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

"Here is a picture from this summer.

We miss some pics of YOUR car on the site! You are probably the strongest member of the community and you should post some info on your car sometimes too.

Thanks,

Erik."

The new look on Jarle's 2.24v.

"Hi!

We recently bought a 3500 GTI Coupe. This is a first classic Maserati in Poland. I was used your amazing site to find first infos about this beautiful car. Our machine has chassis number AM101*2810. Was originally equipped with 4-litre Mistral engine (totally others engine mountings). Sadly this engine is missing, but we have a 'standard' 3500 engine with fuel injection. Americans converted this car to some ugly V8. We must removed those ugly American engine mounts. Now we must created a proper mounts for the 3500 engine. Fortunately we find in Germany dismantling Spyder for measurement and photos. We have own mechanical shop, therefore we should be done this task.

Body is in very nice condition. They are minor damages happened in container during travel from States to Europe.

I send you soon some pics with our car. But I need also some pictures with late type dashboard ( five small gauges ). I need exact placement of controls, switches etc, because Americans made here also some stupid modifications. I need also if possible photo with clock dial - is sadly missing.

Best greetings,

Jan and Maciek."

"Thanks for the pictures. Yes, this is this type of dashboard. We need more accurate picture with clock, we need a detailed photo of the dial. By the way, tell us, is true that each Maserati has a Cartier clock? Or this is only a rumour? Will be also great to have a drawing with all controls and warning lamps placement.

Another question - 5-speed gearbox was a overdrive type or not?

Have you idea from which car derive a Girling master cylinder? I will look this year at Beaulieu for some parts....

And two photos with our 'beauty' fully dismantled.

Regards,

Jan and Maciek."

"1. By the way, tell us, is true that each Maserati has a Cartier clock? Or this is only a rumour?"

No, for 3500GT fitted with a clock, it would have been a rectangular instrument made by Jaeger.

2. "Another question - 5-speed gearbox was a overdrive type or not?"

The five speed gearbox fitted to 3500GT as an option in 1960 and as standard in 1961 was a ZF type S5-17. It was a fully synchronised box with ratios as follows:

1st 3.02:1
2nd 1.85:1
3rd 1.29:1
4th 1:1
5th 0.85:1

Therefore, you can see that this was not an 'overdrive' type gearbox but that fifth was an overdriven gear.

3. "Have you idea from which car derive a Girling master cylinder?"

There were two Girling master cylinders used by Maserati on the 3500GT. Early cars with rear drums had one type (which I believe was similar to Jaguar) which had the original Girling part number 3110423W. Later cars with disc brakes at the rear used another cylinder 64067728. Sebring series one also used this cylinder. It changed again when Maserati went to twin circuit brakes (series 2 Sebring, Mistral, QP1 etc). I believe both are still available. Regards, Andy.

Inaugural Oulton Park Gold Cup winner Sir Stirling Moss will be reunited with a Maserati 250F at this year’s 50th anniversary celebration event on August 29/30.

Although not the actual 250F that Moss raced back in 1954, the car will be just like the one in which he took that famous victory. He will complete several demonstration laps around the Cheshire circuit on Monday in the 270bhp machine.

The Gold Cup was originally a non-championship race for the Grand Prix cars of the day but new rules brought in during the mid-‘70s banned Grand Prix cars from racing outside the Formula 1 World Championship.

These days the Gold Cup is more a celebration of historic racing and, just like the original events, gathers together the Grand Prix machines of the sport’s halcyon days, with races for pre-’61 front-engined GP cars and rear-engined pre 1966 GP cars.

Back in August 1954, Moss was a young charger who took victory in the very first Gold Cup race against all the odds. His 250F arrived in the UK from the factory in Italy on the morning of the race, so he was unable to qualify, and had to start from the back of the grid.

Despite this, Moss tore through the pack and was seventh by the end of lap one, before taking the lead on lap 10. After that he proved his mastery further by romping away into the distance.

Moss’s return to the cockpit of the 250F at Oulton is sure to evoke strong memories for the man himself as well as those who were present at the original meeting, which has become part of UK motorsport folklore. When he’s not out on track, Stirling is sure to be found in the paddock and is always happy to meet the public and sign autographs.

More Formula 1, Formula 5000 and Formula Atlantic machinery can be seen in the Historic Sports Car Club’s Derek Bell Trophy event, while an eclectic mix of racing cars from the saloons of the ‘60s to the throaty sportscars of the ‘50s will complete a packed weekend’s on-track action.

Off track more than 1,000 classic cars will be on display, a death-defying wing-walking display and a flypast by the glorious Merlin-engined Spitfire. Fairground rides, bouncy castles and a free open paddock allow spectators to get up close and personal with the cars and chat to their drivers.

Tickets cost £20 for the weekend or £15 per day and can be bought in advance by contacting the Oulton Park hotline on 0870 950 9000. Children aged 15 and under go free. Visit www.motorsportvision.co.uk for further details.

"Hi Enrico,

I am sorry that I don’t have a part number on the air filter (I had to grind it off to make it fit), I can give you the measurements and some pictures I took earlier.

I made a little paint file to make things a little clearer, I hope it is sufficient if not please let me know, to fit the air filter I had to grind of a little of the rubber molding which I tried to show in the pictures, mostly on the lower side of the filter to make it fit in the air filter housing cap, on top of the air filter housing I had to fit a small strip of aluminum (see picture).

To prevent the topside of the air filter falling in.

When fitting the whole assembly the top side of the air filter should slide over the aluminum strip to keep it in place, this way you have a standard looking engine with the best air filter on the market (at least I think so).

There are to many garages who take advantage of people, they are only looking for that quick buck, someone who has a passion for thoroughbred performance cars and dreams about them at night that is what you need, these people are somewhat hard to find I know, but if you do you will recognize them by their endless talks and anecdotes on the subject.

About the ram air device you talked about, I think a turbo engine does not need ram air, what it does need is cold air and lots of it, on a 2.24v. we know that on the left side the cold air intake is as good as it gets given the space limitations and all, on the right side however there is the good old battery which blocks just about everything, a wild option is to move the battery into the boot compartment, but this is a lot of work. It depends on what you want.

My 2.24v. runs on 1.2 bar boost pressure and 3.65 bar fuel system pressure, as you know it has the K&N filter with a straight through exhaust system with only with the end mufflers.

Power output is about 300 plus bhp.

These engines are easily modified without having to fit expensive bolt on products, again it all depends on what you want.

I am not in favour of drastic alterations, I will always try to keep an engine as standard as possible.

Please leave your engine as standard as possible, you can mildly chip tune a Ghibli and do some of the above but do not overdo it, your engine will not forgive you.

A FEW GOLDEN TIPS:

1. Run the best fuel that is available to you, I live close to Germany and the fuel there is a lot different compared to what they sell in my country I use SHELL V POWER 100 OCTANE.

2. Use the best oil there is (AGIP/SELENIA RACING 10W60)

3. ALWAYS warm up the engine.

4. After a high speed run give the engine time to cool down (running stationary for a few minutes) a friend of mine took his Fireblade on a high speed run in Belgium got pulled over by the police turned off his engine three minutes later coolant was pouring through the head gasket, he warped his cylinder head.

FOOTNOTE FROM ENRICO:

K&N manufacture a dirct replacement air filter for the Mercedes SLK 200 and 230 reference number 33-2767 [Panel Air Filter Height: 1.125 in (29 mm), Outside Length: 9.25 in (235 mm) and Outside Width: 7.75 in (197 mm)].

To be sure that this filter will function prior to purchase, I strongly recommend that you check these measurements with those of your original equipment air filter, making sure that the new filter will fit securely into the air box.

"The Racing should be on the road soon!

Here are some pictures of the engine being reassembled.

Cheers,

Frédéric."

Maserati Club International is celebrating our 26th Maserati Days at Concorso Italiano this year. It promises to be an exciting weekend and I am looking forward to seeing all my Maserati friends.

TWO IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE:

On the field at Concorso Italiano you will be able to view a Maserati Rinato. What does that mean, you ask?!! Healey Werks will be displaying a wonderful side-by-side comparison of a Maserati re-born. You can see the unrestored project Sebring as featured in your Maserati Club International, Viale Ciro Menotti, issue #85 (see photo below).

As promised we will follow the restoration of some wonderful Maserati cars. This is a great opportunity to see the car, understand some of the challenges, and ask questions of the restoration experts. Be sure and stop by and ask those questions that you have been dying to have answered, as well as share your thoughts about your restoration secrets. We will collect everything asked and offered and publish on our Web site: www.maseratinet.com

As in many restorations, things can go awry and must be corrected. You may have noted the location of the Thursday Meet and Mix is somewhat confusing. The confirmation letter says it is at El Estero Park, while the ticket you received says the Monterey Hilton. The Thursday night event is indeed at El Estero Park!

Note the disc brakes on both the front and rear wheels. Quite advanced for an early 60s car. Another item of interest is the English wheel you can see in the background (right-hand side). It is a staple a panel beater tool for anybody needing to fabricate sheet metal parts.

"Dear Enrico,

Thank you for answering my earlier question regarding the use of a K&N flat panel filter in my 2.24v. I never did install one. Instead I had a chat with Ronald Barning at barningtuning.com - currently the page is only in Dutch, and he custom built in what you see in the attached pictures.

What are you looking at?

Turbo dump valves, K&N conical air filters and a cold air intake hose on one side only as the battery prevents the use of a second hose. This is not imperative as the K&Ns can receive cool air through the vents in the bonnet. I think? However, the hot air rising from the engine might prevent that.

In any case this has added between 10 to 15 bhp which has put an even wider more stupid grin on my face!

Obviously it makes the most fantastic noises now!!

Thanks once again for your help.

Thomas."