Maserati Enthusiasts' Page

The Enthusiasts' Page

- YOU ARE NOW ON PAGE 74
	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 Maserati Ghibli Cup

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





From Modena in Italy Italian magazine advert for the 1994 Maserati Ghibli MY94

*A style of life - A style of driving*





From Abid in the UK Hi Enrico, PERMAGARD is today's forerunner in the technology of Polymer Paint and Gel Coat treatment against all abuses thrown by environment and the chemicals that all paint surfaces are subjected to. There is no de-gradation in paint fading or oxidation. Permagard once applied has a very durable high gloss and is guaranteed for life so long as it is serviced for a minimal cost after initial application. It is an industrial product with process application and takes minimum 5 hours to install the total application. On planes it increases speed and fuel ....giving a low friction during flying aerodynamics. We don't have SELL PERMAGARD IT SELLS ITSELF ONCE SEEN BY ITS INHERENT RESULT. Visit our web site at www.permagard.com Best Wishes, Abi."

From Matthias in Germany

"Hello Enrico,

I enjoy your web site very much and I look every week for some news about Maserati.

4 months ago I bought a Indy 4.2 in good condition but now I have some questions about the ignition.

The Indy has two mechanical contact breakers and an ignition box in front of the car from Bosch (HKZ).

Is this the originaly equipment? The coil is also from Bosch but I’m not sure if it the correct one, it looks like a normal battery ignition coil.

How do identify the correct one? And lastly, I am confuse about the ignition advance. In the maintenance manual I read 10 to 12° static and 13° automatic advance by the distributor other information is 4° static ignition. What is right and how to check?

A lot of question but I hope You can help me.

Best regards,

Matthias.

P.S. Here are some pictures of the Indy."

"Hi Matthias,

Thank you for your email and the photos of your Indy. It looks like a very nice car indeed.

Here is the answer to your query from Andreas:

"The ignition system you describe is the original. The static timing is indeed 10 to 12 degrees and no, there are no marks on the flywheel. The best way to check is to use a dial test indicator in No1 cylinder (the cylinder nearest the distributor) through the spark plug hole and set the timing to 0.9mm before Top Dead Centre – which is the equivalent. One other tip is that because the ignition system is transistorized and the points are only used for a trigger, you should not have the condenser connected (even though it is present). Maserati left it in for the event of a failure of the transistor box, so that the system could be run on standard ignition as a back up!"

Regards,

Enrico."

A Biturbo in the UK

Found growing wild in this gentleman's garden, the all to common plant, "Biturbus Coupus Rusticum Italicae".

Currently for sale on eBay

From Lee, a keen botanist, in the UK

"Hi Enrico,

Just thought I'd drop you a line regarding the 'Biturbus Coupus' plant you have on page 74 of your site. Seeing it has bought back fond memories from times past as it was the first of the Maserati species I'd ever owned - it being THE actual plant as featured growing on your site.

I remember seeing advertised one day and decided (without even having ever seeing one of these things) to go and purchase it. Well it had the name, the glamour, the history so thought - why not!

Borrowed a trailer, hooked it up to the old Range Rover and trundled down to the heart of London. I have to say at first I was somewhat disappointed. Not quite as glamorous as I thought it might be. It was infact owned by some students who decided (like myself) it would be interesting to own but soon discovered that the insurance was rather prohibitive. Just a quick spin around the block convinced me it was something special and so haggled a bit....and a bit more and promptly bought it (I really hadn't a clue what I'd got involved with!)

Dragged it back home and straight away set about dismantling bits and pieces (as one does) refurbishing the suede door inserts amongst many other things. I spent many an hour pottering about with it in the shed but became frustrated by the electrical glitches. Having to give the fuse box a bit of a boot didn't help matters and indeed was quite awkward when driving along.

Tired of its little tantrums I decided to sell her and put an advert in Auto Trader. Along came an equally unsuspecting punter (all too common for the first time Maser buyer!) who like me purchased the car out of lust for the eight letter badge on the back and he too hadn't a clue what he was looking at. I made £300 too!! A couple of months went by and I had this odd feeling of emptiness inside me. Hot and cold flushes, sleepless nights. Could it be I was actually missing the thing that caused me so much grief and frustration??? (even if I had made money on it!!) Yup I was.

After much deliberation I rang Paul up who I sold it to and asked if he was interested in selling it back! He wasn't but it spawned a great friendship and the beginning of a Maserati obsession for the both of us and now having owned about eight or more between us in the past 5 years the obsession gets worse with each passing car. It's become a sort of love/hate relationship (with the cars not Paul!). No sooner do you get rid of one that causes so much frustration and cost you're hankering after another!!

That said, it's a sad day to see her in such a poor state and with a £23,000 history file behind her (excluding initial purchase cost). It is one hell of an expensive piece of flora.

Lee."

From Henri in Germany

"Hi Enrico,

first congratulations to your very informative homepage.

I have a problem with my 1965 sebring II. The car is fitted with Borrani disc wheels but the hubcaps have been mislaid and these would need to be replaced. Borrani said that these are Maserati parts.

Do you know where I can get some?

Best regards, Henri."

"Hi Henri,

Try Bill McGrath Maserati at info@classismaseratis.co.uk. I believe that they may be able to help you out on this one.

Regards,

Enrico."

From near Modena in Italy

Buried deep in the countryside about a half an hours drive from the centre of Modena lies a little-known workshop that specialises in the preparation of the Maserati Ghibli Open Cup and De Tomaso Pantera GT4 race cars.

Whilst in Italy this year, I took the opportunity to visit his workshop. I telephoned him from the Candini workshop and with the help of map sketched by Marcello I set off. Although only half an hours drive from Modena even William was surprised when I got there. He had been half expecting a phone call to tell him I was lost!

William Sala is not your average mechanic, but a specialist in preparing competition cars, he is at present preparing a Ford Capri for classic racing. His workshop is best described as organised chaos; "As long as my sons don't move things around when I'm not here, I know exactly where everything is!" was his reply when I asked him.

The farm house and out buildings
A Ghibli GT and a cat sit outside the William Sala workshop

Ghibli Open Cup ready for restoration
Can be restored to a future customer's own specification

Organised chaos inside the Sala workshop
The machine shop

De Tomaso Pantera under restoration
William Sala on his 'cellulare'!

The bare bodyshell of a Ghibli Open Cup
Engine bay

Front RHS wheel arch
RHS body from the rear

Front LHS wheel arch
Rear LHS wheel arch

Front strut brace mountings
Heavy gauge Aluminium Ghibli/Ghibli Open Cup sump guard

Front strut brace
Front strut brace

Ghibli Open Cup Evo front bumper
Ghibli Open Cup Evo front bumper

Ghibli Open Cup front bumper
Ghibli Open Cup front bumper

Ford Capri being prepared for historic racing
Sig William Sala and the Ford Capri

Ghibli V6 engine
Not the cylinder sleeves being held in place

V6 exhaust manifold
V8 exhaust manifold

Ghibli rear subframe with differential
Wheel hub and brake disc of the Ford Capri

MORE FOR THE ENTHUSIAST

To enter Enrico's Maserati Pages CLICK HERE!

Copyright: Enrico's Maserati Pages - © 2005. All rights reserved.





From Matthias in Germany "Hello Enrico, I enjoy your web site very much and I look every week for some news about Maserati. 4 months ago I bought a Indy 4.2 in good condition but now I have some questions about the ignition. The Indy has two mechanical contact breakers and an ignition box in front of the car from Bosch (HKZ). Is this the originaly equipment? The coil is also from Bosch but I’m not sure if it the correct one, it looks like a normal battery ignition coil. How do identify the correct one? And lastly, I am confuse about the ignition advance. In the maintenance manual I read 10 to 12° static and 13° automatic advance by the distributor other information is 4° static ignition. What is right and how to check? A lot of question but I hope You can help me. Best regards, Matthias. P.S. Here are some pictures of the Indy."








"Hi Matthias, Thank you for your email and the photos of your Indy. It looks like a very nice car indeed. Here is the answer to your query from Andreas: "The ignition system you describe is the original. The static timing is indeed 10 to 12 degrees and no, there are no marks on the flywheel. The best way to check is to use a dial test indicator in No1 cylinder (the cylinder nearest the distributor) through the spark plug hole and set the timing to 0.9mm before Top Dead Centre – which is the equivalent. One other tip is that because the ignition system is transistorized and the points are only used for a trigger, you should not have the condenser connected (even though it is present). Maserati left it in for the event of a failure of the transistor box, so that the system could be run on standard ignition as a back up!" Regards, Enrico."





A Biturbo in the UK Found growing wild in this gentleman's garden, the all to common plant, "Biturbus Coupus Rusticum Italicae".

Currently for sale on eBay



From Lee, a keen botanist, in the UK
"Hi Enrico, Just thought I'd drop you a line regarding the 'Biturbus Coupus' plant you have on page 74 of your site. Seeing it has bought back fond memories from times past as it was the first of the Maserati species I'd ever owned - it being THE actual plant as featured growing on your site. I remember seeing advertised one day and decided (without even having ever seeing one of these things) to go and purchase it. Well it had the name, the glamour, the history so thought - why not! Borrowed a trailer, hooked it up to the old Range Rover and trundled down to the heart of London. I have to say at first I was somewhat disappointed. Not quite as glamorous as I thought it might be. It was infact owned by some students who decided (like myself) it would be interesting to own but soon discovered that the insurance was rather prohibitive. Just a quick spin around the block convinced me it was something special and so haggled a bit....and a bit more and promptly bought it (I really hadn't a clue what I'd got involved with!) Dragged it back home and straight away set about dismantling bits and pieces (as one does) refurbishing the suede door inserts amongst many other things. I spent many an hour pottering about with it in the shed but became frustrated by the electrical glitches. Having to give the fuse box a bit of a boot didn't help matters and indeed was quite awkward when driving along. Tired of its little tantrums I decided to sell her and put an advert in Auto Trader. Along came an equally unsuspecting punter (all too common for the first time Maser buyer!) who like me purchased the car out of lust for the eight letter badge on the back and he too hadn't a clue what he was looking at. I made £300 too!! A couple of months went by and I had this odd feeling of emptiness inside me. Hot and cold flushes, sleepless nights. Could it be I was actually missing the thing that caused me so much grief and frustration??? (even if I had made money on it!!) Yup I was. After much deliberation I rang Paul up who I sold it to and asked if he was interested in selling it back! He wasn't but it spawned a great friendship and the beginning of a Maserati obsession for the both of us and now having owned about eight or more between us in the past 5 years the obsession gets worse with each passing car. It's become a sort of love/hate relationship (with the cars not Paul!). No sooner do you get rid of one that causes so much frustration and cost you're hankering after another!! That said, it's a sad day to see her in such a poor state and with a £23,000 history file behind her (excluding initial purchase cost). It is one hell of an expensive piece of flora. Lee."





From Henri in Germany "Hi Enrico, first congratulations to your very informative homepage. I have a problem with my 1965 sebring II. The car is fitted with Borrani disc wheels but the hubcaps have been mislaid and these would need to be replaced. Borrani said that these are Maserati parts. Do you know where I can get some? Best regards, Henri."



"Hi Henri, Try Bill McGrath Maserati at info@classismaseratis.co.uk. I believe that they may be able to help you out on this one. Regards, Enrico."





From near Modena in Italy Buried deep in the countryside about a half an hours drive from the centre of Modena lies a little-known workshop that specialises in the preparation of the Maserati Ghibli Open Cup and De Tomaso Pantera GT4 race cars. Whilst in Italy this year, I took the opportunity to visit his workshop. I telephoned him from the Candini workshop and with the help of map sketched by Marcello I set off. Although only half an hours drive from Modena even William was surprised when I got there. He had been half expecting a phone call to tell him I was lost! William Sala is not your average mechanic, but a specialist in preparing competition cars, he is at present preparing a Ford Capri for classic racing. His workshop is best described as organised chaos; "As long as my sons don't move things around when I'm not here, I know exactly where everything is!" was his reply when I asked him.

The farm house and out buildings		A Ghibli GT and a cat sit outside the William Sala workshop

Ghibli Open Cup ready for restoration		Can be restored to a future customer's own specification

Organised chaos inside the Sala workshop		The machine shop

De Tomaso Pantera under restoration		William Sala on his 'cellulare'!

The bare bodyshell of a Ghibli Open Cup		Engine bay

Front RHS wheel arch		RHS body from the rear

Front LHS wheel arch		Rear LHS wheel arch





Front strut brace mountings		Heavy gauge Aluminium Ghibli/Ghibli Open Cup sump guard

Front strut brace		Front strut brace

Ghibli Open Cup Evo front bumper		Ghibli Open Cup Evo front bumper

Ghibli Open Cup front bumper		Ghibli Open Cup front bumper

Ford Capri being prepared for historic racing		Sig William Sala and the Ford Capri







Ghibli V6 engine		Not the cylinder sleeves being held in place

V6 exhaust manifold		V8 exhaust manifold

Ghibli rear subframe with differential		Wheel hub and brake disc of the Ford Capri