Vignale spyder #504 restoration | Page 2 | FerrariChat
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Vignale spyder #504 restoration

Discussion in 'Maserati' started by thecarnut, Jul 13, 2009.

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  1. Papa G

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    #26 Papa G, Jul 21, 2009
    I second it!!
     
  2. Michiel Mobiel

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    #27 Michiel Mobiel, Jul 22, 2009
    Wonderful thread and a fantastic car! Just a note to keep track of any updates.
     
  3. ColdWater

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    #28 ColdWater, Jul 22, 2009
    Very amusing to read Maserati's 4 August 59 response to the client's inquiries, which basically said "you will take what we give you". Sounds like my Neapolitan tailor. And then once the car has been sold and is on its way, they revert to Italian for correspondence. Especially for that price, I hope Mr Lubin didn't have any warranty issues.

    Very generous of you to post these, Ivan. If you come across anyone who can read and translate into English the Maserati factory technical documents, please let me know by PM as I have some of the same for my car that I cannot decipher.
     
  4. alberto

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    #29 alberto, Jul 22, 2009
    I am always fascinated when I read these old documents and exchanges between the factory and the owners, as well as the technical documents. Thanks for posting them.
     
  5. carguyjohn350

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    #30 carguyjohn350, Jul 24, 2009
    $7,200 in 1959! Yikes!
     
  6. gcmerak

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    #31 gcmerak, Jul 24, 2009
    Work that magic, Ivan.

    Ciao,
    George
     
  7. f308jack

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    #32 f308jack, Jul 24, 2009
    I'll be more than happy to give that a shot.
     
  8. ColdWater

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    #33 ColdWater, Jul 24, 2009
    Appreciate the offer. I've already been contacted by someone highly qualified to help and the particular document with which I have struggled is in their hands now. At some point I'll post it and perhaps start a thread, but for now let me see what they can achieve. Thanks again.
     
  9. Miltonian

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    #34 Miltonian, Jul 24, 2009
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    Historical tidbit: Two years before the Vignale Spider featured in this thread was built, Pietro Frua presented this Spider at the 1957 Geneva Show. It remained a "one-off", and was discovered in dilapidated state in France in the late 80's and restored in England. Picture taken from article in "Classic and Sportscar", December 1991.
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  10. thecarnut

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    #35 thecarnut, Jul 31, 2009
    Wasn't this car at Pebble Beach in 2000 ?

    I recall looking at the interior and thinking it had a bit too much American influence. The seats looked more at home on a Chevy than on a Maserati. Still, it is a very interesting design and a car I would not mind owning :)

    Touring also built a couple of 3500GT based spyders that pre-date my car. Those essentially look like the coupe, but without the top. I guess potential customers were not impressed as that model never went into production.

    My understanding is that the Frua and Touring prototypes were built on the standard 3500GT chassis and the first to use the shortened chassis was Vignale. Is this correct?

    Ivan
     
  11. thecarnut

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    #36 thecarnut, Jul 31, 2009
    I thought the coupe was priced around $10,000 in 1959; which would make this car a bargain at $7,200. In today's dollars it is around $65,000, which seems like a very good price for a one-off car.

    Mr. Lubin has already purchased several cars from Maserati and may have received a special deal, or perhaps the invoice price was artificially lowered to help with import taxes. We may never know the real answer.

    Ivan
     
  12. 3500 GT

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    #37 3500 GT, Aug 3, 2009
    Ivan, thanks for posting your restoration and progress. It is wonderful for us Maserati freaks!!!

    By the way, how is the Air Box decal working for you?

    ~Ciao!
     
  13. thecarnut

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    #38 thecarnut, Aug 4, 2009
    The air box decal looks great! Of course I am many months away from putting the final touches on the car.

    Did you make other decals for the 3500GT?

    I am currently in Milan and will be traveling home later today. Vacation was great but I am eager to resume work on the Vignale spyder.

    Ivan
     
  14. thecarnut

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    #39 thecarnut, Sep 1, 2009
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  15. thecarnut

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    #40 thecarnut, Sep 1, 2009
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    The front brake caliper pistons will need to be replaced as they have pitting. This is to be expected after 50 years, especially when they are not being used. Stainless steel replacements are available.

    The rear brake pistons were in surprisingly good condition. The piston bore is in nice condition and the rubber seals showed very little wear. I thought for sure the pistions would need to be replaced but now I am simply going to put new kits.

    Ivan
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  16. thecarnut

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    #41 thecarnut, Sep 1, 2009
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    As many of you know, the designer behind the Vignale spyder is Giovanni Michelotti. In 1959 he created several design proposals for what would be the "new" 3500GT spyder. Thanks to Adolfo Orsi I was able to get a copy of one of his sketches which seems to be the inspiration for my car. My car can be easily identified by its unique hood hump, which Michelotti clearly highlighted in this sketch. Also notice that the vented seats are part of his original sketch.

    I find the timeline rather interesting as the sketch is dated May, 1959. The factory commissioned the car in July and completed it at the end of October. That would mean the car went from being not much more than a line sketch to a completed running vehicle in only 6 months! I find this very hard to believe. Is this even possible? How long did other one-off cars take to design and build?

    Comments … please.

    Ivan
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  17. Michiel Mobiel

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    #42 Michiel Mobiel, Sep 1, 2009
    Very interesting! Thanks for posting!

    6 months is quite realistic. Back then, the amount of engineering needed was almost nothing compared to nowaday's standards. They did not perform any aerodynamic tests and they just built the body from scratch over a wooden buck. Some cars were created even faster.
     
  18. thecarnut

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    #43 thecarnut, Sep 1, 2009
    And now we are lucky if we can get a car painted in 6 months! I just love progress ...

    Ivan
     
  19. alberto

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    #44 alberto, Sep 1, 2009
    Wow, that is an amazing timeline. My guess is that given the desire to do the job, once approved, all hands were put on it to get it done. It also probably depends on what other work Michelotti had at the time. If times were tough, then he would want to show Maserati that he could do the job for them.

    In any case, this is great documentation for your car.

    Keep the updates coming.

    Alberto
     
  20. Serenissma

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    #45 Serenissma, Sep 5, 2009
    True!
     
  21. thecarnut

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    #46 thecarnut, Sep 7, 2009
    I had the chrome done by Graves Plating in Alabama. They have done a lot of chrome for show cars and said this is one of the best workmanship they have even seen. The bumpers, grill, side trim, even the bumper overriders were made from multiple pieces and welded together. What is amazing is that the chrome goes on the car without rubber gaskets, therefore the fit must be perfect.

    I suspect Vignale had their best people work on this car to get it out on time and best possible quality. Vignale probably wanted to create a good impression and assure Maserati they could handle the production of the spyders. It still amazes me that it went from paper diagram to finished car in only 6 months.

    Ivan
     
  22. Ferraripilot

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    #47 Ferraripilot, Sep 7, 2009
    Although I am not an expert, I like to believe Maserati's craftsmanship is just staggering when compared to the likes of Ferrari's of the day. Had Maserati employed a Enzo Ferrari-type loose cannon influential personality promoting the brand as if ordained by God then this might just be a ferrari section on maseratichat. hah. Great work Ivan!
     
  23. thecarnut

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    #48 thecarnut, Sep 10, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    When I bought the car the engine did not spin. I tried Mystery Oil, PB Blaster and tons of brut force ... without any luck. I had heard horror stories where pistons had to be chiseled out from engines that had been sitting a long time. Luckily this engine has cooperated up to now. A good friend and master Jaguar mechanic is doing the engine. This is his first Maserati engine but he is very meticulous and I am sure it will be done right. The block, cylinder head and oil pan have been cleaned.

    Note the engine stand he made to support this engine using two standard engine stands.

    Ivan
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  24. gcmerak

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    #49 gcmerak, Sep 11, 2009
    Ivan,

    Looking fantastic. Can't wait to see more, keep up the great work!

    Ciao,
    George
     
  25. AceAndy2

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    #50 AceAndy2, Sep 12, 2009
    I am following this with utmost attention! Thank you very much for posting updates for us who can only watch as you perform the magic!
     
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