Very very cool build especially since I am a huge fan of the '80s Quattroporte.
Thank you. Drove it to a hot rod show today in Ringoes, NJ. I was told there were over 500 rods and a few race cars and antiques there (also one modern Maserati). The blue roadster got a lot of attention which was cool. Tomorrow we plan to visit a C&C event in Chatham, NJ early in the morning and then head over to the Italian car show at Angelinas Ristorante in Staten Island NY. Might as well get a few shows in before sh-t hits the fan. I hear summer in Texas is no fun but at least you don't have Jersey winters.
I saw Wil and Sandy at an Italian car show today. Here are some photos, although they really don't do the car justice. You must see the car in person to appreciate the craftsmanship and attention to detail. It is a fantastic construction on par with anything done by any of the great, historic, low volume car builders. Actually better than many of them due to Wil's application of modern techniques and materials. 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
Thanks for posting these very nice pictures Carmine! And for the compliments too! It was great to see you there and talk. Who are those people blocking the view?
Well done Wil, I must say; you are the inspiration of my own creation, based on the very same QPIII. I am in the process of moving now, and attempting to set up my ultimate garage however, so the car project will be on the back burner for awhile. At least I scored the QP II already. But for now, the largest obstacle is the conversion of the automatic bell housing area for the manual trans. Thanks so much for your detailed series on this very special car. RF.
To make the bell-housing independent of the 727 transmision is not that difficult but I used a Saws-All, a milling machine, a TIG welder and a dial indicator (to center the transmission locating hole to the crankshaft).
Have not visited this thread in a long while. Stopping in to share a video our friend Carlyle made of driving our roadster. When people see this car in 3D they often say 'this is a work of art!'. I used to think, 'no, it's a work of insanity'. Now that the work is done and we can enjoy it, it really has been worth the effort. It is a ton of fun to drive around in a custom car, and I'm sure Wil entirely agrees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybz28lKaOTA FWIW we've decided to stop calling it a 'custom rebodied Maserati' since it is more of a hotrod. Powered by Maserati, we call it a 'de Groot DG01'.
Having seen the car in person I will attest that it is a real work of art. Having seen the pieces of it near the end of its build I will attest that it is a real work of engineering.
Thank you, Carmine! Another chance to see it this Sunday at the 2014 D.A.R.E. show with 400 exotic cars registered in Upper Saddle River. Weather looking good, we'll be there with the DG01! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yes, also wondering how the car is doing? Any changes or modifications? Anything that you would have done differently? Also, was wondering what the book was that you suggested for the build. Many Thanks, RF.
Mechanically, we installed stiffer rear springs, and a power-steering pressure regulator valve to reduce assist. The tires were replaced. A different front grille that is less recessed and spans the entire air intake opening was installed I replaced the Maserati Trident with my own badge, DG, for my last name. Too much heat was collecting under the bonnet so I fabricated and installed mesh grilles on either side of the bonnet bulge. The differential was rebuilt. It's one of the few items that wasn't overhauled during the car's build. It seemed OK at the time but it was noisy when driving so it had to be re-done. Would I have done anything differently? Sure. The build cost for this car was high as it was but with a bigger budget........ Not sure what "book" you're referring to.
Thank you on both accounts. That's our show room. It used to be a bank lobby (we have a vault too). The actual garage/shop area is in an adjacent building we had erected 4 years ago.
I thought you referenced a book on building cars from scratch at one time? I want to say that it was based in England? I've tried combing through this thread, but can't seem to find it. Thanks, RF.
