became a total nut and bolt restoration. George and Enzo virtually lived with the rebuild till its conclusion, which ended on the Christmas Eve of 2010. The photos illustrate the care taken, and speak for themselves. The car has now found itself in the Piazza Showroom and is a part of the Piazza family. I have been thinking that if you want I am happy to start sending out some emails, to gather more information on the whereabouts of the Barchettas ? Or do you think it might be a good thing to make it a main heading on your website ? I think that these cars being so rare, deserve much more recognition ? I look forward to chatting with you very soon !! I hope this is fine? Enzo."

TECHNICAL DATA - MASERATI BARCHETTA

CHASSIS The Barchetta's supporting structure is a longitudinal beam of aluminium honeycomb, carbon fibre and fibreglass composites that gives the vehicle extraordinary torsional and flexural rigidity. In the front, the beam is tight-anchored to a light-alloy subframe which carries the front suspension pickups. The engine is rigidly mounted to the beam by means of a light-alloy subframe, which also includes the pickups for the rear suspension. The transaxle group is flanged to the rear of the engine. The suspension design follows the typical Fl pattern: independent wishbones with rocker-arms and pushrods in the front and pullrods in the rear. This suspension system is designed to derive the benefits of progressive springing rate according to ride height. The roadholding of this racing car is enhanced by its ability to exploit optimal wheel and spring/damper travel ratios through the rocker-arm suspensions. Another important feature is that static ride height can be adjusted by varying strut length, without touching springs or bushings. The rubber fuel cell, with anti-slosh, anti-deflagration foam, is located inside the beam, i.e. in the protected portion of the car. The Barchetta is built to conform to CSAI standards and is equipped with all the safety devices prescribed in annex J to the FIA regulations. BODYWORK This is surely the most innovative part of the car, filled with advanced features, including the technological content, the carefully selected materials and the construction system. For the first time, composite materials and carbon are used to mould a body divided into three segments: Central cockpit section, permanently and securely anchored to the support structure using aircraft technology; Front and rear hoods, totally independent and removable; Doors, secured and reinforced by one-piece crossmembers joining the two side sections.

Body type	2-seater barchetta-style sports racer
Production years	From 1991 to 1992
Engine	Rear-mid engined V6 cylinder at 90°
Bore and stroke	82 mm X 63 mm
Engine capacity	1996 cc
Compression ratio	7.8:1
Maximum power	315 bhp @ 7200 rpm
Distribution	Four overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder
Induction system	Weber electronic injection, two water-cooled IHI turbochargers with permanent overboost and two air-to-air intercoolers
Ignition	Weber electronic ignition
Cooling system	Water-cooled, centrifugal pump
Transmission	Rear wheel drive
Differential	Limited slip type
Gearbox	ZF six-speed transaxle
Front suspension	Wide angle double wishbones all round, with inboard coil over shock absorbers
Rear suspension	Wide angle double wishbones all round, with inboard coil over shock absorbers
Brakes	Dual circuit non-servo brakes with balance bar - four-pot calipers clamping vented discs
Length	4050 mm
Width	1965 mm
Heigth	845 mm
Wheelbase	2600 mm
Wheel tracks	Front 1610 mm Rear 1580 mm
Tyres	Front:- 245/40 ZR x 18 Rear:- 285/35 ZR x 18
Dry weight	775 kg
Maximum speed	Over 300 kph (186 mph)


Barchetta Corsa and Stradale Brochures

		Barchetta Corsa brochures


The magnificent paper-back brochure, with text in English, French and German, issued by Maserati to advertise that they were back to producing a top notch two-seater open-top race car, namely the Barchetta, as well as high quality two and four-door road cars, the 222 SR, 222 4v, 430, 430 4v and Spyder iE. Strange that the Italian language brochure was produced in hardback format.

1957 Swedish G.P. - 1st Jean Behra Maserati 450S		1948 Pescara G.P. - 1st Alberto Ascari, 2nd Gigi Villoresi Maserati A6GCS 'monofaro'

BARCHETTA, 222 SR, 222 4v, 430, 430 4v and SPYDER iE - 42 page brochure Produced by Maserati S.p.A.		Superb de-luxe brochure Text in English, French and German