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Discussion in 'Maserati' started by Ackmann, Dec 13, 2008.

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  1. Ackmann

    Ackmann Formula Junior

    Nov 23, 2007
    499
    Salem Oregon
    Full Name:
    Wayne Ackermann
    #1 Ackmann, Dec 13, 2008
    I've been doing some research on old issues of Road & Track(R&T), Motor Trend (MT)and Car & Driver (C&D)to find old atrciles and test reports on the Merak. This is what I've found and have already enjoyed a good lunch reading an old comparison article in Road & Track (RT) September 1975 comparing Ferrari Dino 308GT4 vs Merak vs Lambo Urraco.

    Heres what I've found so far.

    R&T: Merak
    Sept 1974
    Sept 1975
    Mach 1978

    R&T Bora road test May 1973

    C&D Merak
    June 1975

    MT Merak
    Sept 1974

    Thought this might make for a good on going referrence thread. Actually I also have a buddy who has a HUGE collection of old magazines sells at his ebay store for $10-12 each. Probably sell to anyone here at a discount since he wouldn't have his ebay fees. If interested I'll give you his email.
     
  2. Nembo1777

    Nembo1777 F1 World Champ

    Nov 4, 2006
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    Marc Sonnery
    #2 Nembo1777, Dec 14, 2008
    Hello:

    Type in the model name of whatever your favorite Maserati is in ebay: have been doing so for Maserati Khamsin every single day for years: it only takes 30 seconds and you catch truly rare and interesting memorabilia once in a while.

    Also try ebay.co.uk the English magazines of that era were far better than the three magazines you mention in bringing out the personality of a car on the road. Apart of R & T (which reported on F1 races 3 months after) the other two just produced a lot of measurements and numbers; that is not what interest me. I compare these cars like fine wines, for the feelings they give me.

    If you speak other languages there is also ebay.it for Italy ebay.fr for France and ebay.de for Germany: Ebay does not catch all the items that might interest you in the other ebays, so it is worth doing once in a while.

    best regards,

    Marc
     
  3. Ackmann

    Ackmann Formula Junior

    Nov 23, 2007
    499
    Salem Oregon
    Full Name:
    Wayne Ackermann
    #3 Ackmann, Dec 29, 2008
    Just read the Sept 1974 Motor Trend article compairing the Merak versus the Porsche 911 Carrara. It leaned the performance advantage to the Porsche but said the Merak was better looking, handled better and more comfortable. Overall a more desirable car for a road trip. I would also add rarer and a better car to show up to a Cars & Coffee with.

    Also read a Mar 1978 Road & Track right up on ther Merak SS. Covered a few of the improvements pve the earlier Meraks and gave it a good review. They had a few gripes but also commented how they realized how smooth the Merak was after they got out of it and climbed behind the wheel of a NORMAL car.
     
  4. Nembo1777

    Nembo1777 F1 World Champ

    Nov 4, 2006
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    Marc Sonnery
    #4 Nembo1777, Dec 31, 2008
    Magazine test drives of that era were much more concerned with handling than current ones (which gloss on it for 2 lines) and thus to me much more interesting, because perhaps there was more competence behind the wheel, because there were still bad cars, because back then you had room to drive, roads were not as clogged and, in Europe, there was more driving freedom, which now you have to go to remote areas to experience like where I am here in Burgundy which like the apenines in Italy is one of those rare places where you can still drive seriously fast on twisty back roads. Of course top speed runs, which magazines still did 20 years ago had their charm but people focused on that too much, it is about the handling and the sensuous feel of the car on great traffic free twisty roads..

    Nowadays too many magazines are engineers rags: just numbers and measurements, to me cars are like fine wines, I don't care about the chemical composition I care about how they feel.


    Just my 2 cents.

    best regards,

    Marc
     
  5. Ackmann

    Ackmann Formula Junior

    Nov 23, 2007
    499
    Salem Oregon
    Full Name:
    Wayne Ackermann
    #5 Ackmann, Dec 31, 2008

    Perfect! I couldn't agree more. I'm shopping for a new toy and I don't care about 0-60, I dont care about top speed (i would be afraid to do it) I do care about mid range torque, and over all handling since most of my driving will be for club events running through the wine country of Oregon. Top Gear does a decent job with this.
     
  6. Nembo1777

    Nembo1777 F1 World Champ

    Nov 4, 2006
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    Marc Sonnery
    #6 Nembo1777, Dec 31, 2008
    Top Gear does a decent job with this.

    Yes actually, I agree; I find them silly often, amusing fairly often but they do give a feel of the car as opposed to just statistics and that despite all their drawbacks is a plus....add to that that Clarkson did say he likes Khamsins so I can't complain too much about him!

    best regards,

    Marc
     

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