Bora on ebay. needs full restoration?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1973-Maserati-Bora_W0QQitemZ110458629846QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item19b7d8eed6

Euro car. Seller says the car has been in storage for 20 years. By the look of it, I would say that is about right. Undercarriage pics show a new exhaust is needed and probably a drivetrain overhaul.

My question is: Is this a car one should NOT fully restore, but rather preserve as much as possible and restore only what is necessary.

Personally, I would leave it to: brightwork, drivetrain, paint touch-ups here and there, body straightening, and I would try my absolute best to bring the original leather back to life.

A real treasure of a car.

 

Notice the squared headlight buckets as opposed to the rounded of later cars and Meraks.

 

That car is just a little less than half the price of this 'Maserati'

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chrysler-TC-By-Maserati-FREE-SHIPPING-BUY-NOW_W0QQitemZ320447690394QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item4a9c2bb69a

 

This one to take a pass on. Worst looking Bora I've ever seen .

 

at best it looks like a parts car

 

What a shame

CHASSIS# - AM117/*066*

ENGINE# - AM107/07/47*066*

CARROZZERIA 300.128

AUTOVETTURE NO.15028

VIN PLATE ON DASH - 300128

39,820km
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

sad! as an ex-owner of a lovely bora, i find this sad. no way to do a proper resto for under $100k. this old girl is very needy.

pcb

 

I was on the phone twice with one of my customers who was seriously tempted to "pull the trigger".

Maseratis in general are expensive restorations, the Bora even more so. Their value is not in line with the cost.

 

That is a creme puff.

 

THe car was owned in 1987 by Donald McMullin from NH.

Ciao!
Walter

 

It's obviously been treated very badly and I find it humorous that someone would bother putting SS or chromed rocker panels on a car this bad. I don't think the fact that it's a Maserati or a Bora is the big issue. The deplorable condition is the big problem.

Hey Walter, maybe it's another candidate for a Group IV Thepenier replica?

Bob S.

 

Indeed, the car is a huge mess. Call me sentimental, but it's a Bora and it should not be parted. For a self-restorer project with A TON of time, I think it is worth saving as it is a nearly 100% complete car ready for restoration.

Ivan?? what do you think?

 

++++1! But not for the fainted heart!
I saw many cars in much worse condition restored to former Glory. So, why not this one?

btw, I like the color-combo!

Ciao!
Walter

 

I fully agree it should be saved: in Fort Lauderdale I saw a much worse one in 2004 which was going to be parted out and was sold to a Bora owner and fanatic who lives just an hour north of Palm Beach and in the end he decided to save it.

Here is the story of another rescued Bora: 774.
In 2006 when living in Modena I supervised the restoration of Bora #774, also black. It was a car which had been owned by a dealer in east Vancouver Canada but never had a Canadian title, as I was able to determine with that province's DMV type office. Decades before it had been sold new to a Mr Rezzuto in Arizona.

After sitting for several years in East vancouver it was bought by a British company which had it shipped to the UK where it sat for 5 years in a warehouse, no work took place at all.
It was intended for restoration by the owner (whose name never emerged) of the company and car but he decided it should be sold and so was auctioned at the February 2006 auction in Cheltenham UK.

The night before I had a nice dinner in Modena with a visiting Swiss collector RH who has a Khamsin and a Ghibli. He suddenly said "I want a Bora". The very next morning I found out about this auction and lo and behold this car! It was in non running condition obviously not used for about 8 years or so, in need of restoration but the answers on the phone from the auction chap as he crawled around and under the car for me were satisfying and I suggested to RH he make a conservative absentee bid.

His bid won the car. So I organized it to be trucked to Guiseppe and Marcello Candinis workshop in Modena where they assessed the car which was overall better than expected, -the block was indeed a 4.9- but still needed lots of work. Since RH wanted to drive and not a trailer queen the comprehensive restoration work focused in that direction.

The engine came out and the whole back end was detailed the block was rebuilt all 4 corners of brakes suspension were addressed as necessary. The only thing that wasn't done in Modena was the paint that was done only this year in Switzerland.

RH was very satisfied with it and I would make the oft stated point that when restoring a car, unless it is for immediate resale you should not and cannot expect to get your pennies and dimes back: they pay for the satisfaction of driving an exceptional car brought back to its intended condition, a feat which should bring pride and a sense of achievement that should be worth more than money to the discerning owner.

It was exciting to be part of it!

Sorry I don't have photos here, will post later if I can find them and scan.

best regards,

Marc

 

I love these cars and this is a clear case of thoughtless neglect of a beautiful piece of art. But you guys act as though everyone has oodles of money to throw at such projects with very little chance of ever recouping it. I've owned a very nice one since 1987 and if you're expecting these to rise in value let me throw a bit of caution your way.

In the very late 1980s a really nice Bora was worth $100K+. Even after the peak good ones traded in the hi $60K range. When adjusted for inflation these cars are worth less than that today. I bet you'll spend $100K on this one. So buy a good or decent car that's already completed. These just aren't that rare.

Bob S.

 

That seller should take that $14K and run! Hopefully, the next owner is able to maybe just get it running and stop the deterioration until someday when a full restoration can be completed and the value of the vehicle warrants it.

In the meantime, you'd be amazed at what a bit of elbow grease, some scrubbing, and some skinned knuckles can get a car in this condition to look like. Maybe an old Maserati mechanic who might not be able to afford a prisitine condition Bora but has the know how and time on his hands with the desire to bring this car back to life. Definately a car for someone with a passion for Maserati.

I grew up next to a retired MOPAR mechanic who restored what I remember to be a complete junker '70s Dodge Charger to a truely fantastic looking stock restoration over the course of about 10 years. I think it had more to do with what it ment to him than what it was worth in dollars and cents. You could feel the pride he felt in that car when he would take it out.

Remember that not everyone who would like to own one of these cars can afford to get one that looks like it just rolled out of the factory. It's be a shame to part this car out.

Andrew

 

Seems it found someone motivated to bring it back to life: there was quite a lot of last day bidding wihich is encouraging. It ended at 28500US$

http://offer.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=110458629846&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:BIDN

 

That's pretty encouraging for Bora Owners. This car is a mess, wasn't all that well presented on Ebay and still got almost 30K. Maybe it's the weak US dollar.

Bob S.

 

Add at least 25K to do the body properly, and an undisclosed amount for mechanicals. Wow.

 

I have just been contacted by the buyer which was a surprise as I had nothing to do with this transaction: since he has for now chosen to be discrete it is not for me to say anything other than that Bora 066 has definitely found a good home and will be properly brought back to life, which is excellent!


best regards,

Marc

 

wonderful news! If the new owner would be so kind as to keep us advised of this Bora via this forum, I know the community would be forever greatful. I knew someone would jump into it.

 

Oh he will, I am sure but first he wants to finish his.....Khamsin!!!

That is all I will say until he chooses to talk about it sometime next year.

best regards,

Marc

 

That's great to hear! I'm glad it found a good home and it'll be great to see the after pictures.