Maserati Enthusiasts' Page

The Enthusiasts' Page
	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 enricomaserati@btinternet.com

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From RM Auctions in London

Automobiles of London

To be offered at auction, Wednesday, October 27, 2010 LOT 148: A 1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Competition Berlinetta Chassis No. 2137 Estimate: £590,000-£650,000 SOLD FOR £700,000 150 bhp, 1,985 cc double overhead camshaft inline six-cylinder engine with three twin-choke Weber carburettors, four-speed manual gearbox, coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with quarter-elliptic leaf springs and radius rods, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 100.4" - 1957 Mille Miglia, Coppa Intereuropa and Targa Florio entrant - One of 20 A6G/2000 berlinettas by Zagato - Fully restored by renowned Italian restorer Fantuzzi

Benson Chiu ©2010 - Courtesy of RM Auctions Maserati A6G/2000 Competition Berlinetta by Zagato		Benson Chiu ©2010 - Courtesy of RM Auctions

The Maserati A6 first appeared as the A6 Sport, Tipo 6CS/46, a barchetta prototype. This became the A6 1500, a Pininfarina-designed two-door berlinetta first shown at the 1947 Salon International de l'Auto in Geneva (59 made). A spider was shown at the 1948 Salone dell'automobile di Torino (with two built). A two-litre, 120-bhp straight-six was used in the A6 GCS two-seater, “G” denoting Ghisa (cast iron block) and “CS” meaning Corsa & Sports. Also called monofaro, the 580 kg single-seat, cycle-winged racing version first appeared at Modena in 1947, driven by Luigi Villoresi and Alberto Ascari. It also won the 1948 Italian Championship, piloted by Giovanni Bracco. Fifteen cars were made from 1947 to 1953. The Maserati A6GCM (1951–53, “M” for monoposto) comprised 12 two-litre single-seat racing cars of 160 to 190 bhp, developed by Gioacchino Colombo, who had come from Ferrari, and built by Medardo Fantuzzi. It won the Italian Grand Prix, driven by Juan Manuel Fangio. The 1953 A6 SSG was a GCM-derivative, anticipating the Maserati 250F.

Benson Chiu ©2010 - Courtesy of RM Auctions		Benson Chiu ©2010 - Courtesy of RM Auctions

For the 1953 season, Maserati produced a revised version of their two-litre A6. The engine, designed by Colombo, was a Formula 2-derived dual-overhead-cam, twin-ignition unit. This was Maserati’s first short-stroke engine, with a hair-raising 7,300 rpm redline. The chassis was from the earlier GCS. Factory coachbuilder Fantuzzi penned an all-enveloping roadster body. Fifty-two were made from 1953 to 1955, two of them winning the Italian Grand Prix in 1953 and 1954, driven by Sergio Mantovani and Luigi Musso. An additional four berlinettas and one spider were designed by Pinin Farina, their final design on a Maserati, commissioned by Rome dealer Guglielmo Dei. In addition, Vignale made one spider.

Benson Chiu ©2010 - Courtesy of RM Auctions		Benson Chiu ©2010 - Courtesy of RM Auctions

A6G/2000 The 1954 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris showcased the A6GCS/54, which came in berlinetta, barchetta and spider versions (150 bhp). It was also known as the A6G/2000. Built from 1954 through 1957, the A6G/2000 was a very limited production sports car. It is estimated that only about 60 cars were built, with coachwork available from Frua, Allemano and Zagato. Whereas the Frua and Allemano-built cars were luxurious and sometimes extravagant design statements, the Zagato-built cars were purpose-built for competition. Zagato Apprenticed at 15 to a coachbuilder in Germany, Ugo Zagato returned to his native Italy in 1909 to join Carrozzeria Varesina in Varese, known for work on buses. During the Great War he was a department manager for Costruzioni Aeronautiche Pomilio in Turin, an Ansaldo subsidiary engaged in aeronautical manufacture. There he gained an understanding of aerodynamics and lightweight construction methods. In 1919 he set up a shop in Milan with a partner, Aldo Finzi. Specialising in aluminium panels, Zagato did subcontract work for Pomilio. The first complete Zagato bodies were built in 1920 on Fiat 501 chassis. A former Pomilio colleague introduced Zagato to the management of Alfa Romeo, and contracts for bodies on Alfa RL and RM chassis resulted. The next few years saw him building for Fiat, Bianchi, Diatto and Itala and also producing aircraft parts for Pomilio during slack periods. Among Zagato’s best-known works are the lightweight sports bodies on the 1927 Alfa Romeo 6C1500 and Gran Sport Spider 6C1750 in 1929. State control of Alfa in 1933, however, curtailed orders, and Zagato was forced to take on the construction of truck cabs for Isotta-Fraschini, which continued until his plant was bombed in 1943. Ugo Zagato’s eldest son, Elio, joined his father’s firm in 1946 in a new plant on Via Giorgini. His first project was the Panoramica sports coupé on a Fiat 500 chassis, followed by spider and coupé bodies on the Fiat 1100E. His younger brother, Gianni, joined the family company upon reaching his majority and later became head of the design office. In addition to Fiat and Alfa Romeo, in the early 1950s Zagato began a symbiotic relationship with Ferrari, evidenced in the spellbinding 250 GTZ. It was natural, then, that Zagato got the nod for the A6G berlinetta. Lightweight and strong, the bodies were hand-formed in aluminium, with Perspex windows fitted all around. Kerb weight was just 850 kg (1,850 pounds). No two cars were exactly alike; one was built with the Zagato hallmark “double bubble” roof. In all, Zagato built 20 A6G/2000 berlinettas between 1955 and 1957. Chassis 2137 Chassis 2137, the beautiful A6G we are delighted to present here, was completed by the Maserati factory on 30th March, 1956 and delivered new on 29th May to Count Giuseppe Dettaiuti Leopardi, in part exchange for his Maserati 150S. The car was finished in red with a beige interior, precisely the way it appears today. Count Dettaiuti Leopardi did not own the car for very long, however. He sold it in 1957 to Mr. Ulisse Pizzi, who entered the Mille Miglia on number 312 (DNF). Despite being an experienced Mille Miglia racer (he had entered a Fiat 8V the previous year), Pizzi did not finish the race. He did, however, continue on to the Coppa Intereuropa at Monza in September (number 61) and also entered the famed Targa Florio the same year – an extraordinary record of races and certainly three of the most famous endurance events in Europe. In 1960, the car was sold to Mr. Mario Candrini in Modena, the grandfather of the current owner, who sold it the following year to Emilio Mellaro of Siena. The car then passed through Mr. Saverio Savelli of Florence (1961), Mr. Francesco Geronimo of Rome (1962) and finally back to Florence in 1964, after it was acquired by one Mr. Baronti. An original spare parts invoice from the Maserati factory confirms Mr. Baronti’s ownership. In 1968, the car was gifted to the Maserati Museum in Modena. As per Mr. Cozza (the Maserati factory Archivist), when the car arrived at the museum it was complete but without its body. A restoration was begun but never completed, likely due to financial constraints. Later on, the car was among the parts and Maseratis that were acquired in 2000 by the Modena-based Panini Collection, from where the current owner acquired the car in 2005. The vendor completed the car’s photo-documented restoration just this year and has since participated in the Stanguellini Memorial, the first revival of the Modena circuit. All mechanicals were rebuilt by Candini in Modena, the interior was done by Ferraresi Ferrari and the bodywork was rebuilt by none other than Ferrari Franco (formerly Fantuzzi), the Modena-based specialist whose extraordinary work has included the famed Ferrari 330 TRI/LM among many others. One of just 20 Zagato berlinettas, with no two completely alike, this car will never meet another like it on the road. With its documented Mille Miglia history, it is eligible for entry in the current series as well as many other historic and vintage racing events. The restoration, by Modenese craftsmen, is exceptional, and the car has been maintained in top condition since completion. This is a very rare opportunity to acquire a top-flight car with impeccable provenance. This lot is subject to VAT (at 17.5%) on the full purchase price (both on the hammer price and the commission). DOCUMENTS: Italian Libretto Signifies that the lot is taxes & duties paid in Italy.

Text and photos courtesy of RM Auctions

SALE DATES: October 27, 2010 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM GMT (viewing starts at 10:00 AM GMT) PREVIEW DATES: October 26, 2010 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM GMT October 27, 2010 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM GMT LOCATION: Battersea Evolution Chelsea Bridge Entrance, Battersea Park London, United Kingdom SW11 4NJ For further details, please visit RM Auctions






From Johann Stegny in Austria

Two exciting new 1:43 scale models of the Maserati MC GT4 from BBR.

New 1:43 scale models of the Maserati MC GT4 from BBR






From Bart in The Netherlands

"Enrico, Just picked up the Khamsin cylinder heads in an appropriate means of transport! Have a nice evening, Bart."

Have some leftovers after the Ghibli restoration.....

A Ghibli SS ...		... with Bora pretentions ??






From Cicli Montante in Italy

Montante for Maserati 8CTF Preview at the Salon d’Automobile Paris 2010 A uniquely detailed and exclusive design for the new limited-edition bicycle produced for Maserati by Montante Cicli

The limited-edition Montante for Maserati 8CTF

In the past few days, the new Montante for Maserati 8CTF bicycle made its debut at the Paris International Motor Show, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Indianapolis 500 of the Maserati 8CTF, #1, driven by Wilbur Shaw and, at the same time, embodying the Maserati tradition for excellence and attention to detail. In particular, in the surroundings of the Paris International Motor Show taking place from the 2nd to the 17th October 2010, the Sicilian company, renowned for its high quality and innovative bicycle designs, and the House of the Trident will present the new single speed 8CTF bicycle. To be produced in a limited edition of only 200 examples - commemorating the number of laps completed by Wilbur Shaw, the winner of the legendary Indianapolis 500 in 1940 - each one will be numbered, the single speed 8CTF bicycle reintroduces in vintage style, all the components that contributed in making the Maserati 8CTF one of the most famous single-seaters in the world. Developed and produced entirely in Italy by Cicli Montante, the single speed Maserati 8CTF bicycle is embellished with unique and distinctive details such as: the silver Trident, set in a grey background, on the wheel hubs, taken from that of the powerful supercharged 3-litre engine; the authentic thirties Maserati script on the frame, borrowed from the metal identification plaque inside the vehicle cockpit; the enamelled oval badge, faithfully reproduced from that used on the engine bonnet; even the number 1, the same as that displayed on the Maserati 8CTF "Boyle Special" in 1940, when driven by Shaw, gained its second consecutive victory in the world's most famous overseas motor race. This Montante-Maserati collaboration has brought forth a bicycle dedicated to all the values of the Casa del Tridente. And not just that. Montante for Maserati 8CTF will be marketed by Montante Cicli in the world's most famous fashion stores, as well as the Montante Cicli website at www.montantecicli.it. ABOUT MONTANTE CICLI Montante Cicli, one of the most prestigious marques in bicycle production, was founded in the twenties thanks to the passion for two wheels of Calogero Montante. Innovation and quality are the characheristics of bicycles manufactured by the company, which soon became a benchmark for all its national production. During this period the Montante race team was formed, protagonists in competition at home and abroad. The brand's reputation grew to the point that Montante bikes were also adopted by the Italian military. An endless and unstoppable success that has led to the Montante bicycles being considered as true objects of cult expression of Italian elegance and maximum style applied to two wheels. Montante Cicli, uno dei marchi più prestigiosi per la produzione di biciclette, viene fondata negli anni 20 grazie alla passione per le due ruote di Calogero Montante. Innovazione e qualità sono le caratteristiche delle biciclette prodotte dall’azienda, che diventano presto indice di riferimento per tutta la produzione nazionale. Sempre in quel periodo si forma la squadra corse Montante, protagonista nelle competizioni nazionali ed oltreconfine. La fama del marchio cresce al punto tale che le biciclette Montante sono adottate anche dai corpi militari italiani. Un successo inarrestabile e senza fine che porta le bici Montante ad essere oggi considerate veri e propri oggetti di culto espressione dell’eleganza del Made in Italy e del massimo stile applicato alle due ruote.









Text and photos courtesy of Montante Cicli






From Brian in the USA

A 1987 Maserati Biturbo Si Coupe - #ZAMAM1104HB316641 From time to time, I check out the Maseratis for sale on www.ebay.com, for the uninitiated this is the web site for the U.S. market, and came across this excellent example of the Maserati Biturbo Si. Visitors to this site will no doubt have recognised that I have a "soft spot" for the Biturbo. I first read about it whilst holidaying in Italy in 1983. I read an article on the Biturbo that appeared in the January 1983 issue of Quattroruote, and I was immediately taken by its good looks, and believe me, for the early eighties it was a very attractive looking motor car. In fact my first Maserati was a 1985 Biturbo 425, and I can remember what a joy it was to drive!! A four-door saloon that handled like a sports car, with power to match. This particular Biturbo, described as a "MASERATI BITURBO COUPE IN COLLECTOR CONDITION" fits the bill for anyone looking for a pristine example, of which, for a variety of reasons, there are not many around. "A Maserati Coupe - one owner for the past 17 years. Purchased from the original owner in 1993 having covered only 12,300 miles, now the odometer reads a genuine 18,616 miles. Never driven in a winter, and always kept in a heated garage. The interior still has the new car smell! Mint condition inside and out. Pirelli P Zero tires ( front 205/50 ZR15 and rear 225/50 ZR15 ) with less than 100 miles, mounted on three-piece OZ racing wheels. The catalytic converter, Y pipe and air pump have been removed. All original items including the manuals, all keys with its original key fob. The original wheels and tires are part of purchase."

Brian's pristine Biturbo Si























For further details, check it out at www.ebay.com.






From Maserati Store in Italy

Basic and Premium Emergency Kits The ideal and sensible Christmas gift

Arranged in order to guarantee safety even in emergency situations, two versions of the Maserati Emergency Kit are available: Basic and Premium, Maserati branded on each single part.

The Basic Maserati Emergency Kit

The Basic kit includes: • safety triangles • leather gloves and reflecting vest • complete first-aid kit • luminescent pipes providing chemical lights • box with spare lamps and fuses. All these components are contained inside a bag made of the same material employed for ocean-going yachts, in order to shield them from the atmospheric agents.

The Premium Maserati Emergency Kit

The Premium kit includes: • safety triangles • leather gloves and reflecting vest • complete first-aid kit • luminescent pipes providing chemical lights • box with spare lamps and fuses. • leather gloves (with Maserati logo) • complete first aid kit (with Maserati logo) • torch with dynamo (battery excluded, with Maserati logo) All these components are contained inside a bag made of the same material employed for ocean-going yachts, in order to shield them from the atmospheric agents. Available on request, a potassium-based fire suppressor same size and weight as a standard electric torch can be included. It ensures an higher effectiveness compared with conventional 10-kilo fire extinguishers and preventing damage to hides and rugs. Visit the Maserati Store at www.maseratistore.com for further details.

Text and photos courtesy of Maserati






From Bart in The Netherlands

In defence of the Ghibli "Amici, I just HAD to react on the article in Octane magazine #88, where a reader was so negative about the Maserati Ghibli.... Hope this does some justice to the iconic, long legged, Ghibli! Ciao, Bart." Ghibli is actually good IN RESPONSE to the letter 'Ghastly Ghibli?' in issue 88, I happen to own a 1973 Maserati Ghibli SS and have recorded 30,000km with the car in the two-and-a-half years that she has been on the road since restoration. Roadholdinq, acceleration and, most importantly, brakes are all on a par with or better than a lot of modern cars, so I use the Ghibli. She has not let us down anywhere: the air-con and all the Jaeger and Smith clocks all work well, and the Magneti Marelli and Bosch electrics have not been a problem. The car is a great joy, and I regularly travel in Germany at 100mph cruising speeds. I've never had a car about which so many women come and ask me what make it is, so they can tell their husbands. The rigid rear axle, that every journalist complains about when they copy old articles, is actually very comfortable; but yes, I did renew the polyurethane layers between the leaf springs to eliminate the slip stick effect that creates a bumpy ride, and, yes, I had the Koni dampers rebuilt. Last summer we stormed the Swiss Alpine passes in temperatures around 30°-35°, and all the fluid temperatures stayed at constant levels. Do the job right and drive the car - that's the best way to keep a classic in good shape. BART THE NETHERLANDS

Bart with his beautiful Maserati Ghibli SS		Could come out of the Sales Brochure!

Just passing away…..		Travel companions

Lovely proportions		Make way when you see this in your rear view mirror

How do you mean: Gran Turissimo?		Stays in good shape

"Here are some pictures of the old lady; AM115/492440. Some taken during last summer's trips to Switzerland and France: doing what a Ghibli is best at: Cruising on the country lanes and mountain passes! 38 degrees Celcius outside and comfortably cool inside; not bad for a 1973 car with quite a large surface area of glass! At Le Mans we drove her in 42 degrees Celcius and she did not overheat, must admit, the air-con had a hard job to keep me and my lady cool... More? Drop me a line, Bart."






From Bart in The Netherlands

A dream has finally come true "Hi Enrico, Little update: remember my story on page 134? Well a dream has come true, after a lot of travelling and seeing 27(!) Khamsins around the globe, “Dottore.L” has allowed me to buy his semi-prototipo Khamsin T-Top. There are a lot of pictures of the car on your site. This is the one and only T-Top conversion done by the U.S. Californian Maserati importer in 1977 as a reply to the US safety authorities trying to kill-off the full convertible. I have copies of the communications asking for approval by Maserati but the Americans did not ship it back to Modena to have it factory approved. Probably a wise thing to do, they could never be sure how the Italians would react and if they would ever see the car back!?! The car is in very good shape: no rust, anywhere! Despite this the head gaskets started to leak a bit when the Dotore and me were test driving and stressed the old lady a bit too much at 230kmh... I took the engine out to put the engine bay in a real nice shape and renew the necessities, rubber, gaskets, seals, etc. It is not easy to be a perfectionist! The T-Top combines the best of both worlds, great fun. The combination of the iconic Ghibli and the extravaganza of the Khamsin makes me a proud owner. The Dottore had a "special" reason to sell the Khamsin: He has a hall that can house a limited number of Maseratis. He bought a Alfa Romeo 8C Spider and that car was not allowed to sit beside his Aston Martin! (As you probably know the AR 8C shares the Maserati platform.) So one Maserati had to go and he knew I was keen on his Khamsin: He sold the car to me with a lot of spares, manuals, articles on Khamsins (even the first article I read about the Khamsin and fell in love: An orange example in the mid seventies in 'L’Automobile'!). I feel privileged! Regards and I continue enjoying your site! Keep the good work up! Bart."

Nice pair!		Both are 4.9's, but totally different cars!

Open ..		... and Closed

Well done		I always liked topless

First real wedge design (by Gandini at Bertone)		Very neatly done

		Sunny side up (in the rear view mirror)

Mind that clutch: no rust!		Now the assembly can start again!

Well preserved, but, not good enough!		Dash in black camouflages the kit car look-alike lay out

Additional my two life slogans: On the Ghibli: "Carpe the goddamned Diem" On the Khamsin: "Live your dreams"

"Carpe the goddamned Diem"		"Live your dreams"






From Mike in the USA

"Hi Enrico, I have a 1964 3500 GTI with damage to the very nose and a small bit at the rear. This California car has fuel injection - 4 disc brakes - Borrani wire wheels - a complete interior - stripped body with no paint - needs complete restoration. The engine and interior are both complete with no missing parts. I have all the trim pieces, lights and grille. No emblems. The car has been in storage since 1972 ( I drove it for one year). Do you have an idea what it is worth? Mike."













What do you think it's worth ?

"Ciao Enrico, The 3500 GTI from Mike is one of the last 50 to 75 or so cars build. As you can see it has the twin fuel tanks in the boot. The car also has a engine with 2 mounts instead of 4 and many other details. Curious about the VIN. If the car is complete it should do EURO 25K at least. If it isn’t in a bad condition (corroded alloy and floors) it could do more. EURO 25K project sell fast. Best regards, Ruud."






From Newspress in the UK

THE FIRST ROAD-GOING MASERATI TO BREAK THE 300Km/h BARRIER

The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale Check out the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale on this video clip at www.youtube.com/ ( You need Adobe Flash Player to watch this video. ) Modena, September 30, 2010. The new Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale will be the fastest, lightest and most powerful car in the Maserati range when it goes on sale in the first quarter of 2011. Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 motorsport models, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale will have more power, less weight, razor-sharp handling and a top speed of over 300 km/h. The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale responds to demands for a GranTurismo which can balance on-road driving needs with race-driving desires and it incorporates the handling and aerodynamic lessons from Maserati’s three racing programs. It produces more aerodynamic down force without producing more aerodynamic drag, it produces more power without using more fuel and it is more agile without sacrificing the GranTurismo S’s highly praised ride quality. With 330kW (450 horsepower), the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale generates more power (7 kW, 10hp) from the 4.7-litre V8 engine than the GranTurismo S, while its 510Nm of torque is a further 20Nm improvement. Its race-bred heritage is highlighted by a 110kg weight reduction from the GranTurismo S, down to 1770kg. It mirrors Maserati’s racing advantages by retaining an optimal 48 : 52 weight distribution, ensuring balanced handling and even tyre wear. The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale uses advanced electronics to cut gear-shift times from the upgraded MC Race Shift electro-actuated transaxle gearbox to just 60 milliseconds. This all helps to slash the 0-100km/h sprint time, which the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale covers in just 4.6 seconds. The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale is also the first Maserati in history to have a dedicated Race mode alongside the upgraded Auto and Sport modes in its simplified dashboard layout. With the removal of the rear seats, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale becomes the first two-seat Maserati since the MC12. The GranTurismo MC Stradale has also benefited from new Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, custom-developed Pirelli tyres, a unique suspension layout and rigid, light-weight, carbon-fibre race seats. The push for the GranTurismo MC Stradale came from existing Maserati customers who wanted a road-legal super sports car that looked and felt like the GT4 and Trofeo race cars. The GranTurismo MC Stradale also provides the latest step in the well-trodden path between Maserati’s racing programs and its production road cars and, often, back again. In the 1990s, the Ghibli Open Cup race car gave birth to the Ghibli Cup and a decade later the Trofeo GranSport gave birth to the GranSport MC Victory. At the pinnacle of recent Maserati’s road-to race story, the FIA GT-winning MC12 was developed directly from the MC12 Stradale. With a unique body design that is based around the requirements of the track, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale has borrowed heavily from its racing car stablemates, the Maserati GranTurismo MC, both in the Trofeo and GT4 configurations. It has a new front splitter, bumper, bonnet, front guard panels, sills, exhausts and even a new rear bumper. To emphasize the harder-edged nature of the GranTurismo MC Stradale, Maserati even offers the car with an optional roll cage and a four-point racing harness. Yet it was also designed to be easy to drive, so it retains all the inherent ride, handling and stability benefits of the GranTurismo S’s long wheelbase. It has the speed to be a road-legal racing car, yet it has the progressive handling to be considered an extremely usable super-sports car. In this configuration, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale will be on sale in February 2011 in all major markets, with the exceptions of the USA, Canada and Korea. A dedicated website is already online at www.maseratigranturismomcstradale.com. Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo Championship With its return season to one-make championship racing fast approaching its climax, Maserati has already confirmed its full backing for the Trofeo GranTurismo MC program in 2011. The Trofeo has successfully fulfilled its dual purpose: by giving Maserati’s gentleman-driver customers close, fair racing with no off-track organizational pressures; and it has been the perfect test and proving ground for the GranTurismo MC Stradale road car. Maserati has dominated the FIA GT championship with the MC12 and its FIA GT4 GranTurismo customer car took victory on its debut, and it sees the Trofeo championship as a natural extension of these categories, allowing as many drivers as possible to enjoy and benefit from Maserati’s motorsport expertise and experience. With only the final round at Tuscany’s demanding Mugello circuit remaining, a handful of drivers are still in contention to claim the first Trofeo Championship in the GranTurismo MC Trofeo racing coupe. Developed in-house by the factory’s own racing division, Maserati Corse, the GranTurismo MC Trofeos have proven to be both fast and reliable. Like all Maseratis, they are also built on the production line in Viale Ciro Menotti in Modena. The single-make championship began at the historic Monza Grand Prix track in May, followed by rounds in Brands Hatch in England, Brno in the Czech republic, Oschersleben in Germany and, most recently, Valencia in Spain just two weeks ago. With two races, two free practice sessions and two qualifying sessions per weekend, the cost of racing in the championship has been €162,000 (plus VAT), or €168,000 (plus VAT) for a team with two drivers sharing a car. A Spectacular Year for the GranCabrio Acclaimed by the motoring press as one of the world’s most-beautiful cars, the Maserati GranCabrio – on sales in certain markets with the name GranTurismo Convertible - has been a sales success in every market, meeting or exceeding its sales targets worldwide. The GranCabrio has the longest wheelbase (2942mm) in its segment, yet boasts class-leading structural rigidity, providing added safety, comfort and handling ability. A universally acclaimed full four-seat convertible, it lacks neither space nor luxury, with a smooth, fast, six-speed automatic transmission and 323 kW (440 horsepower) available from the 4.7-litre V8 engine. The GranCabrio’s body was re-engineered to ensure Maserati’s trademark handling and agility remained intact, even as it exploited the long wheelbase to provide class-leading safety and comfort. The GranCabrio also boasts special materials in its triple-layer cloth roof to ensure thermal and sound insulation, regardless of the outside temperature. The roof mechanism itself is strong and, at 60kg, light, and takes just 20 seconds (28 seconds, if the four independent window movements are taken into account) to fully fold back into its compartment. The GranCabrio’s early sales have been strongly backed up by the mainstays of the Maserati product range; the GranTurismo coupe and the Quattroporte. Continued Success: Maserati GranTurismo … Highly praised as one of the most beautiful cars of its generation, the Pininfarina-designed Maserati GranTurismo is also the car that rewrote the rulebook for fast, comfortable sports cars that could carry four full-sized adults. Now in its third full year of production, the GranTurismo has capitalized on all of Maserati’s known qualities, from design to performance, from handling to luxury and from passion to practicality, and encased them in a timelessly sleek package. Powered by a 4.2-litre, all-alloy V8 engine producing 405 horsepower at 7100rpm, the GranTurismo sprints to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds and can reach speeds of up to 285km/h. The GranTurismo S takes the strengths of the GranTurismo and adds Maserati’s 4.7-litre all-alloy V8 engine and the electro-actuated six-speed transaxle gearbox. The GranTurismo S Automatic combines all of the advantages of the GranTurismo S’s 4.7-litre V8 power plant with all the comfort advantages and silken gearshifts of the 4.2-litre GranTurismo’s six-speed automatic transmission. The GranTurismo range can be tuned to a more sporty edge with the MC Sport Line package, first launched in 2008 and now further enriched with new contents. Coming directly from Maserati motorsport expertise, the MC Sport Line offers GranTurismo buyers the chance to upgrade the exterior and interior of their cars, with extensive use of carbon fibre elements. The MC Sport Line package includes also a stiffer suspension set-up for the GranTurismo S, which further improves handling performance. … and Quattroporte The celebrated award-winning Maserati Quattroporte continues to be a strong and consistent performer, both in its sales and in its on-road performance. Crowned by the successful debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March, 2010, of the special edition Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition, born to celebrate the Quattroporte’s 56 major international design and automotive awards, the range begins with the Quattroporte, moves into the Quattroporte S, with its 4.7-litre V8 engine, and is headlined by the flagship sports sedan, the Quattroporte Sport GT S. The performance flagship of the four-door range is the Quattroporte Sport GT S. With its sports exhaust system freeing up more power, the 4.7-litre V8 boasts 323kW (440hp) of power at 7000rpm, the Quattroporte Sport GT S retains the Quattroporte S’s 490Nm of torque, but directs its performance more aggressively. FIA GT1 World Championship With three rounds remaining, Maserati is in the midst of a close fight to maintain its dominance of the FIA GT World Championship for the sixth consecutive successful year in the world’s leading sports car racing championship. Leading the way in the 2010 championship race have been the two green-and-black Vitaphone Racing MC12s, with the driving staff headlined by reigning champions, Andrea Bertolini and Michael Bartels. Another two MC12s are running under Hegersport Triple H team colours. The championship spreads across four continents, and the Maseratis have already raced in Abu Dhabi, England, the Czech Republic, France, Belgium, Germany and Portugal. The next rounds will be in Navarra, Spain, on October 24, Interlagos, Brazil, on November 28 and San Luis, Argentina, on December 5, but Maserati is confident the racing pedigree of its MC12 will maintain its position at the head of the championship fight. The V12-powered MC12 has won 12 championship titles since its 2004 debut in the FIA GT Championship, including four drivers’ titles, five Team titles, two Constructors’ Cups and one Citation Cup, plus three victories in the Spa 24 Hour race. Maserati was a racing brand long before it built road cars, with its first car, the Tipo 26, winning its class on debut at the Targa Florio in 1926. Other racing highlights over Maserati’s 94-year history include back-to-back Indianapolis 500 wins in 1939 and 1940 and Formula One World Championships with Juan Manuel Fangio in 1954 and 1957. Maserati financial results for the first semester 2010 Q2 2010 For Q2 2010, Maserati reported €174 million in revenues, up 56.8% over the same period in 2009. This increase was attributable to outstanding performance for both the Quattroporte and the new GranCabrio. A total of 1,697 cars were delivered to the network during the quarter, a 45.2% increase over the same period in 2009. Trading profit came in at €8 million (4.6% of revenues) for the quarter, improving significantly over the €2 million figure for Q2 2009. H1 2010 Maserati reported €301 million in revenues for H1 2010, up 33.2% over the same period for the prior year. Sales to the network totalled 2,902 units for the period, increasing 24.8% over the first half of 2009 with a significant contribution from the GranCabrio. Maserati increased sales volumes in almost all markets, with particularly notable performances in North America (+45%), in the UK (+92%) and China (+147%). As a result of the strong revenue performance and efficiencies achieved, trading profit came to €12 million (4% of revenues), more than double the €5 million in operating profit for the first half of 2009.

Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale



Text and photos courtesy of Maserati






From Gert in Belgium

"Hi Enrico, Can you put the following on your site ... the last time they had a Tipo 61 "Birdcage", a 250F and I believe 4 OSCAs ... We are trying to at least beat that and get some rare Classic Maseratis and race cars at this event! Greetings, Gert."




--- Vous trouverez la traduction plus bas — Please scroll down for translation --- Liefhebbers van oldtimers, collectiewagens en automobilia, Op 12 en 13 februari 2011 organiseren wij de beurs Flanders Collection Car in Flanders Expo te Gent. Het zal opnieuw een evenement worden waar u als gepassioneerde van automobielen uw gading zal vinden. Op deze beurs zullen er niet minder dan 3 showstands zijn: een eerste met thema Maserati 1950 tot nu, een tweede met vooroorlogse wagens en een derde ‘Opel : Autosalon 1972’. Inschrijven voor deelname kan vanaf nu. Misschien heeft u, of iemand uit uw omgeving, een collectievoertuig of een stel onderdelen te koop. De rechtstreekse link om deel te nemen vindt u hier: “deelnemen als standhouder”. - Groepsarrangementen: Clubs maar ook andere verenigingen kunnen tot 1 maand voor de beurs toegangskaarten kopen aan 7 euro + 6% btw per ticket. De minimum hoeveelheid bedraagt 20 tickets. Deze kunnen online besteld worden via “groepen en clubs”. - Showstand Maserati: Indien u een dergelijke wagen in uw bezit heeft, gelieve ons te contacteren…Misschien krijgt u wel een goedkopere of zelfs gratis showstand! De volledige up-to-date info en het reglement vindt u op onze website: www.funcars.be Ons emailadres is info@funcars.be Met collectionele groeten, Funcars bvba. Passinonés d’automobiles et d’automobilia, Nous organisons les 12 et 13 février 2011 la bourse Flanders Collection Car à Flanders Expo à Gand et nous désirons de perpétuer un évènement de passionnés de mécaniques anciennes. A cette bourse il y a trois ( !) showstands: Un stand de Maserati, un deuxième avec des voitures d’avant la Seconde Guerre mondiale et un troisième ‘Opel : Salon de l’auto 1972’. Les inscriptions pour participer à cette évènement sont ouvertes. Vous, ou quelqu’un de votre entourage a peut-être une voiture de collection ou un lot de pièces détachées à vendre. Vous trouverez le lien directe pour participer ici: « Participer comme exposant » - Clubs ou autres organisations peuvent commander jusqu’à 1 mois avant le show des tickets d’entrées à 7 euros + 6% tva par ticket. La quantité minimum à commander étant de 20 tickets. Ceux-ci peuvent être commandés et payés via notre site web: «Clubs et groupes». - Showstand Maserati : Si vous avez une telle voiture, contactez nous. Peut-être pourrez-vous placer votre voiture sur le showstand à un prix réduit…ou même gratuit ! Vous trouverez toute l’information utile ainsi que le règlement sur notre site web: www.funcars.be Notre adresse email est: info@funcars.be Cordialement, Funcars. Classic car and automobilia enthusiasts, On the 12th and 13nd of February 2011, we are organizing the Flanders Collection Car at the Flanders Expo in Ghent, Belgium. Once again it will be a memorable event with no less than 3 show stands: one for Maserati, one with only pre-war cars and one for ‘Opel: Auto show 1972’. The registration to participate in this event is now open. Maybe you or someone you know has a collector's car or a lot of spare parts for sale. The direct link to participate is “Participate as exhibitor”. - Clubs and other groups can order tickets at a reduced price up to one month prior to the event. Ticket prices will be 7 euro + 6% VAT per ticket. Minimum number of tickets to order is 20 and can be ordered online: «Clubs and Groups». - The Maserati Show Stand: If you have such an exotic, please do not hesitate to contact us. You may be eligible for a place on the show stand at a reduced price or even for free. Rules and regulations + all additional information may be found on our website: www.funcars.be Our email address is: info@funcars.be With compliments, Funcars.





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