3500 GT Spyder Vignale thread

I picked up "Maria" today #1121 after the new side exhaust had been installed.
Here you can see the new system before installation and a cut a way of the old muffler.
Note the seams on the top and bottom.
I am guessing the seamed muffler is an aftermarket Ansa. and the new on is a copy of the original. Note the cut muffler has no sound filling. It was loud in a bad way.
When I compared the new muffler with the original one from my original Mitchel car # 708 I can see that they are very similar with no raised seams.
One difference I noticed with the original and the newer on is that the original has 2 pipes in one large pipe connecting and 2 pipes out.
My new QuickSilver has 2 pipes all the way through.
Have a look at the photos.
It would be nice if more Vignale owners would post photos of their cars. I'm thinking we have a bunch of garage queens out there that do not get driven.
Ciao,
FGM
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Very nice Color
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Bella Donna
Is the color of the leather in your car PAC1386?
I would love to see more photos of your interior. You can send them off line to me to
[email protected]
I would be happy to share any photos or information I have on my Vignale #1121.
Ciao,
FGM

 

hello fgm,
is not exact PAC1386.
here more pics from inside.
br

 

Sorry but no photos found attached?
FGM

 

..... sorry, here the Pics
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As I will be redoing the leather in my Vignale over the winter I would appreciate it very much if you could email those photos directly to me to [email protected]
Thanks much
Ciao,
FGM

 

Hi Frank,

Wonder how "bad" loud the old muffler system was, would be great to hear it on short vid if you have. Was it really that loud to the point of total annoyance?

The seemed muffler style is the authentic original design, as well as "2 pipes in one large pipe connecting and 2 pipes out"
You are correct about your old mufflers being most probably Ansa aftermarkets, usually very crudely made, messy welds, seems are too high and internals not correct design...

Ciao
Carlito

 

Well, it was shall we say, not to my liking. It sounds much better now, but will sound better and better as the system ages and the car is driven more.
I will be shipping the car from Seattle to our winter residence in Palm Desert California in a couple weeks where I will be able to drive it more.
Ciao,
FGM
FGM

 

I have ordered new leather for 1121 (PAC1386) which was the original color fitted when the car left the factory.
The currant interior is in great shape just the wrong color.
So 7 new skins, 40 mt of binding and map pocket material and original fasteners have been ordered from Italy and will be shipped in the next 10 days.
Why 7 skins you may ask? Well remember I have two extra small seats installed for ease of driving.
As my currant interior is in really good shape.
I am thinking that I will sell my old interior as a kit for someone who wants a new brown leather interior for their Vignale spyder.
The price would be at a fraction of the cost.
Think about it..
Ciao,
FGM
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Why have it if you don't drive it?
So I loaded up the Vignale for the 1200 mile haul to Palm Desert where I plan to drive it over the winter months.
The Range Rover is shown here making the 9th trip from Seattle to the desert towing our tag along trailer filled with our "stuff"
Ciao,
FGM
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A new post from you always puts a smile on my face

 

The Vignale arrived in the desert a couple days after our arrival and was scheduled into my favorite repair shop for more fine tuning.
The results were fantastic and the car is now really coming together.
I now feel I can take it on a 1000 mile drive, with no problems at all.

The following Repairs were made:

>Installed the rebuilt Wiper motor and cleaned up the wiring to it. test OK
>Repair existing turn signal group to a very high standard. Test OK
>Slide up the steering bushing - which had slid down - to take play out of wheel. Test Very Good!
>Install new fog lights. Test OK
>Install used OEM Audiovox radio. For looks only as there are no speakers or antenna, nor will there be.
>Gas gauge inop Found sending unit float filled with gas and sunk to bottom of tank. Attached a new float. Tested OK, gauge reads properly now.
>Fixed choke cable to hold in place when pulled out. Test OK
>Installed new scavenger pump by using new guts with old unit so no need to pull water pump and radiator and front pulley.
Note: when installing the new pump guts we found the shaft had improper clearance and made loud squeaking noise when started.
Disassembled the guts and machined the shaft for a 2.5 thousands clearance and reassembled. There was also visible metal filings inside the NEW pump, which are Chinese reproductions.
So be cautious when purchasing one of these. Be sure to disassemble it, clean and mic it.
> Rewired under hood lights and trunk lights to operate correctly. Existing wiring was a mess.
Tested OK
> Of course the oil pump repair required dropping the oil, so 12 quarts of 50W Valvoline Racing oil was added.
> Install new OEM oil pressure hose from block to gauge. (Old one was leaking at fitting) Test OK

This morning I took the car on a 25 mile test drive up onto highway 74 into the mountains of Coachella Valley and the car performed like new.
What a dream to drive.
The new leather has also arrived via DHL from Italy and I have scheduled the car into the trimmer in January.
I really love the new leather color (PAC 1386) the original color the car left the factory in.
Stay Tuned...
Ciao,
FGM
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Looking great, Frank!

 

The 7 hides of leather arrived, including textiles, fasteners and hood pad.
The textiles are for the map pockets. Andrea was kind enough to skive (to make thiner) and sew the pipping so it is ready to go and the correct size.
I would like to see a show of hands from other Vignale owners noting which under hood pad you have? Quilted vinyl or plain vinyl?
Ciao,
FGM
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Hi Frank,

I have the same material in my car like you show it on your picture......

Saluti,
André
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Frank, I have the plain Vinyl and I am sure it is the original.

 

Of all the Vignale guys out there and only two guys respond to this question!!
This is pathetic and very disappointing.
Merry Christmas
FGM

 

From what I can tell it was the later cars that had the quilted hood pads. Of course with Maserati you can never be sure but of the Vignale spyders I have looked at this is what I had noticed

 

You may be right about that.
FGM

 

Hi Frank,
I only can agree with André and Eugene. The material for the hood is a plain Vinil in italiano called Vipla.
i do not have a proper foto of my car in high resolution but when restoring my Vignale I had the chance to see a total original car in 2007 which had this material. After a hint of the owner - the guru of maserati - I ordered this material from Maieli and it really fits perfect.

I am sure you have found the correct material and I hope you will bring your Vignale one step closer to the original.

Buona fortuna - ciao
Alfred
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Thank you Alfred,
You are a gentleman, and your car is beautiful.
FGM

 

Hello all,

I have been asked to market a Vignale spyder which is not in its original colors and in the process of preparing the file, I would need to see what its actual original color looked like: it was grigio Florida. Does anyone have a photo? I have never come across this shade before, though I like the name

Many thanks in advance,

Marc

 

I may be able to help you. Do you have a new email address I can write to?
Ciao,
FGM

 

Hello Frank,

Thanks, email sent.

Best regards,

Marc