Don't underestimate DeTomaso. He may not have been well liked, but the guy was brilliant when it came to making a deal. There where always deals within the deal. As a shareholder in DeTomaso Industries it was always interesting to read the terms of these deals. The untold back story behind the sale of Maserati to FIAT is great. Very Machiavellian. Joe
Oh I am sure he was a good business man but it's the false belief that he was some automotive genius that I don't agree with. Along those lines I heard a story about DeTomaso's purchase of Carrozzerria Vignale After the deal was completed Mr. Vignale realized what he signed, Vignale was so outraged that he jumped in his car and was killed in an accident. Some say Suicide?
Maserati was a sports car and racing car company that built other little bits so they could continue racing up until the tragedy in 1957. Jag was sort of the same way, but they always had GT cars while racing and not just sports cars like Maser until the 3500t. The 3500gt saved the company and they moseyed along building various models to turn a profit for the Orsi family, and then for Citroen, DeTomaso, and then Fiat. In the 50s, they were as competitive as Ferrari and I believe had they had the funds, they would still be uttered in the same breath as Ferrari and it may be Maserati that is the household name today and not Ferrari. Who knows, but Maser was onto something brilliant with that 250f V12 and I-6. After they stopped racing, I believe it was all over for Maserati and I dislike the direction they went in. They went sort of civilized instead of the old Maserati which would tear your bloody head off with the 450s or 300s etc. Maser built some great cars, but they were not the same Maser they would have been had Maserati racing still been kicking it on the track with the big boys. They had a chance in '57 and after that great year to really blossom into something magnificent, but their tragedy left them stagnating on the world sports car stage until the MC12. Maser didn't have something crazy like the Muira to really introduce them to planet earth any longer. The early 90s saw the Chubasco which was brilliant designing off the 'I' style backbone chassis like the Barchetta. That idea was of course shelved. The MC12 makes use of Maser's brilliant modern engineers with a fantastic chassis and a retuned Enzo engine built for a more broad torque curve. What's after this and how long must we wait for it? Or is Fiat going to have to wait for Maserati to nearly die again
Sorry, but I just don't ever see Maserati as being an alternative to a higher volume and more thoroughly engineered car like Audi, BMW, Mercedes or Porsche offer. For them to even attempt that is a fools errand. They HAVE to find a a niche. They must offer something you can't find with those companies. They cannot compete on pure engineering excellence. However, they might do it on imagination and styling with a less expensive model. At the present time everyone is so GD focused on absurd levels of HP & torque I don't think they should follow the same path as they cannot not win on that front. Let Ferrari try ... Bob S.
What started out as an interesting thread from Frank has turned to old news. Wake me up when Frank's back zzzzzzzz.....
Hey, I'm back. Its 7:02AM and the bus departs for the Alfa Museum, Zagato, and Borrani at 8:59AM this morning so I need get my butt in gear, shower, pack and get downstairs all before having my espresso. I will seeing my old friend Gordano Casarini the Maserati engineer at Zagato where he now works. All the "Car Guys" arrived yesterday and to my surprise amoung the group we have 5 docs and 1 psychiatrist on the tour along with a couple developers, an Architect and a CPA. Should be fun. FGM PS Next years CGT dates co inside with the Monza Grand Prix held on Sat and Sunday. So you get a 2fer.
Really appreciate your willingness to share the details of your trip. I feel as though I can read the posts and momentarily enjoy an Italian car lovers sabbatical. Thanks!
Hi Frank, Please tell Mr. Casarini, or maybe not as the case may be, that a good number of Merak owners have carefully listened to his Merak Turbo story. They and I have enjoyed it, we are eager to know more, if there is more to be known. Thank of course go to Mr. Casarini and to you as well, Frank. Have great fun tomorrow! Ciao, George
Sounds like a great trip. Any photos? <<amoung the group we have 5 docs and 1 psychiatrist >> Doesn't the psychiatrist count as a doc?
It 7:30 AM and I am with out coffee in the room so excuse the dribble. Yesterday was our first full day. First off to the Alfaromeo Museum where we were met by my freind Stefano Agazzi who is the Museum director and historical dept Manager. then off to Touring of Milan yes they are now back in business building running one offs's, prototypes. they has a lovely Maserati Quattroporte shooting brake there. We were given the full tour by the CEO. Then Zagato with a stop in their vitural reality room. then a dash to Borrain with a stop at the Auto grill for a slice and coffee. Then off to Turin for a private visit to the Fioravanti design studio and a very special visit to their collection at their villa. We arrived at the Hotel at 7PM And this was just the first day! Do to a death in the family we had to move Fioravanti up to Monday from Tue at 1:30 so the day became some what cramped. Everyone dealt with it in great style and enthusiasm. Pictures latter today. Ciao, FGM Ps New wheels at Borrani run aprox 1500 Euros ea and are absolutely stellar. Video coming
Frank one of the biggest and long ongoing mystery's for many of us in the US is what happened to Campagnolo/ technomagnesimo? I have heard it was sold numerous times, moved, opened in different locations, then shut back down, possibly opening again??? Any updates on the status and where the factory was moved to? Any rims being produced today?
I could be wrong but I think this company purchased the name tecnomagnesio and is building modern rims. The question is where are the 100 + wooden molds used to produce all the sand cast rims we love for Abarth, Iso/ Bizzarrini, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia, BMW, and Maserati?
Yes, they make no mention of the Campy stuff and I would think that they would. Tecnomagesio supplied the magnesium wheeels for my 96 GOC racer as well as a number of other Italian cars in that era. All of that old mold stuff is probably crap by now anyway. Eurospares does make repro Miura/Espada/Islero/Jarama wheels. Maybe Frank will dig up an interesting story for us ... ;>)) Bob S.
Not so quick! Many of those molds were made out of old growth wood. If you go through the Bugatti section you can see that there are wooden engine molds still in use today. Either way it will be interesting to learn more.
The Car Guy Tour got under way in Como on Sunday the 26th and has been going strong ever since. In Milan it was Alfa Museum followed by Grandtourismo/Touring of Milan Design, followed by Zagato followed by Borrani wire wheels followed by a 2 hour drive to Turin and a visit to the Fioravanti Design Studio and a visit to their home and personal collection. And that was only the first day! Tuesday it was off to hang out with Tom Tjaarda in his Turin Design Studio then off to Bertone Collection followed by a lovely country lunch then to the sensational Fiat Museum which I referrer to as Gianni Agnelli's personal collection and man cave. This is not open to the public and is only available by invitation. The collection is simply spectacular. Wed we arrived early at the Pininfarina Design Center in Cambiano which was very well receive by our group which now had been named the "Doc Tour" as we have among us 5 count em 5 medical doctors including one psychiatrist. A perfect combination for such a AAA personality group. I might add we also have a few real-estate developers an architect and a Alfa loving CPA. After Pininfarina it was off to Italdesign and then for the fist time we visited a Modeling school where they are making scale model cars out of wood, resin and plaster. This school was a very big hit. Thursday moring we departed to Modena and had a total blow away day before checking into the Canalgrande hotel. It' now 7:48AM Friday morning and I just put down two Cappuccino's while filing this report. Today it is off to see several Maserati guys including the world class Panini collection, Pagani and the Righini collection. Re the photos thats the Maserati Convertible styling moch up at Pininfarina and the Berea at Italdesign. TGIF! From Modena Ciao FGM Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Last week I had a very cordial meeting with Edgardo Michelotti at his Studio in Turin. All I can say is OMG, over 2 tons, yes 2 tons of drawings, blue prints, sketches, renderings and on and on and on. While there I saw what could be hundreds of Maserati drawings including cars from the A6G54 to the Indy chassis cars to beyond. Simply incredible. It seemed we were old friends but had never met. He knew about me and my support and enthusiasm for all things Italian, and I of course have known about him for many years and that of his father Giovani. We spoke several years ago on the phone, but never had the chance to meet. We both agreed to stay in touch. While there I saw drawings of Ivan Ruiz 3500 Michelotti Spyder (name changed to credit the designer) some of the photos are posted below. From Modena Ciao, FGM Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Frank, Good to hear that all those drawings have not been lost. It would be great if someone was to scan the drawings and make them available on the internet. In a way it is sad that this history is being stored in drawers and not shared. I have a copy of the drawing of my car which is shown on the bottom right photo. Does Edgardo have additional drawings of my car? As you know, Giovanni Michelotti did several proposals for the 3500GT spyder, some which were built. My car can be identified by the hood hump and by the location of the side vents. I have tried to reach Edgardo by e-mail in the past without any luck. Perhaps calling him on the phone is better. How is his English? Thanks for posting these photos. Ivan
