TMC:Southeast

April 2013

La Macchina Sportiva di Pr estigio Italiana

Fellow Members: Welcome to the June 2013 issue of La Macchina Sportiva di Prestigio Italiana. What a cool name, eh? Yes, Bill, that eh? was for you, as well as Tom and I, since were from Michigan. So spring is almost over and hot weather is on its way. Actually, its already here for most of us, and were starting to dry out from the spring rains. But not every weekend was wet the past few months. Weve had a few great events, which I will share with you below, as well as a few more events just around the corner. Are you ready for Georgia Giro in Macchina? The turnout looks fantastic and its not too late to add a few more. Fellow member David Cecchele announced another FCA SE event called Coppa Costa to take place in Savannah, Georgia September 27th through the 29th. Of course, he invited The Maserati Club! Check the calendar below for all the details. One final thing. I need your stories on why a Maserati. I know youve got them, so please forward them. Share with us! Okay, Ive talked enough. On with the show! Dont forget, if youd like to contact any of the leadership team, you may e -mail all of us at tmcsoutheast@yahoo.com or any of us individually at: Kai Dyhr, Vice President - kaidyhr@gmail.com Tom Rossi, Treasurer - tomr@acctresource.com Geoff Sanderson, President- gsanderson99@yahoo.com

NEWSLETTER

New and Upcoming

New Members
The Southeast Chapter of The Maserati Club would like to welcome Dmitry Shtainer from Atlanta, Georgia, Bryant Spears from Knoxville, Tennessee and E. James Lane, Jr. from Loudon, Tennessee to the club. Please make them feel welcome.

Upcoming Events
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 21 - 23, 2013 Georgia Giro in Macchina. A Maserati Club event in Atlanta, GA sponsored by Ivan and Myrna Ruiz, Matt and Emily Antonucci and Dick Preston. We are meeting at Ivan and Myrnas in Dawsonville, Georgia Friday afternoon and hitting the town for dinner and drinks that evening. Provided we are not thrown out of town, festivities will continue Saturday morning at Jim Ellis Maserati for a tour and lunch, then a scenic drive, ending at Matt and Emilys for a pool-side barbeque. Sunday, we will make our way home. Please see the flyer attached with this newsletter. Sunday, June 30, 2013 - Every Sunday is Car Club Sunday at the Frist Center for the Arts during the Sensuous Steel exhibit. The Italian Car Clubs will be meeting on June 30th. The parking lot will open at 11:30 to the owners of all marques of Italian cars and motorcycles. This is one-half hour before it opens to the public. At noon, we will enter the Frist Center for a pre-ordered boxed lunch in the Frist dining hall. After lunch, we will be the first visitors of the day to see this one of a kind exhibit. Cost of the boxed lunch and exhibit is $23.00 per person, payable to Mike Gillespie, 2000 Mallory Lane, Suite 130, Box 158, Franklin, TN 37067. Payment and reservations must be made no later than June 7th. If you have any questions about the exhibit, contact Mike Gillespie at mgillespie@comcast.net. Saturday, July 6, 2013 - Italian Cars and Coffee and Tech Session at Maserati of Nashville. A morning event with lunch at Angelos Bistro after. Details to be provided later. Saturday, July 20, 2013 - Keeneland Concours dElegance. Currently, the Maserati Club is not planning a gathering for this event unless someone would like to do so.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 27 - 29 Coppa Costa. A Southeast Region Ferrari Club of America event, the Maserati Club is invited. Held in Savannah, Georgia, the format will be the same as Coppa Alpina, with arrival Friday afternoon and dinner and drinks at a local restaurant at 7:30. Saturday morning will include a rally ending with lunch at Savannah Quarters Country Club. Your choice of an afternoon drive or a trolley to Savannah is planned for the afternoon, ending with dinner at around 6:30. The option of going into town for some jazz is also being considered. Saturday, October 12, 2013 - Atlanta Italian Car Day in Norcross, GA. Members of the Maserati Club regularly attend this event and have nothing but good things to say about it. Details to be provided later. Friday - Sunday, October 18 - 20, 2013 - EuroFest in Spartanburg, NC. Last year, we had a nice turnout of Maseratis and a Fiat and we took home a few awards. Dennis Gage from My Classic Car shot an episode there (#17) and Matts GranCabrio and Dwights and my Spyders could be seen in the background. The 2013 event will be a Maserati Club event, so stay tuned for details.

Past Events
On April 6th, I made my annual trek to Birmingham, Alabama for a Grand-AM/Indy Car weekend at Barber Motorsports Park. I had tried to create an event out of the weekend with the Italian Car Clubs, but unfortunately, only five people showed. Perhaps the AIM Autosport Team, fielding two Ferrari 458 Italias knew more than I did as they refused to return my emails and phone calls regarding a tour of their facilities at Barber. However, the five of us did enjoy the hospitality of the Multimatic Motorsports Team, which fields four Aston Martins, one of which is driven by Jade Buford, son of fellow TMC member Mark Buford. Not only were we able to walk around in the pit area, viewing the race cars and the facilities up close, but Jade and Mark made themselves available for a Q&A session and photo ops. Some of the mechanics and pit crew also took the time to talk to us and answer technical questions about the race cars. Thank you Jade, Mark and the Multimatic Motorsports Team for a memorable time at Barber.

The 7th Annual Motori Italiani was held April 20th in Charlotte, North Carolina, and featured over 100 Italian cars and motorcycles. Billed as A Celebration of Italian Motoring, the event was organized by the Charlotte Area Ferrari Enthusiasts and sponsored by 131 Main Restaurant. Unfortunately, only 5 TMC members were able to attend this event, but as Kai and I were two of those members, we took a long, winding route (set up with the help of Dwight) to Charlotte that included The Tail of the Dragon, the Little Dragon and parts of the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. While we ran into a little bit of rain, just small showers actually, nothing that slowed us down much, the Nantahala National Forest was in full bloom, so the scenery was beautiful. As were the cars and motorcycles in attendance. We even met up with some friends in the Ferrari Club that were at Coppa Alpina last year and this year. One of the most interesting persons we met was Kendall Anderson, 2 time finisher of the Iron Butt Rally. Ill let Kais picture explain it. The food and drink was also good making for a great weekend.

A few of the Maseratis

View while enjoying a frothy, yellow beverage

Coppa Alpina 2013 was a highlight of last year for me and I thoroughly enjoyed this year as well. Held May 10th through the 12th, our host this year was the Tapoco Lodge, where we stopped for lunch last year. But Im not going to elaborate on this years event as my wonderful wife, Sandy Sanderson has asked to detail the weekends events herself. Nestled in the North Carolina foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains is a hidden gem a sanctuary with charming cabins, plentiful walking trails and a river with water cascading over the rocks in harmony with the wind in the trees. Tapoco Lodge is a true get away; no TVs, limited internet connectivity, minimal cell phone service, just what one needs when trying to

escape from the daily chaos of life. Just 3 miles from Deals Gap and the famous Tail of the Dragon, Tapoco Lodge is a true treasure. From the moment we set foot on the property, the owner Ronnie and his staff made us feel truly welcome. They made an effort to know each of us by name within minutes of arriving and kept that personal touch alive for the entire 3 day stay. From cocktail hour in the lodge lounge, to the appetizers in the common area, to the spectacular 5course meals served each night, there is only one thing that could have made this weekend better. The harmonious sound of the fine Italian machinery that echoed through the trees! This was not just any ordinary weekend getaway, this was the Second Annual Coppa Alpina, sponsored by the South East Region of Ferrari Club of America, who graciously invited The Maserati Club Southeast Region to join them again for fine sportsmanship, fine drink, fine food and a little good-natured ribbing between the two clubs who came together to celebrate the love of all things Italian. The weekend began with the arrival of the attendees on Friday, getting settled in, getting reacquainted and sharing a good meal and plentiful libations. After dinner, the group reconvened by the fire pits for more conversation and smores. On Saturday morning, the group joined for Formula One qualifying at the lodge caf downstairs, where breakfast consisted of a full buffet including wood-fired oven baked breakfast pizzas. A day of spirited driving and trivia took place through the twisting and turning mountain roadways of the Smokey Mountains. A short break for lunch at the Dancing Bear Lodge allowed the drivers to re-fuel their bodies for an afternoon of driving that was unfortunately cut short by some rain. The group reconvened at the Lodge where a professional photographer was onsite to take pictures of the impressive showing of Ferraris and Maseratis, while again the guests were treated to spectacular food topped only by the hospitality of the Lodge staff who were attentive, personable, and very accommodating. Dinner concluded with the award ceremony of the Coppa Alpina Cup being presented to Hal Lawson and his navigator Bonnie Morrison. Sunday rounded out the weekend with another generous breakfast served in the caf, where the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix was televised. If you preferred not to the watch the race, your morning could be spent at the caf tables on the cobblestone walkway that faced the river. Either way, a good time was had by all. The ride home along

the Cherohala Skyway provided spectacular views and gentle, winding roadways that nicely contrasted the much curvier roadways traversed throughout the weekend. If you did not get the opportunity to attend this year, fear not! The Third Annual Coppa Alpina will be here before you know it. Until then, there are plenty of opportunities to attend a number of events that the Maserati Club Southeast has planned throughout the summer and fall months. When this group gets together, there is no shortage of fun, food and ah-hem, a little wine! If you are looking for a peaceful retreat in which to spend a long weekend, look up our new friends at Tapoco Lodge. Until the next event, have a wonderful and safe spring! A stop at Deals Gap, after running the Dragon

The Tapoco Lodge

The Cheoah River

Kai got to know Ida

Some of the Ferraris

Breakfast in the Caf

The conversation got animated

Saturday evening rain

escap

Maserati and Indy

As the Indianapolis 500 is recently completed (congratulations Tony Kanaan), I thought I would include a couple of articles about Maseratis presence at Indy in our newsletter. The following is from issue number 2 and parts of issue number 44 of Maserati Monthly and from the May 2011 issue of VeloceToday.com.

Indy was Maseratis Track

Motorsports fans know that the month of May brings one of the worlds greatest races the Indianapolis 500. First run in 1911, it quickly acquired a reputation as a real test for both driver and machine. The story of Wilbur Shaws historic 1939 and 1940 victories in a Maserati is quite well known, but it is not the whole story of Maseratis success in the May classic. Both before and after those first-ever back-to-back victories, the first by an Italian manufacturer and the only ones by an Italian engine, Maseratis design, engineering and technical innovation made it one of the most prolific Indy marques for a decade. They also demonstrated the global span of the Trident. Maseratis involvement with the Brickyard dates back to 1930. Lettorio Piccolo Cucinotta raced a 2-litre 26B, an evolution of the first Maserati while Baconin Borzacchini drove a Tipo V4. The engine of the Tipo V4 was remarkable; a compact 4-litre V16, it was created by coupling a pair of 2-litre straight-8 blocks side by side! The blocks retained separate crankshafts, joined by gears, and were set at a 25-degree angle. This, and the 4-litre displacement, led to the V4 designation. Designed for a supercharger, the car ran normally aspirated and underpowered because of Indianapolis rules.

After Babe Stapp raced a Tipo V8 RI in the 1937 Vanderbilt Cup race on Long Island, Mauri Rose entered a Tipo 6CM which was an evolution of the V8 RI propelled by a 1.5-litre supercharged six-cylinder engine. This was the second high-revving straight-six engine created by Maserati. The cars performance persuaded Boyle Racing to order a Tipo 8CTF. Maserati had skillfully designed the car to make the most of new Indy and Grand Prix regulations. The 1939 8CTF had a straight-eight engine pumping out a massive 365bhp, actually detuned for the rigors of The 500. When it was damaged in shipping Maserati immediately delivered a replacement (From issue #44, The weather on the transatlantic crossing was so cold that the water in the engine froze solid and cracked the block.). In qualifying the Boyle Special, Wilbur Shaw managed third fastest, only 1.2mph off pole position. He finished almost two minutes clear of the pole-sitter, after leading 51 laps including the final one! So on May 31st, 1939, Maserati became the first Italian company to win the Indianapolis 500. (From issue #44, The race itself was run at a furious pace, with the leaders averaging over 120 mph for the first 250 miles; it would probably have set a new record, but then tragedy struck. A driver in the lead pack lost control, and three cars crashed out; one of them, 1938 winner Floyd Roberts, went through the outer wall on the back straight, and later died of his injuries. There was more than 30 minutes of running under yellow flags while the wreckage was cleared and the walls repaired.

The race developed into a three-way battle between Shaw, Lou Meyer in the Bowes Seal-Fast Special and Jim Snyders Thorne Engineering Special. The lead changed several times as pit-stops proved decisive. Shaw stopped just three times once for fuel and a right rear tire, once for fuel and a right front tire, and a final splash and dash for fuel in the final 25 miles. Snyder pitted just twice, but at his first stop new spark plugs were required and the stop took four minutes, and when it took over three minutes to fit two rear tires at his second stop, he dropped too far back. By contrast Meyer could have won the race but then, while leading with less than 50 miles to go, his right front tire blew out in Turn One, forcing him to head for the pits. That allowed Shaw to go a lap clear, but Meyer mounted a determined charge; and when Shaw pitted with less than ten laps to go, it seemed the huge crowd would be treated to a fight to the finish. But it was not to be Meyer crashed on the back straight with less than seven miles of the 500 remaining. That left Shaw well clear, and he came home more than a minute ahead of Snyder. It was the first win by a foreign car since 1919, and the first by an Italian manufacturer.) In 1940 Shaws Maserati dominated Indy. Qualifying second, less than 0.8mph slower than Rex Mays, Shaw beat Mays in the race by over a minute, leading for 136 laps in poor weather. His two wins combined for $58,000 in prize money. Maserati became the first marque to win successive victories at Indianapolis. After much work and practiced engineering, Indianapolis was becoming a Maserati show.

Shaw came agonizingly close to a hat-trick in 1941. He qualified third, with pole going to Mauri Rose in another 8CTF. On lap 44 Shaw took the lead and appeared to have the race in hand until a wheel collapsed on lap 152. The wheel had been damaged in a pre-race garage fire, but the Boyle mechanics didnt spot the problem. After sparkplug failure sidelined his 8CTF, Rose made use of the rules to drive another car to victory. When post-War racing began in 1946, Maserati was the marque. All three 8CTFs were entered, along with a number of Tipo 4CLs, and an 8CL. 8CTFs claimed third and fourth. The Boyle Special 8CTF won pole position in 1947 and came third in the race. In 1948 it came fourth after leading 74 laps. In 1949 an 8CTF again contested the race until gearbox problems ended the bid. In 1950, the 11 year old 8CTF was one of only three non-Offenhauser cars to qualify for the race, being competitive enough for the legendary Bill Vukovichs rookie test. This degree of longevity and commitment was rare. Most impressively, the Maseratis were competitive and extraordinarily reliable throughout. (From issue #44, Shaw left a lasting legacy, not merely the result of his back-to-back victories in the nearunbeatable 8CTF. Towards the end of the war he learned that the tracks owner had no intention to reopen the Speedway, and intended to use the land for housing. Shaw persuaded Indiana businessman Tony Hulman to buy the track, and enough work was done to allow racing to resume in 1946. Hulman named Shaw President of the Speedway, a role which saw him organize the Indianapolis 500; unfortunately Shaw was killed in a plane crash in 1954. The Speedway is still owned by the Hulman family; the present owner, Tony George, is the grandson of Tony Hulman.)
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Over 50 years after its last race, the classic Boyle Special Maserati was honored with a parade lap before the start of the 2002 United States Formula One Grand Prix, also held at the Brickyard. It was driven by none other than seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.

Maseratis Indy Interludes

by Roberto on May 25, 2011

We always believe in eye catching lead photos. Don't we?

A brief look at Maserati at Indy The Maserati 8CTF was one of the truly great racing cars of all time. Not only did it achieve successive Indianapolis wins, it also stormed to victory in the 1946 and 1947 Pikes Peak hill-climb and it was still able to claim a top-three place at Indianapolis eight years after its maiden victory there. A testament to Maseratis core values, Wilbur Shaws 8CTF can be seen at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in Speedway Indiana, still in running condition. Maserati Monthly is a web-based magazine from Maserati North America and can be found at Maserati.com. By Roberto Motta Photos Courtesy Museum Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The American racing world has many famous and prestigious races and tracks, like the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. But while these venues are undoubtedly rich in history, nothing compares to the one whose name immediately reminds us of the American dream. For millions of Italians, the Indianapolis 500 is truly The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. The oval tracks as used in the U.S. allow the public to watch the all the cars at the same time, but have never been very popular in Europe, where fans prefer the street circuits like Monaco or the fast tracks like Monza. This is one reason why for many years, winning at Indy was the property of the cars made in the USA and the entry and win of a car manufactured in Europe, such as Peugeot, Delage, Mercedes and Maserati, always generated considerable interest.

Letterio Cucinotta with the 26B at the 1930 event.

Several Italian carmakers have tried their luck at Indy, but the only Italian car victorious at the Speedway was the Maserati 8CTF of Wilbur Shaw, known as the Boyle Special that managed to beat the fierce competition in both 1939 and 1940. The Maserati was named after its sponsor, Mike Boyle, who financed the effort. Shaw and the Maserati 8CTF very nearly won a third victory in the race in 1941, and only broken wheel prevented the car from entering the name of Maserati once again the winners circle. In the annals Indy 500 history, the Maserati name appears for the first time in 1930, when two Type 26Bs, driven by Baconin Borzacchini and Letterio Cucinatto were entered for the event. Borzacchini, whose car sported a twin eight engine, retired early but Cucinatto is listed with a twelfth place overall at 15 laps down from the Summer Miller of Billy Arnold.

Second time at Indy for Maserati was in 1937, Stapp in the V8R1.

Years pass and in 1937, American Babe Stapp entered with one of the four V8 Maseratis built in 1935. Maserati called it the V8RI, Stapp called it the Topping Special . This car was not successful and clutch failure forced it to retire, allowing this driver to finish only 31st place overall. For lovers of statistics, Stapp competed 12 times at Indianapolis, and got his best finish, fifth place in 1939 behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo: it was also that year in which the Maserati 8CTF got its first win. The 8-cylinder had a fixed head, which completed the acronym 8CTF: 8 Cilindri, Testa Fissa. The Maserati brothers had chosen a three-liter supercharged engine, to conform to the new European Grand Prix Formula from 19381940, and it was a mechanical configuration with which Maserati had accumulated considerable experience.

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Traditional Indy photo and pose. Shaw with the 8CTF in 1939.

The engine was an 8-cylinder, mounted longitudinally in front combining two four cylinder cast iron cylinder blocks, and was characterized by with a bore and stroke of 69.0 mm (2.7 in) and 100.0 mm (3.9 in) that gave a total displacement of 2991cc (182.5 cu in). The engine took advantage of a DOHC type distribution and two valves per cylinder. With 6.5:1 compression, powered by 2 Memini MA12 carburetors, one for each group of four cylinders, two compressors and Roots, was capable of delivering 365 hp at 6300 rpm and pushed the car up to the maximum speed of 290 km/h/ or 180 mph. The engine was coupled to a 4-speed + reverse transmission. The car had an aluminum body, had a tank capacity of 150 liters and weighed 780 kg, with a wheelbase of 2720mm, a length of 4100mm and 1520mm wide. The 8CTF had a beautifully crafted chassis comprising two longitudinal members with cross sections of steel reinforcement. Front suspension was with torsion bars, friction dampers and stabilizer bar. At the rear suspension used semi elliptic springs, hydraulic shock absorbers and stabilizer bar. The braking system was composed of large diameter drum brakes with mechanical control. The 8CTF rested on spoked wheels that allowed the installation of tires Pirelli front 5.50 x 19 or 6.00 x 19 and 6.50 x 19 rear.

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The first two examples of the new 8CTF, frames 3030 and 3031, were ready for the Grand Prix of Tripoli of 1938, the second round of the championship. Count Trossi managed to win the second row of the grid. At the start Trossi took the lead but unfortunately, he had a gearbox problem and was forced to retire. In the following months, the 8CTF participated in other competitions in Europe and was almost as fast as the might of the German teams: Paul Pietsch finished third at the German Grand Prix, but the new car showed few other remarkable results due to problems with the brakes and engine. But hoping for a new source of financing, the Maserati brothers prepared the third and final frame of the Maserati 8CTF, chassis 3032. Back in the U.S.A., during the same period, Michael J. Boyle, known as Umbrella Mike, and the boss of the largest union in Chicago, decided to buy a new car to be driven by Wilbur Shaw for the Indy 500. Boyle realized that his old Miller could not support a further increase in performance and was impressed by the Maserati 6CM he had purchased in 1938. Furthermore, he believed that the engine of the Maserati 8CTF, had no reliability problems, and would do very well at Indy using the much less aggressive methanol than the dynamite fuel blends used in European competitions. After these considerations, Boyle sent his chief mechanic Harry Cotton Henning to Bologna to formalize the purchase of 8CTF 3032 plus a spare engine. Returning to the U.S. Cotton subjected the car to a careful development in view of the Indy race. Supported by an exceptional team of mechanics, he managed to prepare the 8CTF to provide both reliability and power. On May 30, 1939 the 8CTF driven by Wilbur Shaw and identified by the number two, (Shaw had already one at Indy in 1937 with the Gilmore Special) started from third position with a qualifying speed of 128.977 mph. During the race, the 8CTF faced a long struggle with the Miller-Offenhauser Ford of Cliff Bergere. Then, after 4 hours 20 minutes and 47 seconds the Maserati was able to take the lead and checkered flag, ahead of the Adams-Sparks led by Jimmy Snyder and Miller-Offenhauser Ford Cliff Bergere, becoming the first Italian car to win at Indy. The Maserati 8CTF ended the race with an average of 115,035 mph, and Shaw won $27, 375. Wilbur was so happy with his 8CTF he had himself photographed in his car, and sent the photograph with the inscription: For the Maserati brothers, for having built a car so beautiful, to Bologna. The following year 8CTF was deployed again to race in the Indy 500. Characterized by number 1 this time and driven again by Shaw, it started from second position on the grid with a qualifying speed of 127. 065 mph. The race was slowed by rain, and the drivers covered the last 50 laps under caution. The Maserati came in first, winning the race at an average of 114.277 mph and gave its driver a prize pool of $ 30,725. In doing so, Shaw became the first driver to win three victories in just four years at Indy. Shaw and the 8CTF was heading for his fourth Indy victory when the wheel broke, and the car retired.

(Sorry for the white space, but if you want to advertise your business, we could get rid of this blank nothingness!)

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Shaw in 1940, after winning the race. He almost did it again in 1941.

Shaw wasnt the only driver with a Maserati in 1940, Raoul Riganti took one of two 8CLs to Indy but crashed. The 8CL had four valves per cylinder, a longer wheelbase and developed more power than the 8CTF. The remaining two 8CTFs, 3031 and 3030 were also brought into the U.S. by Lucille Schell for drivers Rene Dreyfus and Rene Le Begue, right before the war, but did not fare as well. The Maserati 8CTFs and the 8CLs continued to compete even in the 50s, until 1954, when they failed to qualify. Despite their long career, the three Maserati 8TCF, frames 3030, 3031 and 3032, have survived to this day. In 1950, Maserati constructed two new Indianapolis entries, called the 8CTF/50. Stay tuned to VeloceToday to find out more about these two mystery Maseratis, Wilbur Shaw and Mike Boyle. For a short video of Maseratis first win at Indy, please click on the youtube link below: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGPPXQaeVOk

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The following is the first in a series of articles written by Past President, Mike Demyanovich. The series will detail and highlight the restoration of his 1971 Maserati Ghibli SS. My wife, Donna, looked at me in disbelief when I told her of a recent project I was considering. She said you wanna do what? Whereupon I indicated my desire to restore a currently un-loved Ghibli SS that I could get at a really good price! She looked at me in disbelief and said, what about all the other unfinished projects you have on your plate, what happens to them?. After a lot of fast talking, which included cost and value projections, cash flow, technical details, suppliers, etc.., I achieved my goal. Her eyes glazed over and she said WHAT EVER! Well now, to me and probably most men, WHAT EVER is a definitive yes and a sure stamp of approval! Interestingly, I had never really considered restoring a Ghibli. I often think we dont find our restoration projects, but rather, they find us. Such was the case here. Ghibli SS, AM115.49.1928 was built in 1971, or so we suppose. One can never really be certain with Italian limited production cars, but we do now she is a late Ghibli. She was offered to me out of Ft. Lauderdale, where her previous owner wanted to have work done, but couldnt come up with the money for the repairs and storage fees. Bad economy! I looked her over, knew there were some big issues, but surprisingly no major (see-through) rust in the usual places, and after some negotiations she was mine. Originally, 1928 was lime green with a tan interior, and Borrani bolt-on wire wheels. Not a great color combination then or now, in my opinion. When I purchased her, she was black with a tan interior, and some other type of wheels. It was mainly the mechanicals that were suspect, namely a supposed blown head gasket and potential engine bottom end issue. The interior appeared in good condition, with one crack in the dash leather, and a steering wheel without padding. Obviously, these were the notable features and issues one would notice when initially evaluating a car. The real evaluation begins during the disassembly process. Now that the car has been acquired, the real fun begins. There is much to be done prior to actually beginning the restoration process. First thing is space,

and believe me, a lot of space will be needed. A rough rule of thumb is 2.5 times the space as the actual car occupies. Additionally, parts manuals, electrical manuals, and any other relevant information should be obtained. The parts manual will be invaluable during disassembly and reassembly. But be careful, with limited production Italian cars, the parts manual may not be up-to-date for your specific car. This is where paper, pens, and a digital camera will become your best friends. Drawings and digital photos will be invaluable when putting the thing back together. Additionally, I recommend a supply of various sized zip-lock bags and boxes. These will be needed for storage of the numerous screws, nuts, bolts, washers, and parts (both large and small). Label them and store them together in some kind of organized manner. You dont want to spend long days looking for tiny screws, bolts, and or washers at reassembly. Organization at the beginning of the restoration process will reap tremendous rewards at the end, or so I hope!!! Now a word on cost. Lets face it, restorations are expensive, that is why so many experts advise you to buy the best car you can, and let someone else do the restorations. But, by that advice, there would be no more restored cars to buy, because no one would undertake a restoration. Your estimate is just that, an estimate. Depending on the car and what you find during disassembly, you can adjust your estimate upwards by about 35 40%. Things will be more expensive than you think. In my case, I wont even mention what the cost of five Borrani wire wheels is. Then theres the engine work, chrome-plating, miscellaneous other services and parts, the list can go on and on. But dont be discouraged. If you have some skills, and know one end of a wrench from the other, understand the metric measurement system, and are organized, you can do some of this yourself, and save a lot, and I mean a lot, of $$$$. My goal during these series of articles, which will probably not be monthly, are to help those considering such a project, and not necessarily delve into the intricate details of Ghibli restoration, although I will present some of those as well. Perhaps I should title this Adventures in Ghibli Restoration, or probably more apropos, I Think Im Insane! At any rate, I hope you enjoy them!

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Look for the ongoing adventures of Mike and his Ghibli in future editions of The Maserati Club:Southeast Chapter newsletter.

Wheres My GranSport?
The press has been enamored with the Alfa Romeo 4C ever since the first concept was introduced at the Geneva Auto Show in 2011. But with Alfas on again, off again return to the US, most Alfa owners just sighed and bought Porsches or other marques. But now the 4C is actually crossing the pond and may actually arrive before the year is out. What is interesting to Maserati owners about the new Alfa is that the carbon-fiber monocoque will be built by Maserati at their Modena plant. This begs the question, will Maserati build its desired 911-fighting coupe based on the Alfa platform? Harald J. Wester, CEO of Maserati, admitted that an Alfa Romeo 4C linked trident is a good idea. But according to a leaked product plan document, the new Maserati coupe will not share Alfas platform. With the new GranTurismo due out in 2015, the new coupe is not expected until 2016. I guess a three-year lease on the 4C is looking pretty good.

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Leaked document, shhhh!

Update as of May 31st, Wester is reporting that the GranSport will feature a front mounted engine. To be built on a shortened version of the new Quattroporte, Ghibli platform, which will also be used for the next-generation GranTurismo and GranCabrio, as well as the next-generation Dodge Challenger and long-rumored Barracuda, and possibly other performance sedans within the Fiat Chrysler Group, the GranSport will be about the same length as a C7 Corvette. The new Ferrari manufactured, twin-turbo 3-liter V-6 will power the GranSport, giving it more than 400 horsepower and pound-feet of torque. A convertible version is also in the works. Will it rival the Porsche 911 and the new Jaguar F-Type? Also announced by Wester, there will not be a Trident-wearing version of the new LaFerrari.

Fino al prossimo tempo

So ends the June edition of The Maserati Club:Southeast Chapter newsletter. La ringrazio molta to Mike Demyanovich and Sandy Sanderson for their articles, Maserati Monthly and VeloceToday.com for allowing me to reprint their articles, Mark and Jade Buford for allowing us access to the Multimatic pit area and Ivan and Myrna and Matt and Emily for organizing the next event! So, until next time...

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