Ghia 5000gt found!

Dyke,
yesssss, the internal balancing was a huge problem with the 5000GT engine. But its not only that. Also the connection rods are weak, same with the bearings.
The mechanic of Rolf Helm, owner of the Monterossa #006 in the mid-60s, told me that he had to get the motor three times to Modena, each time for an overhaul...within a period of 14 months!
A shop here in Germany made both motors of the Frua-5000s and both cars are now shattering fast! Same with the motor of chassis #056. That was made bulletproof by the well known company CAPRICORN ENGINEERING (supplier for Ferrari F1, Red Bull F1, Porsche Le Mans-projects etc., etc.), and is going like hell as described in a feature of C&SC some years ago.

 

The issues with the 5000GT engine are in an article written by Dr.Ing. Hans Doll.
https://www.maseratinet.com/CLUB/Back_Issue/vcm95.aspx

 

The problem with Dr. Ing. Hans Doll is.....he is completely unreliable!
A customer of mine wanted a correct motor for his 5000GT (in his car a Ghibli engine was fitted). I found an original 5-Liter engine and advised the owner to commission a restoration at Dr. Ing. Doll. After about 9 (!!) years the motor was not finished and Dr. Ing. Doll lost himself in doing everything better. He finished one problem and "found" another one. Finishing this he became aware that the first problem was not working anymore so he started again....! And so on and so on!
In the meantime the owner wanted to sell the car. I found two collectors who were interested, one of them a very well known rock-star and the esteemed Dr. Ing. Doll gave us a date of completion in 5 month for the running car. Only days before the inspection of both potential buyers Dr. INg. Doll cancelled the date as the motor was still dismantled and not running. Same situation again 3 months later! After now 8 months of waiting, both customers lost their interest (at the peak of the market!) and passed.
The owner of the car and engine then lost his faith and finally took away the motor from Dr. Ing. Hans Doll...after 9 years of waiting and try & error working!

 

Is this him?;-) I know the type, incapable of ending a project always fussing, hopeless...

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If so, and if you know details of it, could you tell from when and for which engines/cars that improved balancing was performed?

 

Froggie: You should buy the book and read it yourself. You will find it fascinating. Some parts are somewhat boring as he tells much of his personal family life, but if you read carefully, there are a lot of little technical "tidbits" that are very educational. The Inline Six Cylinder engines were not as effected as the V-8 units due to their inherent in-balance design, and certainly by 1970, the balancing problems were gone.

 

A video of the car: