Maserati Enthusiasts' Page

The Enthusiasts' Page

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	All things 'Maserati'. News of forthcoming models, owner's cars, tips, 'Marque' reunions and the odd touch of humour! In fact anything of interest to the 'Maseratista'. So if you have any news about Maseratis or have anything owners and enthusiasts should know, send details to maserati123@btopenworld.com	Grille trident on the 2005 Maserati Quattroporte

You can click on some pictures for a better view!!





From Sig in Canada "Hello Enrico, I just purchased a Maserati Spyder 1986 partly due to your website. You have a great site with lots of pages and information as well as a very active email forum. With the support that you and the various Maserati owners provide, certainly makes it easier to own an older Maserati knowing that most problems and technical details related to the cars can be answered with ease. I have a couple of simple questions; How can I purchase one of your owner CD manuals for my car? I have looked for a while in North America for a Maserati Karif for sale with no luck. Were those cars exported to Canada / USA? Again, great site! Thanks, Sig."





From Roger in the UK SCUDERIA SFERE GRANDI FINISH SEASON ON HIGH NOTE At a Bristol Pegasus Motor Club track day at Castle Combe on 15th October, and at another hosted by the AC Owners Club at Goodwood on 22nd October the Scuderia showed its mettle by improving tremendously on previous track times at both circuits. At Castle Combe ace driver Reg Palmer used the combination of a dry track and permission to use sticky tyres on his lusty Biturbo Coupe to his advantage, gaining several seconds on times recorded there a year ago. It has to be noted that his performance this year did not have quite the visual impact of that seen a year ago when he gained an unofficial circuit record for “fastest backwards speed, whilst demolishing trackside timing gear”. Away from the track Reg took time out to model a lightweight “duck” style safety helmet developed by friendly rival motor sport team Duckspeed. Official type approval is understood to be pending. On to Goodwood where the sun shone again on a dry track, but sticky tyres were not permitted. Undaunted by this Reg went out to record some excellent times, not only within his class, but against the whole field of 60 or more cars, which included a number of Cobras looking, to an untrained eye, considerably hairier than the average Cobra. The AC Owners Club drew out an impressive selection of cars including pre- and post-war Lagondas, Frazer-Nashes, BMWs, Jaguars, Bentleys, Rileys, ACs, and of course the odd Maserati! Morning practice laps saw the Biturbo bringing home times of 111.17 seconds, then 108.61 seconds. After driver and support team were refuelled with suitably greasy lunchtime burgers the process started again – first outing trimming the time down to 108.57 seconds, Reg disappointed as he did not manage a smooth getaway from he startline, but then on the second run great joy with a time of 106.84 seconds. By this stage Reg had mastered the art of taking Fordwater flat in fourth, and had started to get the better of St Marys. That was it for the day, but what a great result: eighth overall in a very competitive field. Many other cars were trailing in the 110 to 120 second area. Reg plans to spend the winter installing a 2.5 engine in his beloved Biturbo, together with further suspension mods, a racing seat and a racing battery, and vast applications of octane booster. Can’t wait for next season! Thanks to both Bristol Pegasus and AC Owners Clubs for well-organised and enjoyable events. Roger H.

Castle Combe

Those 'sticky' tyres going on!		Our 'pilota' models the latest in Duckspeed safety helmets!!!

With his modelling assignment over, he's off for a spin!		Making his way through Tower!

Flight control!

Goodwood

Reg's Biturbo simmers in the paddock		Scuderia Sfere Grandi hold their traditional team talk

Awaiting the off!		L'Idraulico Pazzo giving Reg his lengthy pep talk?!?

Cutting a dash (outside the Gents!)		Off we go!

An AC - what's that?		Good old Reg let's 'em have it, Biturbo style!!

Let those horses go!!		Majestic in flight?!?





From Chris in the UK "Enrico. Finally purchased a 2001, 3200 GT. It has been beautifully looked after and I absolutely love it. I drove a 4.2 but rather strangely, didn't like it as much. I feel that the 3.2 is livelier and has more mid range wallop. As a designer, I much prefer the purity of the original design. Had no problems with all of the quirks described, just loads of character. I looked at eleven cars before I found a good one and paid a little more for it but it was worth the wait and your advice was most welcome. Thanks again. What a great car!!!! Chris."





From Gert in Belgium Photo taken by a friend at the Essen Motorshow ... You can put it on the website if you want. gr, Gert."





From RM Auctions Inc. 'Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona' On the 20th January 2006 a very important Maserati will be offered for sale by RM Auctions at their sale to be held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, 24th Street & Missouri, Phoenix, Arizona.

1955 MASERATI TIPO 300S - #3057

ESTIMATE: US $2,250,000 - US $2,650,000

Photo courtesy of RM Auctions Inc.

Photo courtesy of RM Auctions Inc.		Photo courtesy of RM Auctions Inc.

Photo courtesy of RM Auctions Inc.		Photo courtesy of RM Auctions Inc.

Photo courtesy of RM Auctions Inc.		Photo courtesy of RM Auctions Inc.

This marvellous Maserati was originally sold to Swiss champion Benoit Musy who raced it during the 1955 and 1956 seasons with many fine finishes including outright wins at Oulton Park, Chimay GP des Frontieres, Les Sable d'Olonne Grand Prix, GP of Bari and the Swedish Grand Prix. Completely restored by Church Green Limited (UK) from 1992-1998, after which it was successfully raced by Martin Stretton in European Historics. Eligible for all the world's premier events including the Ferrari-Maserati Challenge and comes with official authentication from Ermano Cozza Ufficio Consulanza Storica, Maserati S.P.A. as well as an FIA Historic Vehicle Identity Form issued in 1996. Photo Credit: ACME Studios Contact Information: RM Auctions Inc. Telephone: 800-211-4371 Fax: 519-351-1337





From Modena in Italy A new issue of the BOLAFFI CATALOGUE OF ITALIAN COLLECTORS’ CARS “CATALOGO BOLAFFI DELLE AUTOMOBILI ITALIANE DA COLLEZIONE” International auction results of Italian collectors’ cars covering the years 2004 to 2005 At the close of a season that has seen a record 26 cars go under the hammer for figures over US$1 million, the Catalogo Bolaffi delle Automobili Italiane da Collezione returns after a year’s absence. This highly detailed volume published in English and Italian (160 pages illustrated in colour and in black and white) gives the results of no fewer than 949 Italian cars of 33 different marques auctioned world-wide between August 2003 and July 2005. These sales results are backed up with statistics, graphs and comments on market trends of all the other manufacturers’ cars sold at auction over the same period. The catalogue is completed, as always, by an opening chapter dedicated to an in-depth market analysis by experts from the top international auction houses, along with a list of the 100 top prices attained over the past two seasons and the top 10 sales from each of the past 12 years. The catalogue is compiled by two of the sector’s leading experts, Adolfo Orsi and Raffaele Gazzi. A. ORSI – R. GAZZI, Catalogo Bolaffi delle Automobili Italiane da Collezione - Le aste 2004-2005 Giulio Bolaffi Editore, Turin 2005 Cover Price - EURO 40,00 160 pages with numerous photographs in colour and in black and white.





From Miguel in Portugal "Dear Enrico, Thought it would be nice for all our friends to see my restoration project for this very badly treated 1995 Ghibli GT. I wonder what kind of stories this poor Ghibli has to tell?! Surprisingly the engine is in good shape with all the power and no smoke at all. This car, as you know, is a British import from a previous Italian import. The body is in a very bad shape, tons of rust up and under. The chassis is the "rust kingdom". From my few days work on it, I guessed that this car was involved in last year's British floods. There isn´t a single screw or nut without rust!!! The throttle body was very dirty, I guessed that it was never cleaned, the idle valve/sensor was filled with oil. Even though, the engine performs very well and the idle was correct!! This proves that this last Ghiblis were the best of them all. By putting everything in double (air sensors, water temp. sensors, knock sensors, absolute pressure sensors, blow by valves etc..., Maserati sorted out, how easy was to "disguise" some balancing problems, that were common to previous 2 litre engines. Regarding the interior, the two front seats are very used and they had a previous dye job, but not with the correct colour. I will do a renew of the all interior, using the fantastic "leatherique" products, the best available for the Connolly leather. I'll post some pictures of this work, which will be one of the most difficult to do. This restoration work will be performed by me in a very relaxed way, and in a very calm environment. The building works for the new facilities of 'Italia Exotic', Lda are about to start but for now, I'll do it outside under the fantastic Portuguese sun!! The paint work will be performed by a very good paint master as well as the body work. Again, I will post photos of this step. The mechanical job will be done after the painting, and I'll put on a new cam belt with all the roller bearings and tensioner. Also, a new clutch will be fitted. The wheels will be refurbished, and new Goodyear F1 Eagle GS-D3, will be fitted. The owner, Jean, bought the Ghibli by heart. It was one his dream cars, but I would recommend for any potencial Maserati buyer, that the head must be used first instead of the heart. It is very important to get the best one. Since these are very special cars with top engines and top performance, a bad car with no maintenance records can be a nightmare. As I always say, Maserati as well as Ferrari are cars with a soul, if you treat them bad they will not forgive you. That's why they are so special and that's why I think this Ghibli GT deserves to be again as it should, shining and riding well. Luckly, Jean thinks this way to so the work is on wheels... Regards, Miguel."





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