Hi Frank, Jason at our Service, Race and Restoration Facility has done many including two this year. You can also recommend their services to assist in the assembly and any finishing work on the 3500GT if needed. They completed two of them this year already. You can reach Jason directly on his cell phone or email here: (858) 231-7876 [email protected] The shop is located at: 11455 Sorrento Valley Road San Diego, CA 92121 Our parts department can even assist with collection and redelivery if you can not drop it off yourself. Call or email me if I can assist with anything else. Ciao, Bill
Many Thanks Bill, I have decided today that I am going to assemble the car and get it running. If anyone has a spare 4 speed to sell, or loan let me know. So look for a photo history on the assembly beginning right after the first of the year. Ciao, FGM
According to Autocar http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/260780/ The next-generation Maserati Quattroporte takes a step upmarket to make space in the range for a smaller saloon aimed at top-end BMW 5-series models. Maserati says the Quattroporte will be based on a new platform, which might share some of its parts with the new Chrysler 300C. A higher-quality interior is a key part of the strategy. The V8 engines are understood to be carried over from the current Quattroporte, with V6 petrols and diesels reserved for the forthcoming smaller Maserati saloon. The reveal is slated for Paris, sales start in early 2013. My comments are as follows: I like the idea of an upmarket Quattroporte with a higher quality interior, but why do they need to tell us about "parts sharing" with a Chrysler 300C. I hope the deciders at the company understand that the idea of a V6 Diesel in a Maserati is not only the kiss of death, but a non starter here in North America. A submissive Europe will easily accept a diesel as they have been hammered with $8 per gallon taxes to feed their socialist governments for a very long time now. Please leave the V8 in place, make it more fun to look at with finned aluminum castings and if needed borrow the V10 from Dodge, add some slick new cam covers, then tune it to sound snarly and bingo, you now have a Quattroporte SS. Just my 2 Lira Ciao, FGM
FIAT has decided that Maserati should no longer be an exotic car brand and should be more like an everyday Porsche.... So who ever is in control of FIAT, thinks it is a good idea to milk the golden cow till it drops dead. cheerful stuff... PS: more ranting in this post: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=141107946
I am now offering a second 3500 GT for sale. This one is a mid 1200 serial numbered car with wires and the later interior fitted with power windows and the coveted Borrani 3707 wire wheels. Check out the video. http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=O1w6Ah8HfJs&next=%2Fmy_videos Tomorrow I will began work on the "Bianca Latina" including installing the engine and the servicing necessary to attain a very high standard of operation. I wil be posting photos as we progress. Ciao, FGM
Some photos of the Grey Ghost engine and trunk. I love the original very rare Maserati logo key. Note the correct air tube is in the trunk. tool bag with no tools and one jack goes with the car. The engine compartment is very original with the exception of the hose clamps and that stupid radiator cap and silver fresh air tubes. Very small items to correct. Ciao, FGM Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Here are some additional photos of the Grey Ghost. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
This is a video of me driving the Grey Ghost Ciao, FGM [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1w6Ah8HfJs[/ame]
For those of you interested in such things, I have posted the Grey Ghost 3500GT on eBay a few minutes ago. You can see it at 170764265664 If you know of someone who has been lusting after your car you might want to tell him about this one. It is really a very nice original driver. Ciao, FGM
Re: ebay 3500 listing at http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170764265664&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_1434wt_1167 I don't know if it is good average or not so good, but on the first 5 hours of the listing I had 17 watchers and on the second day it was up to 48 watchers. I have had two offers including a 68 corvette in trade + cash. Just thought you guys might find this kind of stuff interesting. Ciao, FGM
For those of you who have not yet seen the walk around video, here it is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9dh5SBhgMk&feature=youtu.be
Yesterday we towed the Latina over to "The Shop" here in Palm Desert where my trusty Tech Cameron and myself began the process of making here road worthy. We put her up on jack stands and removed all 4 wheels. Then Cameron removed the re brake drums and replaced the brake cylinders with new ones. the old cylinders were frozen and the worst i have ever seen. We cleaned up the hubs, shoes and backing plates and put everything back together. Then it was on to the front calipers for removal and rebuild with new seals and pistons. In the mean time I ordered a new battery a case of 50W oil and a couple quarts of DOT 4 brake fluid. I found the old battery to be from Mexico with a lot of spanish information on it. I made ready the new clutch master and slave cylinder along with the new hose. The transmission is in San Diego with Bill Noon's Symbolic Motors service and Jason the tech assures me he will have it ready sometime next week. Check out the old rusted brake cylinder next to the new one. I will keep you posted on the engine installation and general progress. Ciao, FGM PS The new script hub caps should be back from Palm Springs plating next week as well. Any body want to buy 3 blue logo hub caps cheap. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Today the power brake booster was removed and sent out to a specialist for rebuild. The photo shows the strange white powder we found around all the brake parts. It is a pleasure to note that all the fasteners are coming loose as they should. The Latina has shown zero resistance. All fasteners are being cleaned bagged and labeled with a black sharpie. The front calipers were finished today with new seals, hoses and pistons from MIE. The old brake hoses were original and ready for replacement. We removed one smelly gas tank and sent it out to be boiled out. A good running engine must start with a clean fuel source. It will be re-installed with all new fuel lines. Check out that after market add on fan. Cute, but highly inefficient. We removed it to make room for a new more powerful SPAL aftermarket electric fan that will be installed in front of the newly serviced radiator. Resulting in zero heating problems. A switch on the dash will control the new fan, as well as a thermostat installed in the radiator fins to allow it to come on and off automatically. In the fan photo you will note the original early 3500 horn, which is NOT a air horn. Tomorrow we will pull the hood and began cleaning the engine compartment which will not take much as it is in pretty good shape. Monday we will plan to set the engine in place onto new motor mounts and start adding water and oil hoses and generally hooking things up. Note: The rear motor mounts are aftermarket and sold by all the usual resellers. When I went to install the 12mm bolts into the mounts I discovered the hole was to small by about 5 thousands. The solution was to chuck the bolts up into a lathe and take them down a bit in order to fit properly. It is unfortunate that the mounts could not have been made correctly. But I guess thats just part of the game with these cars and the parts. Thats it for today. Ciao, FGM Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Today was a good day for 686. We pulled the pedal box to access the clutch and brake master cylinders. The master will get sent out to be sleeved and rebuilt. It was a disaster. The engine was lifted into place onto new motor mounts and we began hooking up all the wires, lines, and hoses. The oil filter was really ugly but after cleaning up the housing and installing a new filter along with a new o ring, its now ready for duty. The gas tank came back today and is ready to reinstall tomorrow. The engine looks really good sitting in place. Tomorrow a lot of new parts arrive including new pedal rubber, (see the old ones) a new electric fan which will be installed as insurance against over heating in hot climates. I cannot speak highly enough of the young man doing the work side by side with me. He is the son of the owner of "The Shop." The Shop is a hot rod shop in Palm Desert. They specialize in Hot Rod fabrication and tuning. Cameron the son is a very keen tech who adapts quickly and is dead on. He has a soft touch, which these cars require. Ciao, FGM Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
A couple shots I scanned today. Thats Colin Craigs 3500 GTi shot in Vancouver for the cover of VCM Circa early 80's and the MIE sheet metal shop circa 1988. That A6GCS #2053 and the 3500 I believe is 1586. Ciao, FGM Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hello Walter and Frank: That is my 1962 3500 GTi in B&W and the serial number is indeed AM 101 2074 and she turns 'fifty' this year! Frank may have been referring to the serial number of the white 3500 in his sheet metal shop. Cheers, Colin
