...a real classic Maserati!

I saw 2069 in the shop at Continental Autosport in Hinsdale this morning. I noticed the gear lever was not visible so it must be having some work done.
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Owned by JWeinberger, (co-?)owner of Continental Autosport and a great guy.

Regards

Wolfi

 

Is 2069 the car in which Pancho Croquer lost his life in Venezuela?
Regards.
Cris.-

 

+1. indeed a good fellow

 

interesting thread...it takes me back to the late 60's when early masers were cheap tho not plentiful here on the calif west coast...however what bothers me is in the first few pages how walter seems disturbed how certain cars are the wrong color or have a modified nose yet he seems proud of "improving" the factory technology with a new crankshaft among other mechanical things...having owned and restored grand prix bugattis i found that the crankshafts [roller]were numbered, hand fitted , and a very important component in the provenance of a particular engine in a specific car. in the early 70's blocks were recast, modern full-pressure cranks were fitted..even the blower geardrive case was modified to increase boost! fortunately those days have passed and total originality is now of paramount importance. one might contend that a bug is a bug and a maser a lesser creature but i disagree...i think these cars are important moments in italy's automotive heritage and shouldn't be buggered for a few extra horsepower.

walter; care to comment?

dave

 

Two Zagatos will be at the Mille Miglia this year (2009)

s/n 2106 and s/n 2124.

Regards.
Cris.-
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If you are referring to the err in design to the 5000gt crankshaft as well then I don't think I know of a concours car that has not had the Maserati crank design corrected. I don't think it is something a concours judge is going to mark anyone down for, but rather I think the owners are commended for correcting the design.

Almost all of these exotics have something in the design of them somewhere that requires mechanical reengineering so to be reliable while maintaining concours original "look" (even if the item in question cannot be seen). There are thousands of good examples of this, but just a few are: Ferrari 275 prop shaft design, early Maserati Merak chain tensioners, Ferrari Testarossa crown and pinion, Ferrari 355 headers and valve guides, early Maser 6 cyl heads, and the list goes on..... I even knew the owner of a concours 3500gt to "hide" a modern Bosch electrical fuel pump inside the external fuel pump assembly so to keep an original concours look but take advantage of modern reliability.

It seems like a fine line, but not at all for me really. I see it as the technical equivalent to rejetting carburettors from original size jets so to run correctly with modern fuel.

 

J.S. and Walter are right. The cars need to be updated because of the engineering flaws from the beginning. In some cases the engineering was right but the manufacturing was bad. There is nothing wrong with using improved alloys or machining methods. I suppose those who don't want to modify anything from standard can continue to use thier cars as concours lawn ornaments instead of drivers.

 

s/n 2124 at the scrutineering for the Mille Miglia last week.
Photo: Cris Bertschi.
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Thanks for the photos ! Have you any of the A6 1500 (#99) ?

 

Here you are!
Photos: Cris Bertschi.
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Thank you very much indeed, Cris. Your photos are really well done.

I'm certain that this is the car David E. Davis of Car & Driver resuscitated in 1963, chassis #069. Nice to see it running again after a hard life, although unfortunately it seems to have withdrawn towards the end of the second day.

Don

 

Hi Walter,

Bill posted a history of #069 at http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=135238216&postcount=17. I have copies of several Car & Driver articles, also one from Autoweek in 1991. Could send them to you if you'd like.

Probably thanks to Cris' photos the car doesn't seem that tatty, but it's too bad the trafficators were removed and replaced with oddly-placed front signal lamps. Would really enjoy seeing engine and interior photos if anyone has them.

Best regards
Don

 

Walter,

You will see from the Car & Driver and Autoweek articles that it must be #069. The strange placement of the non-original front signal lights is surely unique to #069. Also I saw Bill yesterday and he mentioned other distinctive non-original elements.

Best regards,

Don

 

Another one.
Photo: Cris Bertschi.
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magic looking car.