Never seen knock-off Borrani bi-metal wheels. Even those fitted to Mistral's were bolted. Hereunder pictures of 15" bolted Borrani's on a Ghibli: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks - nice wheels, but as bolt-ons they could never be the original wheels that were subsequently replaced with Campagnolo knock-offs on my vehicle. Sent an email to Borrani to research what they furnished to Maserati in the '60's - what the historical documents refer to as a "Borrani forged wheel". If 26% of Ghiblis left factory with Borrani forged wheels (per Fabio Collina) then a photo of this wheel must exist somewhere.
Hello Peter, and congratulations on such a beautiful and original Ghibli. I have just been browsing Classichemasters.com where they are promoting 115*042 for sale. Interestingly the Maserati technical and aesthetics document for that car, like yours, lists the wheels as ‘Borrani forged.’ The accompanying picture clearly shows they are starburst pattern and, as you would expect on that early a chassis, mounted via size 42 hubs with octagonal spinners. Quite why Maserati refer to this style as Borrani forged I know not, but it does seem that it is the same as ‘starburst’ https://www.classichemasters.com/maseratis-for-sale/am115-042-maserati-ghibli-1 Incidentally, my own Ghibli 274 is about to receive its final paint very soon, do you have any pictures you could post of the returns on the inside of the bonnet and drop down bootlid please? I anticipated the body colour wraps over by 1cm or so to the inside of the panel and then the inside face is flat black. Is that what you find? Also a photo of the bootlid catch would be very useful as I don’t have one. Many thanks and best to all. Mark.
Probably a mistake then. And double! Image Unavailable, Please Login Because 1. clearly the Starbust wheels shown behind the Borrani spinner are a Campagnolo design; and 2. the Campagnolo wheels were cast magnesium, not forged.
Does anybody have the actual Italian version of the document showing the wheel information. I suspect it actually is trying to say " Alloy wheels with Borrani knock-off attachment method", as opposed to wheels with lug nuts.
Excellent suggestion - I was thinking language translation may be interfering with intended message. Both AM 115-42 on classiche masters website and my car, AM 115-336 have documentation translated into English. And while that is an early model with a 42mm spline and mine is a later car with 52mm spline, we both have Borrani-branded knock-off spinners and Campagnolo wheels. As both vehicles claim to be original I'm thinking its a documentation error - probably in translation. The complicating factor being the pairing of the Borrani spinner with the Campagnolo wheel. The Ghiblis with Campagnolo wheels more often probably have Campagnolo-branded spinners (anyone have photos). Which begs the question - how many Ghiblis are similarly assembled with Campagnolo wheels and Borrani spinners - and why? Thanks for the insight. I'll check with Mr. Fabio Collina and see if I can get an Italian language version of my tech data sheet.
Mark - congrats on the restoration project you've undertaken. It must be quite rewarding and I'm glad to help as best I can. I will contact you privately. Peter
I think the answer may lie in the hubs. The hub fittings were Rudge-Whitworth. (Borrani was called Rudge/Whitworth Milano until 1933) and is the RW on all Borrani wheel codes. The Spinner/hub is obviously a unit and the rights to the design were owned by Carlo Borrani. My guess is that all other wheel manufacturers, such as Campagnolo, were prevented from making their own ‘copy’ RW spec hubs, but were allowed to make a cast or forged wheel which would mate with a Borrani hub as we have seen. Incidentally, if anyone needs new splined hubs to replace worn out ones, Orson equipment in the UK will make perfect new ones. They have a pattern for Ghibli rears in 52 size because they did mine. Very reasonable pricing too. You can find them at. Orson-equipment.co.uk best regards to all. Mark
Thank you Mark and DWR46 This thread originated when I when I posed a question about the meaning of "Borrani forged" wheels on the historical documentation for my Ghibli which seemed inconsistent with the way my car is equipped: Borrani 52mm knock-off spinners and Campagnolo wheels. Question answered. Simply wish the documentation was more specific to the way the car is fitted. Thanks again. Peter
Hi Mark, My bootlid might still need black adding on the inside but the latch has the chassis number stamped onto it so it looks original to the far Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Julian - beautiful car. Posting my bootlid latch - patina and cleaning neglect confirm originality, but I don't see any markings stamped on it. Looks like different leather as well Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Julian - thanks, will look further - after I clean the latch. And - what I'm learning is no two Ghiblis are identical - what's available and whim contribute to an individuality which exemplifies hand-built.
Here’s another thought on the wheels. The timeframe, it appears that the transition from Borrani to Campagnolo may have occurred around the same timeframe that Maserati went from Orsi ownership to Citroen.
That's fairly typical in the low volume Italian exotic car industry of the 1950's - early 1980's. It also makes part catalogs a PITA. A trait Maserati continued well into the 1990's.
That's an interesting theory. To be sure, records and documentation from the '60's have some gaps - whether due to retention policies, precision, ease of collection and storage or language translation. A possible theory: Maserati-Modena started documenting wheels as "Campagnolo" after conversion to bolt-on alloys, using a non-Borrani hub. I'm curious about the markings on Campagnolo knock-off spinners that are decorative covers for bolt-on Campagnolo alloys.
One thing that I have found interesting are the unique modifications Maserati did on individual cars for no apparent reason. I once owned a late model SS which had the four warning indicators typically located on the left side of the dash placed in the center above the rocker switches. This seemly small change meant the standard wiring hardness could not be use .... buy why the change? I am selling Ghibli 1584 which is a mid-production car. That car has an indentation in the rear to fit a USA license plate. It actually looks very nice but is something I've never seen on another Ghibli. This Ghibli also has chromed side vents which I have seen in other Ghiblis but not too often. Ivan Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks for your pictures Julian and Peter. They are most useful. I hope your car is running as well as it looks Julian, it’s a cracker, and a fine colour choice if I may say so! here is a picture of my #274 from last week. Final blocking down and paint shortly, probably not in time for Christmas, but not far off…. Image Unavailable, Please Login Best to everyone. Mark.
Ivan. Fascinating to see the license plate detail - never seen on another Ghibli. I'm curious how many Ghiblis were made to customers order - and customization - versus spec production. A unique opportunity of Maserati production at the time. Can account for some of the variability in cars.
Hi Peter, Would you mind taking a close up of the way that the line of the front fender joins the horizontal line above the grille? I notice that McGrath and others usually keep this line sharp as it joins but I know of unrestored cars here in Australia that soften this fender line as it approaches the front line. I actually think Maserati built both versions as I have seen period shots of both in their press shots. Here’s my car which was highly original and it has the softened version PS my car only had one surviving chrome wheel disc when I bought it so I have just tooled up a former so I can make new reproductions the 52mm knock off sized discs Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Well, Maserati aka Ghia used the same steel pressing tools/machines for the entire serie. They did not replace them after a while. Therefore the earlier cars are sharper on both front fenders while the later cars were more soft there.
I understand your argument but the cars in the Registry don't support the theory. I tend to treat period photos as gospel and restored cars as less than reliable and of course original survivors offer a really valuable insight into what was correct too. I'll try and dig up more images on this subject. I know you have an amazing knowledge on the subject Walter so I would be most interested to see your factory press images to support your theory too [ I am looking only for the truth and not an argument! ] Regards Julian
